CONVICTED (2016) | backyard breeders Robert Allen, born 4 February 1985, of Halifax Road, Rochdale OL12 6PS and Darren Cottrell, born 18 November 1977, of Wild House Lane, Milnrow, Rochdale OL16 3TW – kept neglected dogs and puppies in atrocious conditions.
Rob Allen was jailed for four weeks after four bulldog puppies were found at his home malnourished with no food or clean water.
The dogs were discovered when police went to the property on Peel Street to arrest Allen in connection with a separate matter in October 2015.
Anna McDonald, prosecuting, said: “When the constable went in, the smell of excrement made his eyes water as there was dog excrement all about the place and Allen did not appear well.
“In a back bedroom he found four small bulldog puppies who were malnourished and there was a malodorous smell coming from the room – there was also no food and no clean water.
“He said it was the worst conditions he had seen in his 12-year service.”
She added that the dogs had not received proper vaccinations and that two of the puppies were carrying an infectious canine disease.
Cottrell, who the court heard had been quizzed by the RSPCA in April 2015 after receiving reports concerning the welfare of some puppies, later told police he owned the bulldogs jointly with Allen, but denied breeding any other dogs.
Bill Rawstron, defending Cottrell, said: “No matter what the evidence shows, he cares very much for those dogs and he is very ashamed to be in the position which he is in.
“When he was questioned about the dogs he admitted the conditions were disgusting and that no animal should have to live like that.”
Mr Rawstron said Cottrell had been unaware of the conditions in which the dogs were being kept and that he had tried unsuccessfully to contact Allen for several days.
Both men pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching the Animal Welfare Act.
Catherine Byrnes, the RSPCA inspector who rescued the dogs, welcomed Allen and Cottrell’s sentences.
She said: “You can see the filth the dogs were living in from the pictures – it was just disgusting.
“The smell hit us as soon as we opened the door.
“The police had put some water down for them which they said they had drunk furiously, but they were still thirsty.
“The second bedroom, where they’d clearly been living for some time before we got there, had black plastic sheeting on the floor and was absolutely covered in faeces.
“The welfare of these animals did not matter to Cottrell and Allen – they were just a way to make a lot of easy money – and I’m glad the court decided to ban them from keeping animals for life.”
Sentencing |
Cottrell: 12-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months; 150 hours’ unpaid work; £680 costs. Banned from keeping animals for life.
Allen: jailed for four weeks. Banned from keeping dogs for life.
Manchester Evening News 03/05/2016
Manchester Evening News 06/05/2016