On April 6, 2026, Marion County Sheriff’s Office Agriculture Detective Kraig McClaskey arrested David Palacio and Janine Chaux on multiple counts of aggravated animal cruelty following an investigation into neglect at Happy Valley Horse Rescue in Ocala. The investigation began in November 2025 after an anonymous tip, revealing 54 horses on the property in poor condition—underweight, with neglected hooves and unsanitary stalls. A subsequent search uncovered a total of 69 horses on the rescue and an additional 17 neglected horses on a neighboring property under Chaux’s care, many suffering severe malnourishment, with two horses euthanized due to their condition.

Palacio and Chaux were charged and held on $71,000 bonds each. The seized horses were taken to the MCSO Agriculture Investigations Farm, where they received treatment and have since been rehabilitated. The sheriff’s office acknowledged the support of community partners and horse rescues that assisted in caring for and assuming custody of the animals.