More than 50 horses and other equids are in the care in the care of animal welfare advocates after being removed from a Minnesota farm by law enforcement authorities last week.

In a written statement, Fillmore County Sheriff’s Department Capt. John DeGeorge said that on Nov. 29, following an investigation stemming from a complaint, Sheriff’s Deputies and Animal Humane Society Agent Keith Streff removed 55 allegedly maltreated horses, ponies, and donkeys from a Fillmore County property. Numerous carcasses in various stages of decomposition were also discovered on the property, DeGeorge said. Jeff Moravec, director of communications for the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., metro area-based Animal Humane Society, said that the animals’ owner surrendered them to law enforcement authorities at the time of the removal.

The animals were transported to the Fillmore County Fairgrounds where the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation coordinated their evaluation and placement with equine rescue organizations for rehabilitative care.

At the time of their removal, animals were in various stages of alleged neglect, Moravec said