- California, USA -
The Riverside County Department of Animal Services arrested 58-year-old RAFAEL LEAL.
According to the press release by the agency that was provided to Voice For Us, they received a complaint “from a fellow county employee at code enforcement” who saw underweight horses at the property in the 5000 block of Esperanza Avenue in Cabazon near Almond Street, less than a mile south of Interstate 10.
On July 23, 2024, Animal Services responded to the property to investigate.
Officials said that all of the horses were underweight with three of them severely emaciated. Their ribs, hip point, and spines were showing. The poor souls did not have any water and temperatures climbed above 100 degrees.
When Animal Services questioned LEAL about the horses, he said that he was going through tough times so the agency offered to find a rescue organization to help out but LEAL said he would think about it.
On July 25, 2024, Animal Services returned to the property and realized that the horses’ conditions remained unchanged so they asked LEAL to surrender the horses.
LEAL not only did not do anything to improve the horses’ conditions, but also refused to be helped rehoming the emaciated horses.
That inevitably led the Riverside County Department of Animal Services to serve a search warrant and remove the animals from the property. Among the rescued animals were forty-five birds, mostly hens and roosters, four dogs, three mares, six puppies, and two stallions.
Officials said they could not see any food or water for the birds.
All of the Voiceless Victims were taken to the Western Riverside County Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley for veterinary care.
LEAL was arrested on August 14, 2024, and at the time of writing, records show that he is being held in the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on felony animal cruelty charges. Records also show that LEAL’s court date is set for August 16, 2024, at 8:00 a.m.
The investigation will be turned over to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office for review.
Animal Services tell me that no animals were found deceased on the property and none of the rescued ones were euthanized.
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Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release provided to Voice For Us by the Riverside County Department of Animal Services. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.
In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.
Pictures provided to Voice For Us by the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.
What a horrible situation. I am so relieved these all innocent souls were removed & the arse Leal jailed! Two stallions & six puppies! Smells like another breeder! Too bad his punishment isn’t EXACTLY what these poor souls endured. Breeders make me ill! There are too many animals that are not being cared for, spay & neuter!