MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- A popular petting zoo in Iredell County is under federal investigation for allegedly mistreating animals.

• Records show the ranch has had several violations in recent years
• One incident includes a time when animals died after being left in the cold
• The animals have been receiving proper care, a spokesperson says

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has filed a complaint against Lazy 5 Ranch, its owner Henry Hampton and another zoo Hampton owns.  

According to an open records request filed by PETA, Lazy 5 Ranch has had dozens of violations in recent years. One incident includes five waterbucks who died after being left in the cold.

Lazy 5 Ranch didn't address that specific incident, but said most of the alleged violations, including not providing veterinary care to animals, are clerical errors.

“Not that our animals are not receiving veterinary care,” Sarah Rodgers of Lazy 5 Ranch said. “It’s that it wasn't documented. [USDA] did not have proof of [treatment]."

Ranch management says it's working with the USDA on the claims and had a clean inspection this week.

PETA says it wants to see the ranch shut down permanently and the animals rehomed to reputable sanctuaries.  

"Lazy 5 is a facility where animals are chronically neglected,” Vice President and Deputy General Counsel with The PETA Foundation Delcianna Winders said. “We're not talking about one time when an animal was overlooked, we're talking about dozens and dozens of animals who were denied basic veterinary care."