Sixteen cats and dogs were removed from a Warren County residence Feb. 5, after the owner was found dead on the premises.Carol M. Rakonick, 68, of the 23000 Block of Mark Peterson Drive, was pronounced dead by Warren County Warren County Coroner Roger Mauzy on Monday, Feb. 3. Mauzy said Rakonick likely died of exposure after coming home from a shopping trip and falling on the ice near her home. Rakonick was last seen alive on Jan. 31.Sheriff's deputies were called to the scene to check on the well being of the property owner and discovered the 13 dogs and three cats, many of which were kept outside in unheated shelters with no access to food or water. Some were kept in an abandoned school bus.Police obtained a warrant last Wednesday and members of the Humane Society's Animal Cruelty Task Force removed the animals from the residence.A disposition hearing is set for Feb. 24 in Warrenton, after which the animals may become available for adoption.For more on this story see next Thursday's Record.

Humane Society employees administer to one of the cats rescued from a home in Warren County.