Woman charged 60 times for keeping dogs in ‘filthy, unsanitary and inhumane conditions’

A woman was issued 60 citations for “inhumane conditions,” among other charges, after dozens of dogs were seized from her home by Leon County Animal Control on April 11, according to court records.

After receiving a complaint, Animal Control and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office conducted a welfare check on three dogs owned by Judy Dubois, who owns and operates an animal shelter called Dubois Rescue.

When they arrived at the home on Sparrow Road, one of Dubois’ dogs — an 8-year-old Rottweiler mix named Roxy — was running around “unleashed in the roadway,” according to court records. The animal control officers asked if they could inspect the property, and as they approached, “they smelled a strong odor of feces.”

Dubois’ other two dogs — a three-month-old Great Dane named Trick and a two-year-old beagle named Annie — were stored outside in small wire crates. “Both dogs had matted coats, no clean or accessible food or water and a large amount of their own waste,” the data said.

Officers also saw “more than 57 additional dogs” in similar wire cages that were not properly closed with walls or a roof to protect them from the weather, according to court records.

All of the dogs were removed from Dubois’ custody “due to inadequate shelter and unsafe and unsanitary conditions.” They were taken to the Tallahassee-Leon County Animal Service Center, flooding the already overcrowded shelter.

“The shelter is usually full 365 days a year when it comes to dogs,” Erika Leckington, the city’s animal shelter director, told the Tallahassee Democrat. “Taking in another 66 dogs in one day certainly pushed us to our limit.”

The shelter veterinarian assessed the animals and found that several dogs had heartworm, intestinal parasites, flea infestations, overgrown nails, tartar and fur coats crusted with feces.

The veterinarian “concluded that the dogs were housed in filthy, unsanitary and inhumane conditions and were subjected to unnecessary and prolonged suffering,” the documents said.

A Tallahassee Democratic reporter contacted a number associated with Dubois Rescue, but the call went unanswered and the voicemail inbox was full.

Dubois will appear in court on May 22, where a district judge will determine whether she is fit to care for the animals or whether they should be transferred and placed in the care of the county.

She could also be prevented from “owning, housing or otherwise caring for any animals,” court documents show, and she could also be responsible for any costs incurred by the county while the animals were in her care.

Breaking & Trending News Reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Leon County issues citations after dogs found in ‘inhumane conditions’