UK Award Winning Dog Show Duo Charged With Animal Abuse

Crufts Women Dog Abusers
Violet Humes, 71, and her daughter Shareem, 45, kept more than 100 dogs in 'appalling and shocking conditions'.

They were highly respected national champions and had even won at Crufts, the world’s largest dog show held annually in Birmingham, England.

Yet behind the scores of rosettes proudly hung around their home, their beloved pets were living in unimaginable squalor. Violet Humes, 71, and her daughter, Shareem, 45, were responsible for some of the worst kinds of animal cruelty.

A total of 104 dogs were discovered in cramped conditions and surrounded by their own feces when RSPCA officers raided the property in February last year. Some of the dogs were kept in filthy cages with no lighting, bedding or fresh water and some were injured or diseased, with untreated ailments.

After an exhaustive investigation lasting 16 months and costing taxpayers £68,000,

Humes and her daughter pleaded guilty to 23 animal welfare offenses. They were sentenced to  three-year community service and a three-year conditional discharge.

Shockingly however, they were both allowed to keep five dogs each. It is believed that the judge’s decision was based on the fact that the women were capable of looking after animals if they had fewer numbers of them.

Humes, who has shown dogs for over 50 years and even won prizes while she was being prosecuted for her crimes, said: “It all got out of hand, we had too many dogs.”

The retired dog trimmer, who has shown dogs since she was 17, was adamant they could have rectified the situation themselves.

Of the 104 dogs found by the RSPCA, 89 were seized. Of those, a staggering 24 had to be destroyed. Among the dogs that were seized was a poodle named Crystal who had a broken jaw, advanced periodontal disease, heart disease, and limited access to fresh water.

Jonathan Lally, prosecuting for the Council, told the court that the RSPCA had begun inquiries after receiving a tip-off from a utilities worker who had visited the home.

The conditions that confronted them were “appalling and shocking”, he said.

At their sentencing, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall said that the women ran “an unlicensed breeding machine” and branded them “deluded or simply out of control”. But he stopped short of banning them from owning dogs.

Of the duo, a spokesperson for The Kennel Club, the organizers of Crufts, said: “We will always follow up relevant criminal convictions with an investigation and impose disciplinary penalties, if appropriate”.

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files

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Schristian0706
Schristian0706
12 years ago

I know it sounds terrible, but having too many can get out of hand, and the care is not as good anymore.  However, they did seem to turn a blind eye and use poor judgment.  They should be regulated and visited to monitor the conditions of the dogs they were allowed to keep.  Someone has to totally have the dogs’ best interest at heart. 

Vicki
Vicki
12 years ago

This makes me sick! Their punishment should have been much more severe (like prison sentences) and they should have not been given the privelege to have any dogs AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!! What’s wrong with that ignorant judge??!!

Merisadaigle
Merisadaigle
12 years ago
Reply to  Vicki

they should of ask for help there lots of carring people out there that would of help or adopt poor babys ..its jail for a long time they should have

Jeanne T.
Jeanne T.
12 years ago

Yes, it should be illegal for them to own anymore dogs, ever. I mean, 24 had to be put down? They should most definitely serve jail time – a minimum of 5 years for both with no parole. I hope they are put to the task of cleaning up after animals all day, every day. That will teach them that it would have taken so little to clean up after their own pets/victims

pamorama
pamorama
12 years ago

The British version of the AKC, the UKC, should not only censure them, but wipe them from any breeding potential EVER again. And, IMO, they should never be able to own dogs again. It’s so ridiculous to allow people who have caused harm to animals to have access to them. I don’t care if they had too many dogs, maybe they should have thought about not breeding. As presumably dog knowledgable people they couldn’t figure out how to not keep having more dogs? Please.

Sherriemora
Sherriemora
12 years ago

They should be stripped of all their awards, not have been allowed to keep ANY of the poor animals, and banned from even owning a goldfish and especially, banned from participating in ANY and ALL dog shows.  Community service is not good even, hell people who do this shit are given life in prison AND hundred thousand dollars in fines!!  The idiot judge was far too lenient becasue they were dog show champs.  YOU IDIOT!!!!!  Damn judge is a fool.  Period.

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