At least 99 sheep and one goose were rescued from a farm in Beacon Falls where at least five sheep and two lambs were found dead.

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture took custody of the animals after searching the property on Lopus Road on Feb. 24 and finding unsuitable living conditions and other concerning evidence of maltreatment like excess growth of wool on the sheep causing skin conditions and bald patches and overgrown hooves preventing the animals from walking, according to the Department of Agriculture.

In their search of the farm, the department also found five dead sheep and two dead lambs, one of whom was found to have drowned after falling into a bucket of water shortly after it was born, according to a warrant permitting the search.

The surviving animals — including 65 adult sheep and 34 lambs — were taken to the department’s rescue and rehabilitation facility within the Department of Corrections’ facility in Niantic. Woodbridge Regional Animal Control also took custody of 15 cats that were voluntarily surrendered, the department said.

The department also found evidence of other dead animals, including animal carcasses and bones littered through some parts of the farm.

“The property had a great deal of debris, including trash and many empty beer cans,” according to the warrant.

The pasture was filled with debris, including pallets, fence posts, cat food containers, construction debris and general trash, the warrant said.

In a shed, the department found a newborn lamb that was visibly shivering. They rushed the lamb and its mother to an emergency veterinarian who was able to stabilize the pair that was apparently near death, the warrant said.

After they were stabilized at a Tufts veterinary hospital, the ewe and lamb were taken to the rescue barn in Niantic while the department tried to work with the owner to “further assess and resolve the situation,” the department said.

The owner of the farm told officials that he had not been feeling well lately and had been physically unable to move the carcasses of the dead sheep to places where they could decompose or do maintenance tasks like replacing heating lamps. He also told officials that his truck had broken down, meaning he couldn’t move animals to auction and therefore had more animals at the farm than he usually did, the warrant said.

The department was first alerted to concerns at the farm when a complaint was lodged on Feb. 22. Members of the department met with the owner of the animals the next day and removed an ewe and her lamb who were brought to a veterinarian “to receive critical treatment for survival,” the department said.

The rest of the animals were seized after the department searched the farm. They will all be evaluated and treated by state-licensed veterinarians and will remain in the department’s custody until the case moves through the court system.

Resources and support for animal owners facing hardship are available through the Department of Agriculture at (860) 713-2500.