PRESQUE ISLE (WWJ) A Northern Michigan man has been arraigned on cruelty charges for allegedly abusing and abandoning 85 animals.
According to a press release from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR); Scott Thompson, 56 of Hawks, was arraigned on and pleaded not guilty to four animal cruelty charges two months after the DNR conducted an investigation.
In June, DNR conservation officers responded to the 50-acre Thomas family property in Atlanta, in Presque Isle County in the far-north part of the Lower Peninsula. The officers had a search warrant regarding a dead horse. They found 10 dead animals including: four geese, two chickens, and a single horse, pig, quail and rabbit, the DNR said.
Officers ordered the owners to “properly bury” the horse. The other nine animals went to the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in East Lansing, where lab personnel determined the causes of death as starvation and dehydration, according to the DNR.
On July 23, conservation officers made another visit to the property with a second search warrant in hand.
“They were shocked to find numerous animals starving, with no water and poor living conditions,” the release read.
According to the DNR; officers seized 75 animals: 14 geese, 14 sheep, eight chickens and piglets, seven pigs and horses, four dogs and mini cows, three turtles, two goats and cats, and one turkey and rabbit.
Officers were also able to find proper care for all of the animals, the DNR said.
Thompson pleaded not guilty to Failing to Provide Animals with Adequate Care, a felony punishable by up to seven years in prison and/or $10,000 in fines and community service; a misdemeanor of Animal Cruelty, a misdemeanor punishable of up to 93 days in jail with up to $1,000 in fines and 200 hours of community service; two counts of Improper Burial of Dead Animals, misdemeanors each punishable by up to 90 days in jail and up to $500 in fines.
“This is a rare situation for the DNR to get involved in, as domestic animal complaints and investigations are not our primary responsibility or focus. However, there were no other resources available,” Chief Jason Haines, DNR Law Enforcement Division, said in a release. “This is a very large-scale animal abuse case, and something had to be done.”
Thompson was released on bond. He’s due back in court on August 16th. The DNR is also seeking a second suspect.