CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeder / wildlife persecutor Brian Birch, born 17 September 1993, of Ash Grove, Shirebrook, Mansfield NG20 8QA – kept 17 injured, flea- and worm-riddled dogs in filthy conditions and allowed multiple ferrets to starve to death.
Monstrous animal abuser Brian Birch from Shirebrook, Derbyshire, was allowed to keep one Jack Russell dog
In September 2022 officers from the Shirebrook Safer Neighbourhood Team were called to the home Birch shares with partner Kayleigh Iles, born 19 August 1994, who was also charged originally.
Despite living at the property where 17 neglected dogs had been callously mistreated, Birch’s partner Kayleigh Iles had the charges against her dropped
Officers found 17 dogs of various breeds living in filthy conditions, with faeces and urine covering the garden.
The animals were seized and taken to kennels.
They were found to be riddled with fleas, they had bleeding paws and were suffering with worms.
Police say as well as the dogs, they also seized two rabbits and two malnourished ferrets.
They found the bodies of between five and ten dead ferrets piled on top of one another in the ferret cage.
Fourteen of the dogs have been rehomed, but two had to be put down.
The two rabbits and two ferrets seized were taken by the RSPCA.
The court allowed him to keep one dog
Birch initially denied any wrongdoing.
He eventually pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the welfare of an animal, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
No evidence was offered for the same charges against Iles and these were dropped at court.
Sentencing | 25-week prison sentence suspended for 24 months; ordered to pay £4,000 Banned from keeping animals for 15 years, except for an unfortunate Jack Russell who the court allowed him to keep.
CONVICTED (2023) | Jackson Lewis Aitken, born c. 2000, of 210 Braes View, Denny, Falkirk FK6 5NF: for the neglect of multiple animals found suffering and in pain at his filthy home.
Jackson Aitken, who also goes by the name Jackson Aitken-Dunlop, was already well-known to the SSPCA
Aitken plead guilty to cruelty charges in relation to mice, a hamster, a rabbit and a dog.
He admitted failing to provide vet treatment for a mouse named Miko and failing to provide adequate hydration and a clean environment for a hamster named Spirit, a rabbit, a number of mice and his dog, Digger. He also pleaded guilty to failing to allow Digger adequate room to exercise.
Aitken’s dog Digger was kept in a tiny cage with dirty water for drinking
Scottish SPCA inspector, Andrew Gray, said, “We had attended Jackson Aitken’s address on two prior occasions in June 2019 and January 2022.
On both occasions we provided Aitken with advice and support on how to care for his animals but had no immediate concerns for their welfare.
“However, on 29 July 2022 we then received another call regarding Jackson Aitken from a member of the public who was concerned his animals were being left alone for days at a time.
“We attended the property but no one was home and we could not hear or see any animals. We continued to try to make contact with Aitken over the coming days but we were unsuccessful.
“On 1 August when we attended a small black dog could be seen through the letterbox. The dog was in a crate. On subsequent visits on 2 and 3 August the dog was still in the crate and we became concerned for the animal’s welfare. Contact was then made with the local housing officer to gain access to the premises.
“On entering the property we found it was cluttered with rubbish and hazardous materials. Digger, a small black and white terrier type dog, was still in the small cage. He had a pillow and a small amount of dirty water.
“Upstairs we found a white and tan hamster, named Sprit, who was very lethargic and cold to the touch, as well as a rabbit and three mice. While two of the mice were in reasonable condition, one male mouse, named Miko, had a large open wound on his side.
“All of the cages for the animals were dirty and none of them had been provided with any food or water.
“Due to immediate concerns for the welfare of the animals, we removed them from the property and took them to be examined by a vet.
“The wound on Miko’s side was found to be an abscess, secondary to a ruptured tumour, and had likely been causing the mouse pain for several weeks, if not months. He was euthanised on veterinary advice to prevent any further suffering.
“Spirit the hamster was severely dehydrated, which the vet estimated would have taken at least a week without water, if not longer. Sadly, despite the best efforts of the team at our animal rescue and rehoming centre, Spirit continued to suffer complications from dehydration and had to be put to sleep on veterinary advice.
“Aitken met with us on one subsequent visit to the property but all further attempts to contact him have failed to be met with any response.
“We are glad Aitken received a ban and hope he will seriously consider his ability to care for any animal in future.”
Sentencing | three-year supervision order and eight-month restriction of liberty order; 15-year ban on owning animals.
CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeder and wildlife persecutor Jay John William Kenny, born 28 April 1983, of 2 Fruix, Kinross KY13 0LA but with links to Cowdenbeath, Fife – kept seven dogs in filthy makeshift kennels on a plot of land in Kelty, Fife.
Kenny, who is well-known to the Scottish SPCA, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to all seven dogs by failing to provide a suitable environment and failing to seek veterinary treatment for a lurcher named Gus.
Scottish SPCA inspector, Stephanie Ross, said, “We’d had numerous dealings with [Kenny] since 2018 due to reports of dogs being kept in poor conditions and his known associations with various individuals who we had previously prosecuted for animal fighting.
“On 19 December we received a call from officers at Police Scotland. They had attended the plot of land belonging to Kenny on an unrelated matter and become immediately concerned for the welfare of the animals due to the conditions they were being kept in.
“On 20 December we attended the premises and found that the conditions were deplorable. The ground was boggy and littered with hazardous material. One dog had taken refuge on top of their wooden kennel and almost resembled a dog stranded on an island.
“All of the areas the dogs were being kept in were heavily soiled with faeces and stank of ammonia. What little straw they had for bedding was foul and sodden with urine. Six of the seven dogs were underweight and many had visible wounds. Most did not even have access to clean drinking water.
“There were two German shepherds and both dogs’ coats were thick with muck and filth. One of the shepherds was attached to a three metre chain. The ground surrounding the dog’s kennel was worn away in a circular shape, suggesting the dog had been here for some time and going round and round in circles. There was also hazardous material like scrap metal and loose nails lying around which could have caused significant damage to the dog.
“A tan and white lurcher named Gus was in particularly poor condition.
“We had concerns for all of the animals’ welfare and immediately removed them from the premises. Gus was taken for veterinary treatment and the others were transported to one of our animal rescue and rehoming centres.
“On veterinary examination, Gus was found to be emaciated and had such a heavy flea burden that they could be seen crawling in his fur. He had alopecia, a bacterial skin infection and several wounds in various stages of healing. There was also a wound to the tip of his tail where the skin had become thickened and leathery. The wounds were likely self-inflicted due to how uncomfortable and itchy the fleas were making him.
“The vet estimated it would have taken a minimum of three to five months for him to develop alopecia and for his tail tip to become hardened.
“Gus also had several fractured teeth, with receding and infected gums which would have been incredibly painful. The vet estimated this would have progressed over six to 12 months.
“The lack of basic care and disregard for animal welfare in this case was disgusting. On the day the dogs were seized the temperatures had dropped below freezing. Gus was so severely underweight he would have struggled to maintain any kind of body heat in those conditions.
“All of the dogs recovered well in our care and gained weight. Sadly, Gus had to have his tail amputated due to the severity of the untreated wound at the tip.
Sentencing | 12-month community payback order of 150 hours; 12-month supervision order. 11-year ban on owning or keeping animals.
In December 2020 the heartbroken owner of a cockapoo puppy purchased from prolific dog breeder Jay Kenny took to Facebook to warn others not to buy from him.
Tucker, who was bred by Jay Kenny, was put to sleep a few days after being diagnosed with parvovirus
The owner wrote that they had to take the puppy, Tucker, to a vet four days after bringing him home when he became severely unwell with sickness and diarrhoea.
The vet vet ran a test and confirmed that Tucker had parvovirus, a lethal condition for dogs.
The owner contacted Kenny, who denied there was anything wrong with the puppy. He refused to help with vet costs arguing that it was the owner’s decision to take the puppy to the vet. He agreed to refund the money paid for the puppy.
Tragically little Tucker failed to recover and was put to sleep.
The owner contacted Kenny again who demanded proof that Tucker had been euthanised. The owner provided this but Kenny went quiet and failed to answer calls and messages. No refund was ever forthcoming.
Update | May 2024
Central Fife Times reported that Kenny had failed to complete his unpaid work sentence.
Kenny, still of 2 Fruix, Kinross, appeared back at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.
Sheriff Allan Findlay revoked the community payback order and replaced it with a four-month restriction of liberty order.
CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeder Wayne Carlos Ruiz, born 17 June 1977, of 45 Little Fields, Stoke Heath, Coventry CV2 3HA – arranged illegal ear cropping procedures for dogs.
Ruiz, who trades under the name Roos.XL.Bullys, was taken to court after posting pictures of his XL bully dogs on Instagram, and when officers raided his home they found blood splattered up a wall.
