Police rescue 21 dogs from cramped cage in sweltering removal truck

16 Jun 2026 • 9:55 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Police rescue 21 dogs from cramped cage in sweltering removal truck

Police rescued more than 30 dogs who were locked inside a sweltering U-Haul van and an SUV.

Footage shared by the Murrieta Police Department shows officers discovering 21 Cavalier King Charles spaniels inside the vehicle which was parked on private property in Murrieta, California.

The dogs “appeared neglected, exhibiting matted fur and limited access to food and water,” the department wrote on social media last week.

During the investigation, the suspect returned to the truck in a separate SUV carrying 12 additional dogs.

All 33 dogs were taken by officials and transported to Animal Friends of the Valleys in Lake Elsinore for veterinary care. The owner, who was arrested at the scene, has been charged with 21 felony counts of animal cruelty.

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