A 56-year-old man was arraigned Friday by a judge in Montmorency County’s 88th District Court, following an animal cruelty investigation conducted by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Scott Allen Thompson, of Hawks, Mich., is accused of multiple animal cruelty charges. Thompson pleaded not guilty to four charges including:
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One felony of failing to provide animals with adequate care, punishable by up to seven years in prison and/or up to $10,000 in fines and community service.
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One misdemeanor of animal cruelty, punishable by up to 93 days in jail with up to $1,000 in fines and up to 200 hours of community service.
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Two misdemeanors for improper burial of dead animals, 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,” said Chief Jason Haines, DNR Law Enforcement Division.
In June, DNR officers went to the 50-acre Thompson family property in Atlanta with a search warrant regarding a dead horse. During the search, they located a total of 10 deceased animals including: four geese, two chickens, a horse, pig, quail and rabbit.
The owners were ordered to properly bury the horse and the other nine animals were sent to the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in East Lansing, where lab personal determined starvation and dehydration were the causes of death.
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“This is a very large-scale animal abuse case, and something had to be done,” said Haines.
On July 23, officers returned to the property with the second warrant and found more than 70 animals starving, with no water and in poor living conditions.
Officers seized 75 animals and were able to relocate them to adequate facilities for proper care, including: 14 geese, 14 sheep, eight chickens and piglets, seven pigs and horses, four dogs and mini cows, three turtles, two goats and cats and a turkey and rabbit.
Thompson was arrested on July 18 and remains free on bond pending suture court appearances. He is due back in court on Aug. 16 for a hearing.
The DNR is currently seeking a second suspect in this case.
Animal cruelty incidents should be reported to local county or municipal animal control officers.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan man accused of abusing 75 animals, authorities say
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