Ruiz was visited by an RSPCA inspector at his previous address in Nuneaton following a report being made to the charity about his dogs having cropped ears,
Warwick Crown Court heard. Inspector Louise Marston said in a witness statement that, although he was not in during that visit, she saw two XL bullies, Lava and Kong, in his garden and could see they had cropped ears.
But photos of the same dogs posted on social media just weeks earlier by Ruiz showed them with ears intact.
Following the RSPCA’s initial visit, a search warrant with the police was obtained and, on September 28, 2022, Inspector Marston, an RSPCA animal rescue officer, a council dog warden and a police officer went to Ruiz’s address.
An ear splint was found during the search, and there was blood splatter across a wall in the dining room – likely from one of the dogs shaking its head, according to the RSPCA.
A notebook was found on Ruiz’s bed, with his Instagram profile name written on the first page, and also including a brief family history of each puppy along with “£5,500” written underneath their names.
Research by the RSPCA’s intelligence team concluded that images on Ruiz’s social media pages of XL bully puppies – with their ears intact – were Lava and Kong. Enquiries also showed that Ruiz had deleted posts, including images of Lava and Kong as puppies.
Inspector Marston made enquiries with the man who sold Lava and Kong to Ruiz, who confirmed the dogs didn’t have cropped ears when they were sold, and that he was unhappy that the dogs he bred ended up as they had.
An expert vet witness for the RSPCA confirmed that Lava and Kong had suffered as a result of having their ears cropped, adding: “Ear cropping is illegal in the UK and EU as it is considered an act of mutilation.
“If these dogs had ear-cropping procedures performed in the UK then it is assumed they were not performed by a registered veterinary surgeon, as it is illegal. This means that they can not have legally received appropriate pain relief either during or after the procedure, resulting in them experiencing unnecessary pain and suffering. Any owner who willingly allowed for this procedure to be carried out will have failed to protect from pain, suffering, injury and disease.”
Ruiz pleaded guilty to two Animal Welfare Act offences.
Inspector Marston said: “Ear cropping is a horrific, immoral, unnecessary and repulsive practice which has absolutely no benefits for the dogs and can cause them lifelong health, behavioural and social problems.
“This is done purely for cosmetic purposes. We would urge the public and anyone looking to buy a puppy to remember this is an illegal procedure, which has a hugely negative impacts for the dogs themselves.”
Sentencing | 18-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months. 15-year ban on keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2023) | Emily Mace, born c. 2000, of Little Barton, Kingsteignton, Newton Abbot TQ12 3QS – trained a dog to become aggressive leading to savage attacks on other dogs.
Emily Mace’s large Mastiff-type Conan attacked other dogs – one fatally – and also bit a woman after her extreme training methods led to him becoming aggressive.
The first incident happened in August 2021 when Janet Collins was walking her miniature schnauzer Lola in Long Barton playing fields. Mace was throwing a ball for Conan, an Alsatian/Mastiff cross and a third dog called Honcho.
As Miss Collins walked by, Conan bit Lola on the rear. She picked her dog up to keep her safe but Conan continued to jump up and bit the woman on the arm, puncturing the skin and causing significant bruising. She also suffered injuries to her hand.
Mace left the scene without showing much interest – telling Miss Collins to stand still during the incident – and was arrested later by police.
She told them her dogs made her feel safe.
The victim said in a statement she had never been so terrified in her life by the incident and could not believe Mace’s cold and uncaring attitude at the scene. She said it was clear her dog was dangerous and could cause serious damage.
A few months later, Mace agreed to re-home a greyhound named Blake but when she put the animal in with Conan and her other dog they went into ‘prey mode’ and fatally injured him.
Conan was under a dog behaviour order and required to be tethered in the garden. But Mace had placed a ‘totally inadequate’ loose collar around the animal.
She ignored a warning that Blake was unhappy in the larger dog’s presence and put them together, along with another pet, a Staffordshire-type dog named Luna.
“Luna and Conan began to savage Blake,” said RSPCA prosecutor Ms Susan Cavander. The attack was captured on video by a neighbour.
The two dogs went into ‘prey mode’, holding the greyhound down, locking their jaws and ripping at his throat, said the prosecutor.
Mace pulled the bleeding greyhound away and put him in a shed while she called vets.
The prosecutor said she seemed more intent in clearing up the mess than paying attention to the dog that was bleeding profusely and losing consciousness.
Blake lost a litre of blood and had to be put down by vets.
Mace posted videos on Facebook of her aggressive training techniques.
The court heard that she demonstrated a ‘total lack of understanding of the risk’ her pets posed or how to train them properly.
