Cabazon Man Could Face Charges; 60 Animals Rescued From His Property; Food & Clean Water In Short Supply

Animal Services officers and deputies were busy in Cabazon Wednesday,  August 15th 2024, serving a search warrant at a home on Esperanza Avenue,  arresting one man and rounding up 60 animals.

10 dogs, 5 horses and 45 birds were among the animals not getting enough food or water. The birds were mostly roosters and hens.

58 year old Rafael Leal was arrested.

This is not the first time Leal has met Animal Control officers from the County.

They have visited him before, on July 23rd 2024,  to talk about the condition of those animals on his property.

Officers described the horses as emaciated.  Those horses are now getting cared for in San Jacinto.

And the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office is investigating to see if charges are warranted.

Horse rescued in Cabazon, in August 2024.

Photo from Riverside County Animal Services Dept