CONVICTED (2016) | puppy farmer and serial animal abuser Andrew Paul Thomas, born c. 1978, of Gwndwngwyn Farm, Heol Bryncethin, Garnant, Ammanford SA18 1YS – caused suffering to farm animals and 34 dogs found in horrific conditions.
RSPCA inspectors visited Thomas’s farm and found several breeds of dogs, including bichon frises, schnauzers, cocker spaniels, Jack Russells and pugs surrounded by urine and feces and with no sign of food, water or bedding.
Pigs and sheep were witnessed locked inside a block with no lighting or ventilation, while other animals were described as ‘lethargic’ looking.
Hazards were also noticed on the grounds themselves, such as broken glass and china, while unburied carcasses were strewn across the land – including that of a Highland bull, the court heard.
The court heard on February 3, 2016, a Carmarthenshire Council animal health officer had visited the farm with a view of offering advice regarding licensing conditions for dog breeding.
But after visiting the site, in her opinion, the premises ‘was not close’ to being a licensed premises.
Judge David Parsons told Thomas that he had “a cavalier attitude to animal welfare”.
Forty eight dogs taken from the farm by the RSPCA will be subject to a deprivation order – meaning they will not return to Thomas.
Following the hearing, RSPCA inspector Gemma Cooper, said: “Within five minutes of my arrival I was covered head to toe in faeces and urine.
“I was drenched to the bone. It was unimaginable.
“The dogs were stinking because they were living in this horrific environment. There were puppies being born in faeces.
“There were dogs that had untreated ear and teeth problems that needed immediately veterinary treatment and there were six underweight dogs that were all noticeably skinny.
“There were also a number of sheep and a couple of pigs that had been shoved into a barn.
“There was no ventilation, no water or food and they were just crammed in.”
The inspector found six dogs with ear problems, two dogs with teeth problems, six underweight dogs and a number of sheep and pigs in an unsuitable environment.
The dogs were cleaned up and given immediate veterinary treatment and the appropriate care for any health problems.
Sentence: jailed for seven months; £865 in fines and costs. Banned from keeping animals for a mere five years (expired 2021).
In December 2014 Thomas was banned from keeping horses for five years after a number of underweight and neglected pony carcasses were discovered on his property.
He pleaded guilty to seven counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals.
The RSPA had received a tip-off from a member of the public that they had seen a dead horse on the farm. When inspectors visited the farm they discovered a number of dead horses dotted around the farm, along with a dead ram.
RSPCA inspector Chris Coleman said: “It was a shocking case and the horses’ suffering was totally unnecessary. The animals did not have their needs met.”
Inspectors said the animals were underweight, with several suffering from conditions such as scabs, lice infestations and poor dental health.
Two horses had to be euthanized such was the extent of their neglect.
One of the horses which was put down should have weighed around 475kg, but weighed just 110kg at the time of its death.
In addition to the deaths of the animals inspectors found a collapsed barn which was described as “hazardous.”
Thomas was given a number of recommendations to improve the care of the horses, which inspectors said had been carried out by the time of their follow-up visit.
As well as the five-year ban from keeping horses, Thomas was given a four-month suspended prison sentence for each of the offences to which he pleaded guilty, as well as a previous offence for which he was convicted.
He was ordered to pay court costs of £5,368 and a victim surcharge of £80 and will have to complete 100 hours of unpaid work in the community.
Source: South Wales Evening Post (article removed)