'Greedy' unlicensed dog boarder convicted after 32 dogs found in 'atrocious conditions'

A room with dogs, with two in cages and mess on the floor at the Drayton Bassett three-bedroomed home
-Credit:Lichfield District Council


A ‘greedy’ businesswoman who kept 32 dogs in ‘atrocious conditions’ in a Staffordshire village has been convicted of a number of animal welfare offences. Georgina Bodle rented a three-bedroomed semi-detached property in Drayton Bassett, a village which sits between Sutton Coldfield and Tamworth in the Lichfield District.

There she kept dogs of her own but also canines belonging to unsuspecting customers who left them in her care. Environmental Health Officers from Lichfield District Council raided the property in March 2023, after complaints had been made and obtaining a warrant.

There they found 32 dogs, including 12 puppies. The home was a mess with some of the floors ‘covered in faeces and there was a strong smell of urine’.

ADVERTISEMENT

Read more: Dog owner left pet to starve to death in filthy flat

Some of the dogs were found in cages unable to move, while others had no access to water. Shockingly, not all the dogs were the 31-year-old’s. Environmental Health officers were alerted to the dog owner, who had been advertising a number of services from her home in Portleys Lane, a rural road off the A4091.

Bodle, who did not have a licence, failed to cooperate with environmental health officers, which led to them obtaining the warrant to enter her home As well as breeding dogs, she also had dogs boarding with her and had a whelping ‘service’ for pregnant dogs about to give birth.

Bodle, who no longer lives at the property, appeared at Cannock Magistrates Court on Monday (January 20). She pleaded guilty to five offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Get the latest BirminghamLive news direct to your inbox

After hearing of the plea, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing & Local Plan, Councillor Alex Farrell (Fazeley, Cons) said: “This was a dreadful case where a significant number of dogs were found being kept in atrocious conditions in a small, rented property.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Some of the dogs were not owned by Bodle but were entrusted into her care by unsuspecting members of the public. Motivated by greed, Bodle was caught failing to meet the needs of the dogs and the court will now determine what sentence is appropriate.

“I hope this sends a message that our environmental health officers will take robust action against anyone neglecting animals in Lichfield District.”

Read more: Owner 'distraught' as missing dogs found dead in canal

Bodle’s guilty pleas were for four offences of failing to keep the dogs in a suitable environment and to protect them from pain, suffering, injury and disease. She also pleaded guilty to a further offence of not having a licence for the activities she was undertaking.

She was bailed to return there for sentencing on Thursday, March 27. In the meantime, the district judge ordered a pre-sentence report from the Probation Service. The maximum penalty for these offences under the Animal Welfare Act is 51 weeks imprisonment and an unlimited fine.