Crufts breeders kept 100 dogs in ‘squalid and appalling’ Bradford terrace

A judge was told yesterday that 89 of the 104 dogs had to be removed during a two-day operation involving Bradford Council, vets, the RSPCA and the Dogs Trust and the other animals only remained at the house because of the logistical problem of finding places for them.

When the Pine Street home of breeders Violet Humes and her daughter Shareem was searched in February 2010 conditions at the three-storey house and yard were found to be extremely unhygienic with dog faeces throughout the property.

The pair are Crufts winners whose show dogs, including Yorkshire Terriers and a Dachshund, have placed every year at the competition since 2007.

Bradford Crown Court heard that 43 animals have since been rehomed, but among the animals still being cared for by the council was an Irish champion show dog called Zorro.

The Standard Poodle was said to be worth £5,000, but Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC ruled yesterday that Zorro and another show dog called Ice could not be returned to the defendants.

“That would be a ludicrous result of your wrong-doing,” he told the pair.

At the conclusion of a prosecution which was said to have cost almost £68,000 Judge Durham Hall told Violet Humes, 71, and her daughter, 45, they were fit only to have limited contacted with dogs.

He imposed three-year community orders on both women with a requirement that there could only be five dogs per adult at their home. At present there are three people living at the house meaning a maximum of 15 dogs.

They will also be subject to three-year conditional discharges and can only have one litter of puppies at a time.

The judge said he was sorry he could not make any costs order against the women after being told that Violet Humes’ income was her basic state pension and her daughter would now lose her cleaning job because of her conviction.

Yesterday the pair admitted a series of offences of causing unnecessary suffering to various dogs, failing to meet the needs of the animals and keeping a breeding establishment without having a licence.

Prosecutor Jonathan Lally said investigators found a number of litters of puppies at the house together with various quantities of unauthorised veterinary medicines.

Three 50ml bottles of a hormone which stimulates uterine contractions were found at the house.

Two of the bottles had been part-used and a vet estimated the amount of hormone discovered was equivalent to a 20-year supply for his own small animal practice. Further medication including a prescription-only canine vaccine were also seized.

The two women also admitted offences in breach of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations.

In relation to the animal welfare breaches the court heard that one poodle had suffered a broken jaw and other dogs including a Yorkshire Terrier, other poodles and a German Shepherd were found to be suffering from problems such as conjunctivitis, lameness, ear disease and dermatitis.

Mr Lally said the dietary needs of some dogs were not being met because they did not have access to fresh water.

Barrister Emma Downing, for the two women, told the court the property was not a small house and for the past 16 months the council had allowed five animals per adult with no further concerns being raised.

She submitted that three dogs had now been rehomed and that would allow for Zorro, Ice and a third dog to be given back to her clients.