A Hopkins County woman was indicted on March 23 for alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act and wire fraud related to an unlicensed dog breeding facility, according to U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
The case raises concerns about animal welfare and deceptive business practices in the sale of dogs, highlighting the importance of proper licensing and truthful representation in animal breeding operations.
Kristine Michelle Hicks, 51, from Cumby, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Don D. Bush after being charged with acting as an animal dealer without a license and four counts of wire fraud. The indictment alleges that Hicks operated “Giant German Shepherds” from June 2024 through December 2025 without the required license, keeping animals in poor conditions that resulted in starvation, illness due to parasites, lack of veterinary care or immunizations, and inadequate shelter.
According to the indictment announced by Combs, authorities began investigating Hicks’ facility after a video surfaced online showing her tying a dog to a tree and shooting it three times. Further investigation found that Hicks allegedly made false claims regarding the parentage, health status, training level, temperament for service work, breed registration status with the American Kennel Club (AKC), and overall well-being of dogs sold—sometimes inflating prices by thousands of dollars. One instance cited involved selling an aggressive dog as a service animal to a disabled veteran; this dog had behavioral issues requiring it be muzzled during veterinary visits.
If convicted on all charges, Hicks could face up to 20 years in federal prison. The case is being investigated by both the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Morris prosecuting.
Officials remind that an indictment is not evidence of guilt; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