Mace pleaded guilty to having a dog dangerously out of control that caused injury.
She was convicted after trial of a separate offence of causing unnecessary suffering to a greyhound by failing to prevent him being attacked by other dogs.
Mace, who is pregnant, has since left her address and job as a result of online abuse. She was described in references as an animal lover and a kind person who is keen to work with probation. A pre-sentence report said she had shown superficial remorse.
Judge Anna Richardson said Mace had trained her dogs to be aggressive and could and should have intervened at the scene of the first ‘utterly terrifying’ incident.
An application for the destruction of Conan was to be considered at a later date but the outcome isn’t known.
Sentencing | 22-month custodial suspended for two years; 20 days of rehabilitation activity. £500 compensation. .Banned from keeping dogs for 15 years.
CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeders Jamie Evans, born 20 December 1992, previously of Keble Street, Ince, Wigan, but now no fixed abode, and Joshua Ryan Kwiatkowski, born c. 1999, of Rose Avenue, Beech Hill, Wigan WN6 8NE – arranged for their dogs to have their ears illegally cropped.
Backyard breeders Josh Kwiatkowski (left) and Jamie Evans put their dogs through a painful ear-cropping procedure
Joshua Kwiatkowski, who traded under the name Finesse Bullies, and Jamie Evans pleaded guilty to allowing ear cropping to be carried out on their bull-type dogs, named Riga and Ace, and failing to seek veterinary care for their injuries.
Kwiatkowski’s dog Ace before his ears were mutilatedAce pictured post-mutilation
Police seized Kwiatkowski’s phone on an unrelated offence and found photographs of Ace with cropped ears.
Two warrants were executed by the RSPCA and police, and a second phone was seized containing messages where the two men spoke about Ace and Riga having their ears cropped.
There were photographs of both dogs as puppies with full ears, as well as images after the procedure.
The court heard Kwiatkowski advised Evans to put talc on Riga’s ears, with one voice note saying: “Once you’ve took the scabs off and talced his ears he will look exactly like Ace does on that picture where his ears are dead white and they are up tall and you can hardly see any scabs. It just looks like loads of talc on the outsides of his ears. That’s what it will look like bro.”
Evans’ dog Riga
Evans replied: “Sure he’s took this crop too far back on him.”
In a conversation on WhatsApp, Evans asked when he could “post a pic” of Riga, to which Kwiatkowski replied: “Not for 4-6 weeks bro, no one in your gaff you don’t know.”
Kwiatkowski continued: “Don’t have anyone in your house or seeing the dog you don’t know, if they see fresh wounds they could report you.
“Only post on your private snapchat mate people who you trust and if anyone asks obvs the dogs imported.”
In a statement to the court, vet Dr Sean Taylor said: “In my opinion there is sufficient evidence … that Ace and Riga have both undergone ear cropping procedures.
“Mutilation of the ear pinna for reasons of cosmetic look is prohibited within the RCVS professional code of conduct and should not be carried out by veterinary surgeons within the UK.
“I have not been provided with any evidence to indicate that Ace and Riga had their ears cropped for reasons of medical necessity. In the absence of such evidence it is assumed that these dogs had their ears cropped for cosmetic reasons and in my opinion would have suffered via mechanisms of pain and ear irritation after the cropping procedure for a period of at least five days, possibly longer.”
After sentencing, RSPCA inspector Emma Dingley said: “Ear cropping is a horrific practice which has absolutely no benefits for the dogs and can cause them life-long health, behavioural and social problems.
“This is done purely for cosmetic purposes and sadly can lead to puppies being sold for much more money. But we’d urge the public and anyone looking to buy a puppy to remember that this is an illegal procedure which has hugely negative impacts for the dogs themselves.”
The dogs are now in RSPCA care.
Sentencing | jailed for 23 weeks. Banned from keeping animals for 15 years.
CONVICTED (2023) | Sean Michael Bell, born c. 1985, of Banbury Road, Kenton, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 – used his pet Staffy as a weapon against police officers, leading to the dog’s destruction.
Violent thug Sean Bell commanded his pet dog to attack two police officers during arrest, leading to a spell in prison for him and the dog losing his life.
In January 2022 officers from Northumbria Police attended an address in Blyth, Northumberland, in response to reports of domestic violence. On arrival they found Sean Bell drunk and sitting in his car outside the property where his then partner lived.
