CONVICTED (2015) | puppy farmer John Watson Harrop (aka Johnboy Harrop), born c. 1980, of Green Lane Travellers Site, Bishop Auckland, Durham DL14 8RS – kept dozens of dogs and puppies in “vile” and “disgusting” conditions.
Police and the RSPCA visited Hostel Farm, in Addison Road, Toronto, near Bishop Auckland DL14 7RN, on 3 April 2014 and found a large number of animals causing concern.
Serial animal abuser Harrop, who in 2013 was jailed and banned from keeping horses for 10 years, admitted three charges of failing to take reasonable steps to ensure that the needs of the animals were met under the Animal Welfare Act.
Pony-tailed Harrop, who comes from a family of travellers, watched as Darlington magistrates were shown a video of the scene with commentary from RSPCA Inspector Caz Doe.
She described ferrets in cages full of faeces and waste, surrounded by bits of wood with nails sticking out.
A large dog – said to be a central Asian Shepherd dog – was housed in a “quite disgusting and completely unsafe” building.
More dogs, including a saluki, lurchers and spaniels, were kept in “vile” conditions with no clean, dry flooring and everything sodden with urine and waste.
Inspector Doe said in the video: “The dogs are just living in a sewer of their own waste.”
Prosecuting, Kevin Campbell said vets determined that the animals were not being kept in a suitably hygienic environment, which could ultimately have resulted in infectious diseases.
Simon Walker, for Harrop said there were 65 dogs, including some puppies on the farm premises, and 13 were removed.
Another member of the family, Jim Harrop, born July 1977, also of Green Lane Caravan Site, had a number of animal welfare charges against him dismissed with no evidence offered. He had denied the offences.
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work. Five-year ban on keeping dogs (expired 2020).
I hope he keeps his Children In Better Conditions, than he did keep them Poor Animals.