BEACON FALLS, Conn. — The Connecticut Department of Agriculture took 99 sheep, 15 cats and one goose into custody after they found them neglected on a farm last week.
The sheep and the goose were taken from the farm on Lopus Road to the state's rescue operations at the Department of Corrections facility in Niantic. The cats were taken in by The Woodbridge Regional Animal Control after they were voluntarily surrendered.
The sheep, including 65 adults and 34 lambs, will be evaluated and treated by state-licensed veterinarians and remain in the department's custody until the case works its way through the court system.
Officials said they received a complaint on Feb. 22. The caller said they could see several sheep carcasses being picked at by vultures from the street.
The state Department of Agriculture’s Animal Control Unit and Regulatory Services staff met with the owner of the animals, David Chestnitis, 65, on the next day to further assess the situation. The found sheep that had trouble getting up and that had not been sheered in several years. The property had debris strewn around and at least two dead sheep were at one end of the property.
Chestnitis told officials that he had been sick lately and was unable to move the carcasses. He said he did not have a veterinarian, "because he knows more than they do" and it was difficult to find a large animal vet "that sees more than cats and dogs," according to the warrant.
One ewe and her lamb were removed with permission of the owner and brought to a veterinarian to receive the necessary treatment for survival since investigators felt that it would not survive the night. It was one of two born recently and Chestnitis said the other had drowned. He also said, according to the warrant, that he had an inoperable heat lamp. Following treatment, the lamb and ewe were transported to the rescue barn in Niantic.
Investigators found several carcasses strewn around the property.
The remainder of the animals were taken on Feb. 24.
The investigation revealed animal welfare concerns, including unsuitable living conditions, excess growth of wool causing skin conditions and bald patches, as well as lameness due to overgrown hooves, the Department of Agriculture applied for and was granted, a search and seizure warrant for the remaining animals in question.
Doug Stewart is the Senior Digital Content Producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dstewart@fox61.com.
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