A Monroe woman was arrested on animal cruelty charges after authorities seized 84 animals from a Warwick property last week. Rescuers say she may have been renting some of them out for parties and events.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office says the case began in 2024, when more than 100 animals were previously removed from the same property on Old Dutch Hollow Road.

The homeowner, 62-year-old Linda Hickey, was arrested on Aug. 12 of this year under New York State Agriculture and Markets Law for animal cruelty and failure to provide proper sustenance. She was released on an appearance ticket.

Weeks after her arrest, investigators returned to the property with new search warrants. On Sept.17, deputies said they encountered a strong odor of urine and feces and found cages stacked inside the house. That search led to the removal of 66 animals — including dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, reptiles and exotic species such as a wallaby, raccoon and tortoises.

Two days later, on Sept. 19, deputies executed a second warrant and seized another 18 animals, including pigs and chickens. In total, 84 animals were removed last week.

Rescuers with the Warwick Valley Humane Society described the conditions as “deplorable,” saying animals were forced to live in their own waste, and some were crammed into cages so small they could not move.

“Three of the rabbits had to have emergency grooming by a veterinarian because they were basically dreadlocks,” said Suzyn Barron, president of the society.

Barron also said Hickey was working with a company that rents animals for birthday parties and community events. She said that company even supplied animals at Chowtoberfest in Pine Island earlier this month.

The name of the company has not yet been confirmed.

“This was a one-woman show, and unfortunately the animals were subjected to living horribly,” Barron said. She added that she hopes the case serves as a warning to anyone considering hiring animal rental companies. “Go see the animals first. Go see their living conditions before they come to your party. That would stop a lot of this.”

Rescuers say the animals that were seized are now being cared for by the nonprofit Animal Nation in South Salem, Westchester County. They confirmed one of the animals — a bearded dragon lizard — died from starvation. They also said several others previously documented inside the home — including an emu, a swan, two white geese and four peafowl — remain unaccounted for.

The sheriff’s office says the investigation is still active and that Hickey could face additional charges.