Multi-agency rescue, care at Villa Chardonnay ongoing
Photo of horses rescued from Villa Chardonnay Horses With Wings, Inc., and now at Suwanna Ranch in Northern California courtesy Humane Farming Association By Karen Pearlman May 18, 2026 (San Diego County) — The multi-agency animal rescue operation at Villa Chardonnay Horses With Wings, Inc. animal sanctuary in Julian continued over the weekend with specialized teams converging to provide emergency dental and hoof care to dozens of neglected horses. Additionally, transports started to relocate farm animals to a lifelong sanctuary in Northern California. The ongoing rescue effort at Villa Chardonnay’s 40-acre property at 4554 Boulder Creek Road began on May 1 when the San Diego Humane Society served a search warrant from a Superior Court judge following an investigation into widespread animal neglect, emaciation, and untreated medical conditions. Legal ownership of the animals at Villa Chardonnay was transferred to SDHS amidst Villa Chardonnay’s ongoing bankruptcy proceedings. The full roster of more than 700 animals found on the property includes 175 horses, 446 cats, 30 dogs, 30 chickens, 12 goats, eight ducks, eight geese, six mini ponies, four donkeys, four turkeys, three pigs, three roosters, three red-eared slider turtles, two ravens, one sheep, one bull and one crow. Printer-friendly version