CONVICTED (2017) | puppy farm dealer Ben James Illidge, born 22/12/1983, of Wilson Crescent, Northwich CW9 7QH – tried to smuggle 35 puppies in overcrowded cages through a Welsh ferry port from Ireland.
Illidge admitted seven charges – three of which related to animal welfare offences – of smuggling the 35 puppies through Holyhead Port in November 2016.
Prosecutor Julia Longworth said the pups were in a van which was being carried off the ferry on a breakdown truck.
“When officers searched the vehicle the animals were found crowded into cages concealed in the rear area.
The court heard he had bought the animals from a market in Dublin and none of the animals, who were aged six to nine weeks old, had been inoculated or microchipped.
Ms Longworth said various agencies including the RSPCA, Animal Health officials and North Wales Police mounted a special operation at Holyhead Port on November 15, 2016, as the smuggling of animals into Britain was becoming ‘increasingly problematic’.
She said the officers’ attention was drawn to the white van which was sat on the back of a breakdown truck with condensation on its front and side windows.
“This indicated to the officers there may be animals inside the vehicle and it was checked,” she said.
Officers found the 35 young pups in five containers which were concealed in the vehicle. The puppies included terriers, beagles, Pomeranians and Labradors and there were up to nine in each container.
Ms Longworth said: “They were examined by a vet and their ages ranged from six weeks to nine weeks. The vehicle was not suitable for the transport of animals nor had it been adapted to do so.
“There was no ventilation and it was found to be very warm inside – too warm for the proper welfare of the animals.”
The court was told the animals were seized by the RSPCA and transported back to Ireland under proper conditions where they were inoculated and microchipped and subsequently rehoused.
The charges included bringing a consignment of animals into Wales without completed health certificates and without having notified the authorities of their intended arrival. There were also regulatory offences involving animal welfare and fitness for the journey.
Ian Briggs, chief inspector of the RSPCA’s special operations unit, said agencies would not “stand by while unscrupulous puppy dealers seek to make a quick buck while subjecting innocent, defenceless puppies to misery”.
He said: “Sadly, many well-meaning, but unsuspecting new owners are buying pups who have been imported in such shocking conditions, which merely fuels those seeking to treat the lives of young animals as a means to raking in murky profits.”
Sentencing: three 18-week prison sentences, which will run concurrently, and are suspended for a one-year period; ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work and pay a £1,600 fine plus £1,313 in court costs.
BBC News
CheshireLive
RSPCA News
Update December 2017
Illidge appeared in Chester Magistrates Court on December 8, 2017, after failing to comply with his community order, but still evaded an immediate prison sentence.
The suspension period for his 12-week sentence was increased to 18 months, and he was given 35 additional hours of unpaid work.