Federal authorities have indicted a Texas dog breeder on wire fraud charges after a viral video captured her shooting a dog.
Kristine Hicks, 51, appeared at the federal courthouse in Plano for arraignment on charges of operating an unlicensed dog-breeding facility and wire fraud, according to court records.
The case marks the first prosecuted by a new federal animal cruelty task force created by the U.S. Attorney General.
Prosecutors allege Hicks’ Giant German Shepherd Ranch in Hopkins County masked rampant cruelty and neglect behind images of healthy dogs raised and offered for sale.
“In Texas, we take animal cruelty very seriously. Texans understand how important animals are to our lives,” said Jay Combs, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas. CBS News Texas reported.
Combs directed a January raid on the 80-acre East Texas property following the video that showed Hicks tying a dog to a tree and shooting it three times until it died. In a statement at the time, Hicks’ lawyers said the dog was shot because it had a grapefruit-sized mass that was causing it significant discomfort.
Combs says Hicks’ business falsely advertised AKC-registered dogs for thousands of dollars through online sales, with social media photos depicting healthy animals.
“It shows you know a happy environment, dogs that, you know, appear to be healthy and well cared for, cute and attractive. What we encountered on the ground after looking into that horrific dog shooting it was anything but,” says Combs.
Authorities found 88 dogs during the raid living in cramped cages filled with waste and lacking food or water.
The dogs were seized, and Hicks initially faced animal cruelty charges.
Wire fraud carries a stiffer penalty, the indictment states. One customer incurred $10,000 in veterinary bills after purchasing sick German shepherds.
In another instance, a dog sold as a service animal to a paralyzed veteran attacked him repeatedly.
“What she provided him after he paid thousands of dollars was a mean ill tempered dog a dog that was not AKC registered as USDA confirmed with DNA test and that the dog was so ill tempered in fact has bit him on multiple occasions drawing blood and bit him on the face,” says Combs.
Attorney General Pam Bondi recently visited a rescue facility housing the dogs, which will be available for adoption.
Hicks’ attorney declined to comment. If convicted, Hicks faces up to 20 years in prison.
