DEADWOOD, S.D. — Prosecutors say a western South Dakota man faces over two dozen charges for allegedly neglecting and starving more than 30 dogs.
Thomas Mraz, of Whitewood, was arrested Tuesday. He was charged with five counts of animal cruelty and 26 counts of neglect, abandonment or mistreatment.
Mraz faces up to two years in prison on each of the animal cruelty charges and one year in custody on each of the neglect charges.
The dogs were found and seized Oct. 13 by the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office after it received a report of neglect.
The Western Hills Humane Society is caring for the dogs. Jennifer McCambridge, from the shelter, said the dogs’ ages range from three days old to three years old, but all of them were malnourished, not trained, and “not even close to being housebroken.”
She said there’s also been a lot of inbreeding in these dogs due to their deformed feet. The dogs aren’t yet ready to be fostered or adopted due to their medical needs and the open court case.
Mraz is scheduled to make an appearance Wednesday morning in Lawrence County Court in Deadwood.
