TRAVERSE CITY — A man from Grand Traverse County has been sentenced to 30 days in jail and 18 months probation following his self-admitted “neglect” of a dog.
Zachary Schraufnagel, 25, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of abandoning or cruelty toward an animal.
The dog, named Mighty Mac, was eventually put down due to a combination of medical issues.
Schraufnagel acknowledged through his attorney that he did not properly care for the dog.
“He will take responsibility for his neglect,” said Matthew Connolly, Schraufnagel’s attorney. ”That’s not in question — but the abuse portion of it, he does not take responsibility for the physical abuse.”
In the sentencing, prosecutors argued that Schraufnagel’s behavior showed a willful disregard for the well being of Mighty Mac.
“Abuse allegations aside — just looking at the condition of the dog, how you ignore that?," said Kyle Attwood, an attorney for Grand Traverse County. “Leave that dog with somebody else, leave the dog to basically starve to death and suffer and be subjected to an extreme amount of pain?”
Judge Robert Cooney sentenced Schraufnagel to 30 days in jail, above the state’s sentencing guidelines for the charge.
“A dog doesn’t become this emaciated unless the abuse goes on for a substantial period of time,” he said. “The other reason I think some measure of punishment is called for is because the defendant does not appear remorseful or apologetic.”
Mighty Mac’s neglect also drew outrage from the Cherryland Humane Society, which cared for the dog after his circumstances were discovered in 2024.
“To people in the future, maybe they’ll think twice before abandoning or abusing or neglecting an animal or a pet, and then they’ll be considered like a member of their family, and not just like piece of furniture in their home,” said Naomi Lawson-Pobuda, communications director for the Cherryland Humane Society.
The judge also left open the possibility of Schraufnagel paying restitution to the Humane Society, likely equivalent to the cost they’d put into caring for Mighty Mac.
The Humane Society encouraged those worried about the treatment of an animal to reach out, before it’s potentially too late.
“Don’t be afraid to say something when you see something — if you see or even are suspicious of there being neglect, don’t wait until it gets to a point like Mighty Mac," Lawson-Pobuda said. “Report it now, call your animal control now, tell somebody about it so it never gets to this point again.”