Dog Breeder Charged

⏱ 2 min read

Kristine Michelle Hicks, a 51-year-old dog breeder from Cumby, Texas, has been charged with federal crimes related to her unlicensed breeding facility, where dogs were kept in deplorable conditions and sold to unsuspecting buyers with false claims about their health, parentage, and temperament. The investigation into Hicks’ facility, ‘Giant German Shepherds’, began in December 2025 after a disturbing video surfaced on social media showing Hicks killing a dog. The probe revealed that Hicks had been operating her business without a license since June 2024, subjecting her animals to starvation, parasite-related illnesses, and inadequate shelter.

The indictment alleges that Hicks made fraudulent claims about her dogs to inflate their sales price, often by thousands of dollars. She claimed that her dogs were of a certain temperament, bred specifically to be trained as service animals, and were healthy, AKC-registered dogs. However, she sold dogs that were of mixed breeds, randomly sourced from other litter, and were often aggressive and unhealthy. One such dog was sold to a paralyzed, bed-ridden, disabled veteran, who was bitten by the dog multiple times.

Hicks appeared in federal court on March 23, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Don D. Bush, facing charges of acting as an animal dealer without a license and four counts of wire fraud. The case highlights the need for stricter regulations and enforcement of animal welfare laws to prevent such cruelty and deception.

The investigation was conducted by the US Department of Justice, with assistance from other law enforcement agencies. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting animals from abuse and neglect, and holding accountable those who engage in such activities.