JULIAN — The San Diego Humane Society rescued more than 400 animals from Villa Chardonnay, a now-shuttered sanctuary in Julian, California, after executing a search warrant on the property last week. The animals included horses, cats, dogs, goats, ponies, chickens, ducks, geese and pigs.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Office and Humane Law Enforcement served the search warrant at the 40-acre property at the 4500 block of Boulder Creek Road on Friday. San Diego County Animal Services had transferred the case to the San Diego Humane Society on April 24 due to the scale of the operation. Pasadena Humane Society, LA County Animal Care & Control and Marin Humane are assisting with the rescue.

The recovered animals included about 165 horses, several ponies, 30 dogs, more than 300 cats, as well as chickens, ducks, geese, goats and pigs. Veterinary evidence found at the sanctuary showed emaciation, untreated injuries and a lack of basic care, with widespread malnutrition, open wounds, ringworm and giardia documented among the animals.

"This is one of the largest and most complex rescues our organization has ever undertaken. We are currently managing a 40-acre property to stabilize and rescue hundreds of animals who have suffered from significant deficiencies in care and welfare." said Jace Huggins, vice-president and chief of humane law enforcement at the San Diego Humane Society.

Huggins described the focus of the ongoing operation. "We're just really focusing on assessing these animals, getting any sick animals out of here that need to get out of here, and then figuring out how to make sure that all of these animals get the care that they need from this moment forward." he said.

Four horses, a pony and a bull were euthanized to prevent further suffering, and one kitten died while in the care of the San Diego Humane Society. "It truly is appalling. There is no question at all about the neglect, at the very least that occurred out there. I am very happy that these animals have a new chance at life." said Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO at the San Diego Humane Society.

Villa Chardonnay had operated since 2003 and cared for more than 600 animals, providing a home to animals that had been abandoned, neglected or abused. The sanctuary filed for bankruptcy last year, and the trustee overseeing the bankruptcy moved to legally transfer the animals to the San Diego Humane Society.

Heidi Redman, a sanctuary spokesperson, denied the neglect and abuse allegations and said the organization had hoped to turn around its financial situation. "They were well taken care of." she said. "There is definitely another side to this story and it should be told."

The San Diego Humane Society did not release information about the property's owners or residents.