San Diego Humane Society workers move transported animals from Villa Chardonnay in Julian into the SDHS’ Gaines Street campus for care on Monday, May 4.
Photo and story by Karen Pearlman
May 7, 2026 (Julian) — The San Diego Humane Society is reporting that it reached a major milestone today (Thursday, May 7) in what officials are calling one of the largest and most complex animal rescue operations in the region’s history.
As of May 7, the extraction of all feline residents from the nonprofit 40-acre Villa Chardonnay Horses With Wings, Inc. property in Julian is complete.
Since the rescue operation officially commenced on May 1, a total of 446 cats have been safely removed from the site and transported to various San Diego Humane Society campuses around San Diego County for emergency medical care, officials from SDHS shared.
See our previous coverage here and here.
Meanwhile, Villa Chardonnay on May 4 started a petition seen here at change.org titled “Redefine “Humane”: Every Life Is Worthy.”
San Diego Humane stepping in and stepping up
With the cats now safely off-site, SDHS’s focus has shifted to the massive population of large animals still residing on the property and the nonprofit has transitioned into a full-scale triage and management operation, maintaining a daily rotation of 15 to 20 staff members and a veterinarian on-site seven days a week.
Currently, SDHS is providing specialized care for 165 horses and several ponies, dozens of red-eared slider turtles and the remnants of a diverse group of animals that originally included goats, alpacas, pigs, and chickens, most of which were successfully relocated earlier this week.
The intervention follows a harrowing investigation into what SDHS President and CEO Dr. Gary Weitzman described as “appalling” conditions.
While the property was originally under the jurisdiction of San Diego County Animal Services, the case was transferred to SDHS on April 24 due to the sheer scope of the neglect and the legal complexities of an ongoing bankruptcy proceeding involving Villa Chardonnay.
The Humane Farming Association (HFA) had been sounding the alarm since October 2025, working through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to gain access. When SDHS finally served a search warrant on May 1, the evidence of suffering was undeniable.
Veterinary teams found animals suffering from severe malnutrition and emaciation; untreated open wounds and contagious outbreaks, including ringworm and giardia.
In the most tragic cases, some animals were in such critical condition that humane euthanasia was the only option to prevent further suffering — a decision SDHS officials say was made only after multiple veterinarians and large-animal experts conferred.
Reunification efforts continue
Ownership of all animals was legally transferred to SDHS on May 1, a move that allows it to begin the process of adoption and relocation. However, the top priority remains reuniting boarded pets with their rightful owners.
SDHS officials who have been trying to reunify animals say that Individuals who believe their animals were boarded or surrendered at Villa Chardonnay must complete the official claim form at sdhumane.org/julianrescue by 6 p.m. tomorrow, on Friday, May 8.
Nearly 100 submissions have already been received, SDHS reports. Its staff is currently documenting and photographing every animal to match them with these inquiries.
SDHS notes that this rescue effort has pushed San Diego’s shelters further than beyond their capacity and are urging the public to help by donating funds to help pay for food and care, and/or to adopt. By adopting a pet currently in the shelter system, community members can free up vital space for the Julian rescue survivors as they cleared for placement.