ORANGE — An Orange resident is the subject of a Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Law Enforcement investigation after the April removal of 147 animals on the property, many of which have since been adopted.

Orange Police Chief James Sullivan confirmed Friday that his department assisted the MSPCA Law Enforcement division in removing the animals from the property on April 16.

According to a June 2 statement from the MSPCA’s Angell Animal Medical Center (MSPCA-Angell), the animals removed included pigs, goats, chickens, geese, ducks, cattle, horses, donkeys and dogs. They were formally surrendered by the owner on April 22 and taken to Nevins Farm in Methuen. Some of the animals had given birth since being relocated, raising the number to more than 150, the statement continued.

Sullivan did not comment on the details of the investigation being led by the MSPCA beyond confirming Orange Police’s involvement in “keeping the peace” while the removal occurred.

This was not the first visit the MSPCA has made to this property in Orange, as it removed an emaciated 2-year-old Percheron filly named Astrid as part of an investigation, according to a March 24 Facebook post by MSPCA-Angell.

According to MSPCA-Angell Equine and Farm Animal Outreach and Rescue Manager Kaycie McCarthy, Astrid was emaciated and had sores on her body, indicating she was on the ground “for a prolonged period of time.” She was treated for pneumonia and parasites at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine before going to Nevins Farm to recover.

The latest update on Astrid’s condition from MSPCA-Angell on June 12 states she is now ready for adoption, and that she will need to go to “an experienced, patient adopter who understands that healing is a journey.”

During a free adoption event held at Nevins Farm on the weekend of June 7 and June 8, eight pigs, four cattle, 15 geese, 46 chickens and 14 goats were adopted. Other animals like dogs and donkeys from the Orange farm were adopted prior to the free adoption weekend.

Animal adoption was so popular that the June 8 portion of the promotional event was canceled, as all the available animals were adopted the day before, according to an MSPCA-Angell Facebook post from Saturday, June 7.

Equine and Farm Animal Placement Coordinator Erika Tonnon said in an interview Thursday that the adoption event was a “wild success,” with 40 groups of adopters registering to take home the animals from Nevins Farm. The adoption of these animals, who in large part came from the property in Orange alongside some animals that were already at the farm, helped free up resources for other animals.

“I almost can’t put it into words how important these events are for allowing us to reset our spaces and be there for the next group of animals that we know is really just around the corner,” Tonnon said.

Tonnon noted how quickly adoption registration spots had filled up, which she said she owes to the news and social media attention surrounding the adoption event.

“We had an inkling, based on how much attention the event was getting throughout the week and how many people were calling. The event slots filled up right away,” she said. “By the end of the day Saturday, we were truly [and] completely out of available animals. The only thing left on this property as of Saturday were just the equines, which weren’t a part of the event anyway. So it was really, truly incredible.”

Tonnon said adopters came from across New England to adopt the animals. She said many already have farm animals of their own and were looking to grow their flocks or herds. With this adoption event clearing so much space, she said Nevins Farm is in the process of getting 13 horses ready for adoption.

MSPCA-Angell said on Friday that no further information is available at this time, but prior statements indicate more information on the investigation in Orange will be shared with the public as it becomes available.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.