78 rats found living in squalor in Escondido van

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ESCONDIDO, Calif. — Authorities found 78 rats living in squalor inside a van, and they were moved safely to the San Diego Humane Society Tuesday.

The rats were found on June 1 in the van's seats, in the dashboard, and inside dirty terrariums, according to Nina Thompson of the society.

Escondido police contacted the society's Humane Law Enforcement, saying they had towed a van overnight to the organization's campus. Police had been alerted to the vehicle in a hotel parking lot with expired registration plates and noticed the van had animals living inside.

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

Other rats were hiding in the vehicle's dashboard, seating, and lining and had to be captured with food traps over several days to be rescued. Humane Society staff will continue to monitor the traps daily, as they believe additional rats may be hiding in the van.

Humane officers have been in touch with the van's owner and animals. Because she agreed to surrender all animals to the nonprofit organization, officers will not be recommending any charges be filed.

"This was a sad situation all around," said Lt. Regina Price with Humane Law Enforcement. "The owner had fallen on hard times and could not care for the animals properly."

Once vaccinated and medically released, the rats will be placed up for adoption at San Diego Humane Society's campuses in Escondido, El Cajon, Oceanside, and San Diego.

Thompson tells CBS8 the rats add to the large number of animals already at the San Diego Humane Society.

Right now, they are over capacity with more than 2400 animals. They're asking the public to help by adopting, becoming a foster family, or donating to the San Diego Humane Society.

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