CONVICTED (2021) | puppy farmer Kelly Latuskie, born c. 1973, previously of Carlisle and now Waterbeck, Lockerbie DG11 – bred at least 116 dogs and kept them in squalor.
Latuskie committed four animal welfare offences at two locations: Newlands Farm Cottage, Carleton, Carlisle; and at Willowholme Industrial Estate in the city.
Carlisle City Council were tipped off she was breeding more puppies than her licence allowed and looking after more dogs than the 30 permitted at her daycare business.
A search of official microchipping databases found she’d registered and sold at least 117 Cavapoo and Cockapoo puppies between June 2019 and December 2020.
She was only permitted to have one litter at a time.
Officials visiting Latuskie’s home in December 2020 found 22 dogs in ‘squalid dirty conditions’.
There were two stud dogs and 20 breeding bitches, although her licence only permitted four.
Many had ear infections and dental disease and a council-appointed veterinary surgeon said they were ‘suffering from chronic neglect’ and in deteriorating health.
Latuskie’s inadequate transport and accommodation controls resulted in five dogs being killed by other dogs.
An inspection of Latuskie’s ‘Bark in the Park’ boarding kennels found 36 dogs present on the site. The maximum allowed was 30.
Latuskie, who was estimated to have made £150,000 from puppy farming, wept in court as she was sentenced.
Sentencing: 16-week custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months. Costs of £16,981.83 to Carlisle City Council, and a £128 victim surcharge. Banned from owning, keeping, dealing or transporting animals and from working in a business involving animals. She may not appeal to have the ban lifted for three years. She is banned for life from applying for a council licence to run a business involving animals.