When officers attempted to detain Bell, he ordered his 10-year-old Staffy, Buster, who was sitting in the back seat, to “get them”. It was then that the dog attacked the officers. Bell encouraged the dog to keep attacking the officers while they tried to place handcuffs on him.
The female officer sustained bite wounds to her thigh and leg, with the male officer sustaining wounds to his thigh and calf.
Bell also attacked both officers and dished out verbal abuse before he was finally arrested.
In custody, Bell then spat at an officer, while screaming abuse from a custody suite.
Bell’s lawyer told the court that Buster is “not dangerous unless in the hands of someone not fit and proper”. She said members of Bell’s family could look after and insure the dog as well as muzzle him on walks. However, Recorder Mark Giuliani rejected this on the basis of Bell’s “chaotic” family background and instead ordered that Buster be destroyed.
A jury found Bell, who has previous convictions for criminal damage and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, guilty of two counts of being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog.
He was also found guilty of two counts of an assault with intent to avoid apprehension and one count of common assault.
He was sentenced to eight years and six months and banned from keeping pets for 18 years.
After sentencing on 4 April 2023, Ch Supt Sam Renninson said Bell’s actions were “completely unacceptable”. He added: “As a force filled with animal lovers, it is also distressing to see a dog used in such a way to attack our officers.
“It is important that anyone responsible for such behaviour is brought to justice, and I hope this case sends a clear message that this conduct will not be tolerated.”
Sentencing | eight years and six months in jail. Banned from keeping pets for 18 years.
CONVICTED (2023) | Susan Helen Boobyer, born 1 December 1970, of Bower Avenue, Bridgwater TA6 4QP – kept five dogs in cages with little food, water and bedding.
Backyard breeder Susan Boobyer admitted to three animal welfare offences in relation to dogs Rex, Suzie, Foxy, Bella and Annie.
RSPCA Inspector Jo Daniel persuaded Boobyer to let her take two of the dogs, Rex and Suzie, to a vet on May 5, 2022, after she had ignored repeated warnings to do so.
Inspector Daniel said: “Once the dogs arrived at the vet, Rex jumped into the sink, holding his nose to the tap and desperately drank the water provided – together with another three bows after that.
“Suzie also quickly drank a bowl of water, and both readily ate food offered to them.
“The vet who examined the dogs confirmed they were suffering.”
Veterinary evidence showed that Rex and Suzie were both very underweight with their bones visible. They were also both suffering from dental disease.
Suzie, the mum of pups Annie and Bella, was also found to have discolouration of fur indicating flea allergic dermatitis.
Rex and Susie were seized by police and Boobyer was served with a further animal welfare advice notice, advising her that her remaining dogs needed to be provided with bedding and fresh water at all times.
During a follow-up visit on May 13, 2022 Inspector Daniel found an adult dog known as Foxy and two 10-week old pups shut in with several piles of faeces over the floor. Neither bedding nor water was available for the dogs.
Boobyer confirmed that the dogs had not seen a vet but refused to allow Inspector Daniel to take them to see one. Police were called and Foxy and the puppies were seized.
Foxy was found to have marked dental disease, while Bella and Annie were underweight with healing ulcers on their pads either from urine or faecal scale or being caged with inappropriate bedding. The puppies were also suffering from anaemia due to their parasitic burden.
The five dogs have been in the care of the RSPCA since they were rescued and will be rehomed soon.
Sentencing | 12 months in prison suspended for two years. Ordered to pay £600 costs and a £156 victim surcharge. Banned from keeping animals for 15 years.
CONVICTED (2023) | Emma Suzanne Parker, born 8 April 1983, of Belvoir Gardens, Great Gonerby, Grantham NG31 8LQ – filmed killing and eating her pet hamster.
Drug addict Emma Parker cut her hamster in half while it was still alive, and was then filmed eating him
Videos of drug-addicted mother-of-one Emma Parker cutting the hamster, known as Mr Nibbles, with a knife while he was still alive were circulated online, prompting an RSPCA investigation.
Two videos filmed at Parker’s home were sent to the RSPCA by a concerned member of the public.
Gordon Holt, prosecuting, said: ‘The two videos seen on social media showed the defendant with a hamster in a hamster ball.
‘The defendant is holding the ball with a knife in the other hand .
‘She takes the knife and plunges it through the opening of the ball moving the knife from side to side.
‘A spectator is heard laughing and says ‘you are a sick b* you are.’
‘The hamster can be heard repeatedly squealing, it is allowed to escape and runs around a while.
‘The defendant attempts to strike it with the knife, successfully at least once.
‘She pinches its neck to keep it still.
