CHEYENNE — A man accused of hoarding more than 100 animals in “horrific” conditions was also investigated — but not convicted — for similar allegations more than three years ago, according to court documents reviewed by Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday.
The Laramie County Sheriff’s Office on Monday announced it had arrested Michael Ohern, 70, who is suspected of hoarding 102 animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, tortoises, small birds and a goat.
The sheriff’s office recommended 22 counts of felony aggravated cruelty to animals against him for 22 animals the agency said it found dead in his possession.
Cheyenne Animal Shelter (CAS) workers are now scrambling to accommodate the new arrivals, many of which are underweight and requiring immediate veterinary attention, they told Cowboy State Daily on Monday.
Sheriff’s office officials characterized the animals’ condition as "injured, sick, and severely neglected.”
The animals are considered evidence until law enforcement officials conclude their investigation into the situation. CAS Director of Development and Outreach Niki Harrison estimated it could cost upwards of $150,000 to care for the animals during that time.
The Cheyenne Animal Shelter is scrambling to serve more than 100 new animals following a “horrific” hoarding case. Many are dirty, skinny, and in need of veterinary care. A Laramie County man has been charged with animal cruelty. The animals taken from the home include dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, tortoises and a goat. (Cheyenne Animal Shelter via Facebook) 
The Cheyenne Animal Shelter is scrambling to serve more than 100 new animals following a “horrific” hoarding case. Many are dirty, skinny, and in need of veterinary care. A Laramie County man has been charged with animal cruelty. The animals taken from the home include dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, tortoises and a goat. (Cheyenne Animal Shelter via Facebook) 
The Cheyenne Animal Shelter is scrambling to serve more than 100 new animals following a “horrific” hoarding case. Many are dirty, skinny, and in need of veterinary care. A Laramie County man has been charged with animal cruelty. The animals taken from the home include dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, tortoises and a goat. (Cheyenne Animal Shelter via Facebook)
2022 Citations
Ohern had been cited on three different variations of animal cruelty or abuse stemming back to May 2022. The Laramie County District Attorney’s Office dismissed each of those offenses, according to his court file.
One offense filed May 16, 2022, for aggravated animal cruelty resulting in an animal’s death or euthanasia was dismissed by prosecutors one day later, the file shows. The dismissed citation accused Ohern of having committed “Cruelty to animals that results in death (of a dog named Lira).”
Another citation for animal abuse filed on May 16, 2022, accused Ohern of keeping a “household pet confined in unsanitary conditions.”
“Owner kept a household pet (dog — Angelica) in conditions which constitutes (sic) a public health hazard,” the citation reads.
A separate May 16, 2022, citation accused Ohern of cruelty to animals for failing to provide an animal with food, drink or protection. That citation also references a dog named Angelica.
2025 Citations
Cheyenne Animal Control filed a slew of animal-mistreatment-related citations against Ohern citations as recently as July.
He was cited for multiple counts of allowing an animal to be a public nuisance and having an animal at large. Ohern was convicted of those offenses and fined $480, according to an Aug. 12 judgment order.
Several cases, which appear to still be ongoing, stem back to a Sept. 23 citation for failing to obtain rabies vaccinations for various animals — such as dogs named “Zero,” “Dandy,” “Sparkler” and “Bella” — and some cats.
The Cheyenne Animal Shelter is scrambling to serve more than 100 new animals following a “horrific” hoarding case. Many are dirty, skinny, and in need of veterinary care. A Laramie County man has been charged with animal cruelty. The animals taken from the home include dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, tortoises and a goat. (Jackson Walker, Cowboy State Daily) 
The Cheyenne Animal Shelter is scrambling to serve more than 100 new animals following a “horrific” hoarding case. Many are dirty, skinny, and in need of veterinary care. A Laramie County man has been charged with animal cruelty. The animals taken from the home include dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, tortoises and a goat. (Jackson Walker, Cowboy State Daily) 
The Cheyenne Animal Shelter is scrambling to serve more than 100 new animals following a “horrific” hoarding case. Many are dirty, skinny, and in need of veterinary care. A Laramie County man has been charged with animal cruelty. The animals taken from the home include dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, tortoises and a goat. (Jackson Walker, Cowboy State Daily) 
The Cheyenne Animal Shelter is scrambling to serve more than 100 new animals following a “horrific” hoarding case. Many are dirty, skinny, and in need of veterinary care. A Laramie County man has been charged with animal cruelty. The animals taken from the home include dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, tortoises and a goat. (Jackson Walker, Cowboy State Daily)
That Hoarding Case
The hoarding case is Cheyenne’s largest known case since a 2022 incident which saw 58 “giant” dogs rescued from poor conditions and delivered to the Cheyenne Animal Shelter.
Because the charges against Ohern were dismissed and an investigation into the current hoarding situation remains ongoing, multiple law enforcement officials on Tuesday said they could not confirm whether Ohern was the person involved in that case.
Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday filed a public records request with Cheyenne Animal Control seeking copies of its citations issued to Ohern from 2022 to 2023.
Cheyenne Animal Control Supervisor Elizabeth Wagner confirmed receipt of that request via phone but declined further comment.
Laramie County District Attorney Sylvia Hackl told Cowboy State Daily that while she was not serving as district attorney at the time of Ohern’s original offenses, she feels "confident” Ohern was involved in the 2022 hoarding incident.
She suspects prosecutors may have dropped charges against him due to his willingness to surrender his pets to animal control officials.
“I can’t even imagine what it must be like for the shelter to see this deluge of animals,” she said.
Ohern could not be reached by publication time. His publicly available file does not yet list an attorney for him in this case.
Jackson Walker can be reached at walker@cowboystatedaily.com and Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
