Spencer man charged with inhumane treatment to animals

Man faces charges in animal case


Melanie Brandert, The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D.

Nov. 7--SPENCER -- A Spencer man faces 15 counts of misdemeanor inhumane treatment of an animal for neglecting several horses and two dogs.

Thomas A. Dykshorn, 33, is accused of failing to provide food, water and proper care for the animals on Oct. 6, according to the complaint dated Monday in McCook County circuit court.

Dykshorn's case is connected to 12 horses being seized from his farm three miles east of Spencer by Second Chance Rescue Center officials on Oct. 14. That was the center's third major animal seizure since early September.

Eleven horses were taken to Second Chance. One horse that had its eyeball removed because it was punctured was transported to Dakota Large Animal Clinic near Harrisburg.

Many of the horses had protruding ribs, vertebrae and hip bones, said Dana Wigg, Second Chance humane officer.

McCook County Sheriff Mark Norris has said he received an anonymous call on Oct. 6 from a concerned person who saw a stray dog at a rural home east of Spencer and thought it belonged to a neighbor.

Wigg met with Sheriff's Deputy Wayne Moen to pick up the dog, which had visible ribs and hip bones, that afternoon from Dykshorn's acreage, court documents said. They found another dog with several injuries, such as a partially collapsed head, swollen-shut left eye and indented skull.

The horses showed signs of being starved and underweight, and some had bleeding legs. Many of the horses had no food or water in their pens.

Wigg took the two dogs into her custody that day.

Rosey Quinn, Second Chance director, said the horses are recuperating, except for one that is not well. Three of the horses have been adopted, and the center is looking for homes for the others.

"They have got a ways to go with their recovery," she said. "They have had their feet done, gotten shots (and) been wormed."

Horses in poor condition usually take four to six weeks for any changes to occur with their health, Quinn said.

Dykshorn is free on $500 bond and will have his initial court appearance on Nov. 30.