Lana Bellamy is reporting for the Times Union local animal rights advocacy organizations and the Ulster County District Attorney's Office are conducting an investigation into why a group of lame and severely malnourished sheep were recently found wandering along Route 32 in Saugerties. Dozens of underweight and injured sheep were discovered at a so-called slaughter operation by the founder of Catskill Animal Sanctuary. The sanctuary, along with the Ulster County Society for the Prevention of Animal Cruelty and local law enforcement, rescued 42 sheep. "It's an extraordinary feeling to take in animals who have never known what some of us are able to take for granted — safety, comfort, love," said Kathy Stevens, the founder of Catskill Animal Sanctuary. After the sanctuary worked with police to get the wandering sheep off the road, the organization formally reported their physical conditions to authorities. A warrant was then served at the owner's property, where representatives from the SPCA and the sanctuary found 74 sheep. Some of the animals were underweight and limping, and one was unable to stand, according to information provided by the sanctuary. The veterinarian assisting with the case recommended immediate seizure of the flock. The Catskill Animal Sanctuary collaborated with two partner sanctuaries to adopt nine of the sheep. The Farm Sanctuary accepted seven sheep and Woodstock Farm Sanctuary adopted two ram lambs. In the end, eight of the pregnant sheep were able to give birth to 10 lambs, including two sets of twins. Read the full story in the Times Union.