CONVICTED (2024) | backyard breeders Angelica Evangelista, born 5 January 1973, and James Tracey, born 15 October 1980, of 66 Broadlands Gardens, Carrickfergus BT38 7BJ – ran an unlicensed breeding establishment.

Following a prosecution by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Evangelista pleaded guilty to five counts of running a breeding establishment with no licence. Tracey was convicted of the same charges in his absence.

The charges were brought against the pair under The Welfare of Animals (Dog Breeding Establishment and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2013.

Proceedings followed an investigation by an enforcement officer who visited the address in Broadlands Gardens, Carrickfergus, in June 2022 after a report that puppies were being sold from the premises.

A total of 16 unlicensed dogs were present at the property. They included three eight-week-old blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppies and four seven-month-old blue Staffordshire Bull Terriers. All the remaining dogs were females.

Enforcement officers, council stated, were able to connect this property to a Facebook page ‘A & J Dream Puppies’ which showed that at least five litters had been advertised and supplied in a year.

According to its Facebook page, which remains live, the business has been operating since 1998. The owners claim that the puppies they supply come with their first vaccination and relevant documentation and are “vet-checked”.

The business says it has provided puppies for people throughout the UK and in the Irish Republic.

Sentencing | Evangelista was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £23 in summons fees and £250 in legal costs. Tracey was fined a total of £1,000 for five offences and ordered to pay £23 in summons fees and £250 in legal costs. Neither was banned from owning animals.

Mid & East Antrim Borough Council news release
Northern Ireland World
Sunday World