Inside the Animal Cruelty Case at H Bar E Drive in Cheyenne

A 70-year-old Cheyenne man is facing felony animal cruelty charges after more than a dozen animals were found dead in his home.

According to a booking sheet, Michael Patrick Ohern was arrested at his home in the 200 block of H Bar E Drive at 12:51 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10, after a search warrant found the conditions of his home to be negligent to the health and wellbeing of his pets.

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The arresting Laramie County Sheriff's detective says originally, 14 animals were found dead in the home, including dogs, cats, turtles, and bunnies.

Cheyenne Animal Shelter via Facebook

The surviving animals, more than 75 of them, many of whom were found injured, sick, and severely neglected, were taken to the Cheyenne Animal Shelter for urgent care and rehabilitation.

RELATED: Cheyenne Shelter Takes in Over 75 Animals From Dire Situation

Ohern was booked into the Laramie County Detention Center on 14 felony counts of cruelty to animals - indifference to the animal's safety, health or life.

Please remember that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

UPDATE:

The Laramie County Sheriff's Office in a news release Monday afternoon said Ohern was arrested and booked on 22 counts of felony aggravated cruelty to animals.

The agency says during the warrant service, more than 100 animals were seized, including 22 deceased.

The case remains under investigation.

LOOK: Here are the pets banned in each state

Because the regulation of exotic animals is left to states, some organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, advocate for federal, standardized legislation that would ban owning large cats, bears, primates, and large poisonous snakes as pets.

Read on to see which pets are banned in your home state, as well as across the nation.

Gallery Credit: Elena Kadvany

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