78 Rats 'Living In Squalor' Rescued From Van In San Diego County

ESCONDIDO, CA — Dozens of rats "living in squalor" were rescued from a stalled van and moved safely Tuesday to the San Diego Humane Society.

A total of 78 rats were found June 1 in the van's dashboard and seats as well as in dirty terrariums inside the vehicle in Escondido, according to the San Diego Humane Society.

Escondido police contacted Humane Law Enforcement after officers towed the van overnight June 1 to the organization's Escondido campus. Police had been alerted to the vehicle with expired registration plates in a hotel parking lot. They noticed animals living inside the van.

Humane officers and animal care staff wore protective gear to rescue 23 adult rats and seven babies on the first day.

The other rats were hiding in the dashboard, seating and lining of the vehicle, and had to be captured with food traps over several days in order to be rescued, according to the San Diego Humane Society. Staff will continue to monitor the traps daily, as they believe additional rats may be hiding in the van.

Authorities have been in contact with the owner of the rats and van. Humane officers will not be recommending any charges against the owner because she agreed to surrender all animals to the organization, according to the San Diego Humane Society.

"This was a sad situation all around," said Lt. Regina Price with San Diego Humane Society's Humane Law Enforcement. "The owner had fallen on hard times and was unable to properly care for the animals."

Anyone who needs help caring for their pets can contact San Diego Humane Society for assistance.

Once vaccinated and medically released, the rats will be available for adoption at San Diego Humane Society's campuses in Escondido, El Cajon, Oceanside and San Diego. The organization is open for walk-in adoptions from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

• Also see: 58 Cats Rescued From Hoarder, 36 Available For Adoption In San Diego