OLD TOWN – Dead animals were everywhere at the “farm” that authorities from the Maine Animal Welfare Program and Old Town Police Department raided Friday.

Old Town’s animal control officer and another police officer originally went to the residence at the end of Winter Road in west Old Town to serve the owner a notice for an unregistered dog.

“When they went to serve the notice, they noticed a number of dead animals in the yard and a number of animals close to dying,” Lt. Kyle Smart said.

A search warrant was promptly issued.

“At 11 a.m. Friday I received a call from Sgt. [Travis] Roy from Old Town,” said Norma Worley, director of the Animal Welfare Program for the state’s Department of Agriculture. “He told me they were writing a search warrant for a house at the end of Winter Road to seize all live and dead animals. The initial call came into me that there were a lot of dead animals at the scene.”

About 24 animals were found dead at the Winter Road property owned by Barry Kennedy, 64, officials said, and more than 100 were seized when law enforcement arrived Friday afternoon. Most of the recovered animals were suffering from starvation, Worley said.

“Old Town Police Department executed the search warrant and requested that we seize the animals because we have the experience for that, and we also can house the animals,” she said. “Approximately two dozen [were found dead] in various stages. There were geese, chickens, a goat and I believe some guinea pigs.”

The ones that remained alive were taken Friday to temporary homes at the Bangor Humane Society until permanent placements can be found. The humane society also assisted by providing six or seven volunteers for the seizure of the animals.

“The total number of animals [seized], including fowl, was probably in the area of 125,” said the state animal welfare director.

Worley said approximately 75 of the animals were chickens, geese or pigeons.

The search and seizure started around 1:30 p.m. Friday and lasted until after midnight, Worley said.

“It was a big job,” she said. “They actually got back to Augusta at 2:30 a.m. [Saturday].”

Two Animal Welfare Program personnel, including a veterinarian, were dispatched to the scene.

Smart said Kennedy was not cited during the search and seizure but future charges against him are pending.

“Everything has been forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for them to file,” he said.

Kennedy could be charged with animal cruelty, a Class D misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and up to a $2,000 fine, or both. A judge also could request psychological counseling in addition to any fine or penalty imposed if Kennedy is convicted of the crime.

The town’s public works department picked up the animal carcasses at the scene.

Old Town’s code enforcement officer, Charles Heinonen, was also at the house, investigating whether charges need to be filed against Kennedy for excessive unregistered vehicles on his property. The state limit is three, and Heinonen said Kennedy has more than 14.

“There were quite a number of unregistered vehicles,” he said. “Future citations will be following.”

Representatives from the District Attorney’s Office said Kennedy’s file had not arrived in their office as of Monday afternoon.