San Diego Humane Society rescues animals from animal sanctuary

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) - Animal care groups have spent days working with hundreds of animals rescued from horrible conditions at a so-called animal sanctuary in Southern California.

For years, several agencies were looking into A 400-acre property near Julian called Villa Chardonnay Horses with Wings, a sanctuary.

The San Diego Humane Society (SDHS) said they issued an 18-page search warrant and found neglect everywhere they looked.

They also found more than 350 cats, around 165 horses and several ponies, 30+ dogs, and dozens of other animals, including donkeys, alpacas, geese, chickens, roosters, goats, ravens and a crow. Many of them were sick.

"I found a cat that had a massive wound on its neck where you could see deeply into its neck musculature. A cat that was completely missing its ear," said Jace Huggins, Chief of Humane Law Enforcement for SDHS.

Most animals have been taken to other places for care, but sadly, a handful, including kittens and horses were in such bad shape, they had to be euthanized.

"It truly is appalling. It really is. There's no question in my mind that this is in the best interest of those animals welfare," said Gary Weitzman, CEO of SDHS.

Because the investigation is ongoing, Huggins would not give detail on the possible criminal charges.

"I think, for me, at least neglect cases are harder because oftentimes, in many of the neglect situations, it starts off with someone who wants to do the right thing, and just can never figure out where the line is," Huggins explained.

For now, their focus is to get every animal the proper care.

"Making sure everyone is getting the feed they need, making sure everyone is getting the care. We have veterinarians going horse by horse intake exams, documentation of everything," Huggins shared.