Banned dog breeder has appeal dismissed

An Ashfield dog breeder convicted of animal welfare offences and banned from operating, has had an appeal thrown out by a judge after she failed to turn up in court.

Tracy Hovell lodged an appeal after magistrates found her guilty of six offences under the Animal Welfare (Licencing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

The conviction – in December last year – was Ashfield District Council’s first prosecution under the regulations since they were introduced in 2018, after concerns were raised about the animals welfare.

Hovell, now of Queen Street, Worksop, had claimed to be the UK’s top breeder of Labradoodles and made more than £140,000 from her ‘Briemdoodles’ business breeding in Sutton-in-Ashfield.

Earlier this month, an appeal hearing was due to be heard at a crown court but when the 63-year-old failed to attend, a High Court judge dismissed the case and ordered her to pay the council £5,000 in court costs.

It means Hovell remains disqualified from owning animals, keeping or participating in the keeping of animals, dealing in animals, transporting animals and from being a party to an agreement whereby she could control or influence the way that animals are kept for a period of five years, although she is allowed to keep one dogs as a pet.

Cllr Matthew Relf, Executive Lead Member for Growth, Regeneration and Local Planning, said:

“Hovell’s conviction was down to concerns raised about the welfare of her dogs and the work of Ashfield District Council’s Environmental Health Officers and legal team. Laws protecting animal welfare are vitally important in ensuring they are treated humanely.

“As this case demonstrates, when people flout those laws, we will not hesitate to act.”

Posted on 19 November 2025