ALPENA –Cases of animal cruelty are on the rise in Northeast Michigan and statewide, state data shows, as prosecutors in two area counties work on two cases involving hundreds of mistreated animals.

Animal cruelty cases across Northeast Michigan increased 50% between 2020 and 2022, the most recent year for which data was available, according to figures local police agencies report to the Michigan State Police.

Alpena County saw a sharp increase in reported animal abuse cases in those years, with 10 incidents in 2022, compared to five in 2021 and six in 2020. Presque Isle County reported no cases in 2022, down from one in 2021 and two in 2020. Montmorency County reported two cases in both 2022 and 2021, while no cases were reported in 2020. Alcona County reported no such cases in any of those three years.

Statewide, Michigan reported 883 cases of animal cruelty in 2022, a significant rise from 663 cases in 2021 and 496 cases in 2020.

The reason for Northeast Michigan’s uptick wasn’t immediately clear. Alpena County Animal Control Officer Michelle Reid wasn’t immediately available for comment. Neither Alpena County Prosecutor Cynthia Muszynski nor Montmorency County Prosecutor Vicki Kundinger, who are each prosecuting high-profile animal cruelty cases, could be reached for comment, nor could officials from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, which investigated the Montmorency County case.

The Alpena County Sheriff’s Office responded to a complaint of severe animal neglect on July 30. Reid, acting on photographic evidence provided by a concerned resident, secured a search warrant for a property on Taylor Hawks Road and discovered unsanitary living conditions and animals in extremely poor health. More than 160 animals were removed from the property and placed into protective custody.

Kristy Bartlett, 41, was arrested and charged with a felony count of abandoning or cruelty to 25 or more animals, along with two misdemeanor charges related to the improper burial of dead animals. Bartlett, who was lodged in the Alpena County Jail, was released on a personal recognizance bond and awaits further court proceedings.

In Montmorency County, meanwhile, DNR conservation officers took action against 56-year-old Scott Allen Thompson, of Hawks, following a large-scale animal cruelty investigation. The DNR, which typically focuses on wildlife and natural resources, became involved because of the scale of the neglect and the absence of other available resources.

DNR conservation officers, armed with a search warrant, inspected the more than 50-acre Thompson family property in Atlanta in June. They discovered 10 deceased animals, including a horse, pig, quail, rabbit, and several birds. Further examination by the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory determined that starvation and dehydration were the causes of death.

Returning to the property on July 23 with a second search warrant, conservation officers found numerous starving animals living in poor conditions. Seventy-five animals were seized and relocated to facilities where they could receive proper care.

Thompson, who was arrested on July 18, pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including a felony count of failing to provide adequate care for animals. He remains free on bond and is scheduled to appear in court again on Friday.

Temi Fadayomi can be reached at 989-358-5693 or tfadayomi@thealpenanews.com.