In July 2026, 81 small dogs and 20 chickens were rescued from a home in Renner, South Dakota, where they had been living in filth — feces covering the floors of the home and a nearby shop.

Three of those dogs later died.

Faith Smith and Sherry Napier have been charged with four counts of felony animal cruelty and 97 counts of misdemeanor animal neglect. Those charges reflect the scale of what happened. Now prosecutors must follow through.

Animals cannot speak for themselves or testify in a courtroom. They cannot demand justice. That responsibility falls to the people who carry cases like this to their conclusion — and to the public, who can make clear that the community is watching.

This wasn't a single act of negligence. Eighty-one animals living in those conditions represents a prolonged failure to provide basic care. Three of them didn't survive. That matters.

Sign this petition to urge Minnehaha County prosecutors to pursue the maximum penalties under South Dakota law — and to send a clear message that animal cruelty on this scale will not be treated as a minor offense.