An Elkhart County animal rescue is under fire, after the humane society seized more than a dozen animals they say were living there under ‘inhumane conditions.’

Eight cats, seven dogs, and six horses were taken from the New Hope Farm in New Paris. The humane society says the situation was desperate.

Anne Reel, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Elkhart County, says after receiving a few calls last week; humane society officers went to the property and found it ‘virtually unlivable.’

She says the farm itself was in disrepair, and the animals were without adequate care, shelter, food, and water.

They also found two dead dogs and a dead horse on the property; and are thankful that list wasn't longer.

"Frosty" is one of the lucky ones to still have her life.

But she got her name for a painful reason.

“Cat's ears are so thin at the top that when they're exposed to that sub zero temperatures... They can actually frostbite and it just breaks off,” Reel said.

The tips of Frosty’s ears are missing, and Reel says that’s just one example of the ‘inhumane’ conditions.

“The overall conditions of the facility, there were boards with nails in them that the horses could have stepped on, the lot itself was filled with feces and mud, and of course other dead animals lying in that,” Reel said.

The dead animals brought on a whole different horror.

“Some of the dogs had actually been eating off the horse carcass... And I think probably some of the cats were eating some of the carcasses, the remains, too,” Reel said.

Reel says while it's shocking this could happen at an animal rescue, it shows owners who send their pets to rescues should make sure everything is in order, so their pets don't have to be rescued again.

“You know don’t just assume that your animal is being cared for. You need to go out there and physically look and see how your animal is doing and make sure your animal is in proper care and being well taken care of. To make an assumption, you end up in a situation like this,” Reel said.

Paying a visit to the New Hope Farm today, we weren't able to find anyone to talk to in person. However, we did speak with a volunteer there over the phone, who said he wouldn't describe the situation at the farm as ‘cruelty.’

He says the owner has just been down and out lately, and run into some health issues, and hasn't been able to keep up with caring for the animals.

But, he also said the humane society should have stepped in earlier, because things have been in bad shape for some time.

The Elkhart County Prosecutor’s office will determine whether to press charges in this case, and Reel says they plan to hand the case over to them as soon as their investigation into the ‘animal abandonment and cruelty’ is complete.

The cats and dogs will stay at the humane society, and the horses at an undisclosed location for the time being. Reel says they will decide where to send the animals once the investigation is complete.

Reel also says the humane society is asking anyone who believes their animals were being boarded at the farm to contact them at (574) 848-4225.