HONOLULU -- The Kauai Humane Society seized 16 horses from a property in Lihue after it said workers found the animals starved and neglected.

The emaciated and dehydrated animals were found on a property off Maalo Road in Lihue on Monday afternoon, Kauai Humane Society officials said.

They said the animals belong to Lara Butler-Brandy, who owns the Keapana Horsemanship. She has been cited with 16 counts of cruelty to animals.

"This is the largest cruelty case involving this many horses I know of in the history of Hawaii," Kauai Humane Society Executive Director Becky Rhoades said in a written statement.

Rhoades said the humane society gave Butler-Brandy a chance to give up her horses, but she refused.

All of the horses are now in protective custody. If the owner agrees to surrender the animals, they could be adopted.