MICHIGAN -- After seeing some starving dogs attack miniature horses, Huron County Sheriff's deputies are pursuing cruelty and neglect charges against the animals' owner.
The sheriff's office on Wednesday afternoon received a call that a goat had been killed by a dog on property on Dutcher Road in Fairhaven Township. Responding Deputy Steve Bismarck located the dead goat, which had apparently been killed by a Siberian husky and a Springer spaniel.
Bismarck also located a second husky, two miniature horses, six live puppies and one dead puppy. One of the horses had wounds on its neck, possibly the result of a dog attack. All of the animals appeared to be suffering from malnutrition and neglect, deputies report.
As Bismarck was speaking with fellow Deputy Ward Carter, the first husky and the spaniel cornered the horses and commenced what the deputies believed was another attack. The deputies had to physically pull the dogs from the horses, they report.
The deputies determined the dogs had killed the goat because they did not have food. They secured the canines and Bismarck quickly purchased food for the animals.
The homeowners were not present at the time and witnesses told deputies no one had been there for several days.
Thursday morning, Bismark and Lt. Brian Wisenbaugh returned to the property with a veterinarian from the Bad Axe Animal Clinic. The deputies decided to remove the animals due to their conditions.
While they were still at the scene, the 30-year-old female resident and her family arrived. The woman was upset and told deputies the house is not always occupied, deputies report.
The woman cooperated with the deputies and surrendered the animals.
The dogs were taken to the Thumb Animal Shelter near Elkton, while the horses were taken in by a volunteer near Filion.
Deputies are continuing to investigate and they expect charges are forthcoming.
Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson said he could not provide photos of the animals, as they were too graphic.
(The Saginaw News - Sept 29, 2012)
