CONVICTED (2017) | illegal dog breeder Richard Samuel Morgan Jones, born c. 1985, of Moelfre, Llanwnnen, Lampeter SA48 7NY – kept poorly dogs and puppies in appalling conditions at his puppy farm

Ceredigion Council brought the prosecution against Jones after raids at two premises in June 2016 found 113 dogs and puppies suffering.

He was convicted of two counts of illegal dog breeding and 21 counts of causing unnecessary suffering to dogs following two raids in June 2016.

Jones operated illegal puppy farms at two premises: one at the Moelfre farm and another at Creuddyn Bridge, Lampeter.

Officers from Ceredigion County found 113 dogs and puppies at both venues.

The animals were described by the vet who examined them as mentally stressed with no exercise or social contact, with many dogs homed on their own.

Many of the animals were described as dangerously thin, with one suffering from gangrene and septicaemia and close to death.

Some pups had been so neglected they showed signs of extreme mental suffering, while many were ‘close to death’.

The dogs included Bichon Frise, rottweilers, Scottish and West Highland terriers, beagles, Cavalier King Charles spaniels and Yorkshire terriers.

Council vet Dr John O’Connor documented the suffering of the animals in each of the 21 charges.

Among them was a male Scottish terrier which he said had a “very advanced chronic skin condition and the thinness would have resulted in the dog suffering unnecessarily for a considerable length of time”.

“The dog’s ears were also badly affected with crusting indicating severe damage from long standing inflammation and scratching,” he added.

A Bichon Frise female was found with “advanced cataracts” and a “right ear flap [that] appeared to be exhibiting the early signs of gangrene”.

Another Bichon Frise puppy, just a few days old, had to be “immediately removed” from the premises when found as “it was so thin and cold that it could no longer suck”.

“It was so thin that the body condition score would have been close to death,” Dr O’Connor previously told the court.

Jones had been running a licensed premises known as “The Shed” near Lampeter with over 70 dogs from 2010.

Its licence was renewed yearly until 2015 when the local authority decided not to renew it because of concerns.

The application was for 70 dogs to breed 40 litters a year.

In 2016, an application was not made by Jones, but he carried on breeding.

Searches of both his premises was carried out with 56 dogs found at “The Shed” and 38 puppies and 19 dogs found at Moelfre farm.

Jones’ defence claimed he was devastated by the refusal for a licence in 2015 after making considerable investments at “The Shed” and felt he had been dealt with disproportionately by the local authority.

Matthew Paul, for Jones, told the court his ability to care for the dogs had been affected by personal issues including depression, and the need to care for the family farm.

“It was not deliberate neglect, but circumstances overtook him”, he said.

The court said all dogs should be removed from his premises by 2 March, 2017.

Sentencing:
Nine-week suspended prison sentence. 200 hours of unpaid work. Banned from keeping dogs for four years – later overturned on appeal with Jones being allowed to keep dogs for “hill farming”. He is banned from “dealing in dogs” for six years (expires February 2023). 

BBC News
WalesOnline 09/02/2017
WalesOnline 12/05/2017
Ceredigion Council report on the prosecution