‘It is still alive and she uses the knife in a chopping and sawing motion over the middle of the hamster’s body.
‘In the second video the defendant eats the two halves of the dissected body.’
In one of the clips, a woman who is off-camera can be heard laughing as Parker devours the rodent.
A vet who watched the footage described the content as deeply disturbing and said the pet would have suffered both physical and psychological damage as hamsters were prey animals which could feel fear.
During a police interview, Parker admitted the video was of her and claimed she was helping the hamster to die after it had been bitten by one of her dogs.
Parker said the incident took place at her home in mid-May, but refused to name those filming the footage, telling police: “They are not nice people”.
In court, the mother-of-one admitted one charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
The court heard Parker had been made the subject of community orders in both 2021 and 2022 for offences of shoplifting, and had a long history of addiction to Class A drugs.
Chris Brewin, mitigating, said Parker had been targeted as a result of the video, with her home vandalised and dog faeces put through the letter box.
Passing sentence Judge James House KC told Parker he had to take into account that Parliament had recently raised the maximum sentence for such animal cruelty from six months to five years’ imprisonment.
He said it was “abhorrent” that violence had been inflicted on a defenceless animal for others’ entertainment.
“The hamster was injured at least twice and then while still alive cut in half,” the judge said.
“You are then seen holding a bottle of water and then eating the two halves of the dissected hamster.”
Speaking after the sentencing, RSPCA inspector Andy Bostock said: “We share the public’s revulsion at this horrific incident and we’d like to thank the police for their support in this investigation.
“This type of cruelty has no place in today’s society and was a heartless vicious attack on a defenceless animal.
“It has been upsetting and disturbing for everyone who has been involved in this case.”
Judge House said Parker’s cruelty had been “as serious as could be”.
Sentencing | one year in prison. A 15-year ban on keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2023) | puppy farmer Robert Bransby, born c. 1986, of Cae Pentre, Brynteg, Broughton, Wrexham LL11 6AQ – illegally bred and sold dogs kept in atrocious conditions .
Rob Bransby was originally prosecuted by the RSPCA alongside mother Alison Bransby and sister Kayleigh Bransby in relation to an illegal dog breeding business at White House Farm, Hollins Lane, Tilstock, Whitchurch, Shropshire SY13 3NU. Although the women were sentenced in October 2022, Rob Bransby failed to show up at court.
Alison (left) and Kayleigh Bransby together with Rob Bransby made a fortune breeding and selling dogs from the family’s disgusting puppy farm
He has now been sent to prison for 18 weeks and given a 15-year ban on keeping dogs for his role in the puppy farm after admitting breeding and selling dogs without a licence.
Thirty-five dogs, including cavapoos, cockapoos, dachshunds, Cavalier King Charles spaniels and terriers were found living in appalling conditions during a warrant carried out on February 24, 2021 by the RSPCA and West Mercia police.
The raid followed complaints from members of the public who had bought puppies and dogs from the farm which later became ill.
The family advertised ‘home-bred’ puppies for sale on different websites but the reality was a large-scale puppy farm with dogs housed in wooden sheds, pens and kennels, some barely bigger than a large rabbit hutch.
The court heard that the women had made £150,000 from illegally breeding and selling the puppies, and around £9,000 in cash was seized from a safe at the property during the operation.
In her evidence, Kate Parker, the RSPCA inspector who led the investigation, said: “There were wooden sheds with stable type doors.
“Inside I could see a typical breeding set up for puppies, with a heat lamp angled over a plastic dog bed, an empty bowl and some soiled rags inside the bed.
“Inside a lean-to type construction there was a row of metal constructed kennels.
“There was a thin layer of sawdust on the concrete floor, clutter, household items and electrical cables dangling inside, accessible by the dogs housed in each.”
Shropshire puppy farmer and NHS radiographer Kayleigh Bransby with boyfriend Dan Clare. Clare was also prosecuted but it appears the case against him did not proceed.
RSPCA animal centres in Leicester, Birmingham and Aylesbury, assisted by a number of the charity’s fosterers, took in the animals, who have been rehomed.
Speaking after the hearing, chief inspector Ian Briggs from the RSPCA’s special operations unit, who assisted the investigation on the illegal selling, said: “We’d always encourage anyone thinking of getting a puppy to adopt rather than buy, and to do lots of research first to ensure they source a dog responsibly.”
Sentencing | 18 weeks of immediate custody; £728 in costs and victim surcharge. Banned from keeping dogs for 15 years.
