Trending

More than 50 animals rescued from elderly woman’s New York farm

CANAJOHARIE, N.Y. — An 85-year-old woman was arrested and faces charges after sheriff’s deputies said they found more than 20 dead animals on her property and spent days rescuing dozens more.

>> Read more trending news

In a news release, Montgomery County sheriff’s deputies said their investigation into Carolee Start began when someone called in a complaint to their office about a cow that was spotted on her property “nearly deceased.”

As part of their investigation, deputies said they found other animals on the property that did not appear in good health, and evidence that other animals which had previously died had not been disposed of properly.

Investigators told WRGB the animals they found alive were underfed, with horses and donkey’s hooves in need of care. Some of the animals struggled to walk.

Deputies said they took a total of three days to remove more than 40 cattle, 13 donkeys and eight miniature horses from the property, and that they found more than 20 cattle and one donkey had died and not been disposed of properly.

Start was charged with misdemeanor violations of the Agricultural and Markets Law.

The animals were taken to area farms to be evaluated.