WALLKILL (AP) -- Police have charged a dog breeder with animal cruelty after authorities seized more than 70 Rottweilers from her upstate New York property.

Wallkill Police Chief Robert Hertman tells local media outlets that 64-year-old Sylvia Panetta wasn't properly caring for the 76 dogs she had on her property in the rural Orange County town, 65 miles northwest of New York City.

Officials say police and animal rescue workers removed the dogs Monday. They say some of the dogs were malnourished and injured.

Hertman says Panetta was breeding the dogs and selling them online. Town officials say she wasn't licensed to operate a kennel.

Police first went to the property in March in response to a complaint. Panetta was ordered to properly care for the animals, but police say she didn't comply.

Panetta declined to comment to local media.

The upstate division of Mountain Rottie Rescue has identified at least two foster homes for the dogs. They don’t know how many dogs it can handle so it needs to find foster homes first.

If you are interested in fostering, visit mountainrottierescue.org. 

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