They were locked in filthy cages (Picture: SWNS)

A former Crufts winner kept dogs in conditions so horrific that three had to be put to sleep.

Margaret Greaves won the flyball competition at Crufts only three years ago, but despite her successful reputation she was actually keeping dozens of animals in ‘disgraceful’ conditions at her home this year.

She has been banned from keeping dogs for life after inspectors found 30 dogs, two cats and two parrots in dark rooms and in cramped cages which were covered in faeces and urine.

A court heard the stench was so bad from the property it ‘made your throat burn as you walked in.’

Margaret Greaves arrives at Mansfield Magistrates Court (Picture: SWNS)

The RSPCA raided her farm house in Sutton, Ashfield, on April 6 this year after one of the dogs was spotted in a van at the property.

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Greaves, 64, won the flyball competition at Crufts in 2014 with her team the Mansfield Marnicks and was respected throughout the dog training community.


Yesterday she admitted four counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and two counts of failing to meet the needs of an animal at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court.

‘It is clear to me that the level of suffering is at the high end,’ District Judge Timothy Spruce said.

They were kept in stacked up crates (Picture: SWNS)
She has been banned from keeping dogs for life (Picture: SWNS)
They had nowhere clean and dry to sleep (Picture: SNWS)

‘Almost all of [the animals] were deprived of a clean, dry place to sleep, many of them were caked in their own faeces and that of other dogs.

‘Three dogs were so badly cared for they had to be put to sleep.

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‘This was a prolonged period of neglect.

‘It is an aggravating feature that you are an experienced keeper and you would have known what was required.’

The court heard the conditions the animals were kept in were so bad a vet was reduced to tears.

A large number were kept in filthy crates, ten dogs stacked one on top of the other.

The stench ‘made your throat burn’ (Picture: SWNS)
(Picture: SNWS)

‘There was a high level of injury and suffering,’ the judge said. ‘No dogs had any water or any bowls for water at all.

One of the dogs was a brown and white collie called Billy who was looking ‘looked subdued and forlorn, almost bereft of life and he was covered in faecal matter.’


A cocker spaniel ‘with faeces dangling from his coat’ had a ‘depressed demeanour’ and was ‘shoved in a corner almost forgotten ‘

There was also a bull-terrier which had cuts to his head.

A dog called Bobby had teeth in a ‘horrendous condition’ and had ears infected so badly that ecoli was found.

‘The kindest thing to do was to euthanise him.’

(Picture: SWNS)

‘Another dog, Shadow, a female Labrador, was staggering and off-balance and it was suspected that she had had a stroke.

‘She was very itchy, greasy and dirty and she was covered with lice.

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‘She had been suffering unnecessarily for some time and she was put to sleep.

Sean Smith, defending, said: ‘Before this incident she had sold off kennels and equipment as she was thinking of moving.
“There was a time when she decided she could no longer cope and decided to downsize.

‘She planned on having the animals put down that week.’

Greaves was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months and was told she would be banned from keeping dogs or assisting in the keeping of dogs for life and banned from keeping other animals for three years.