Tag Archives: ear cropping

Dogs, ear cropping and tail docking, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders

Ince-in-Makerfield / Beech Hill, Wigan: Jamie Evans and Joshua Kwiatkowski

1 Comment

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.

Wigan men Josh Kwiatkowski and Jamie Evans put their dogs through a painful ear-cropping procedure
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.

Photos on the phones of Joshua Kwiatkowski and Jamie Evans showed puppies with full ears, as well as images of the dogs after having the procedure
Kwiatkowski’s dog Ace before his ears were mutilated
Photos on the phones of Joshua Kwiatkowski and Jamie Evans showed puppies with full ears, as well as images of the dogs after having the procedure
Ace 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.”

Photos on the phones of Joshua Kwiatkowski and Jamie Evans showed puppies with full ears, as well as images of the dogs after having the procedure
Evans’ dog Riga
Photos on the phones of Joshua Kwiatkowski and Jamie Evans showed puppies with full ears, as well as images of the dogs after having the procedure
Photos on the phones of Joshua Kwiatkowski and Jamie Evans showed puppies with full ears, as well as images of the dogs after having the procedure

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.

Liverpool Echo
Manchester Evening News
Wigan Today

Dogs, ear cropping and tail docking, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders

Manor / Darnall, Sheffield: Claire Wainwright, Tariq Ajmal, Adam Ajmal

1 Comment

CONVICTED (2023) | Claire Wainwright, born c. 1982 and Tariq Ajmal, born 7 March 2002, both of Prince of Wales Road, Manor, Sheffield S2 1EX, and Adam Ajmal, born 7 March 2002, of Swales Gardens, Darnall, Sheffield S9 4LD – kept seven dogs and a parrot in disgusting conditions.

Claire Wainwright and sons Tariq and Adam Ajmal were banned from keeping animals for three years after the RSPCA found seven dogs, including two puppies, and a parrot living in dreadful conditions at a Sheffield property.

Claire Wainwright and twin sons Tariq and Adam Ajmal were prosecuted by the RSPCA for cruelty towards seven dogs, including two puppies, and a parrot found at their family home in Prince of Wales Road in the Manor area of Sheffield.

Wainwright pleaded guilty to two animal cruelty offences relating to a shepherd puppy called Hugo and a rottweiler puppy named Winnie.

Tariq Ajmal pleaded guilty to one animal cruelty offence relating to four other dogs, named Shotty, River and Vegas and Coco.

Adam Ajmal pleaded guilty to one animal cruelty offence relating to a dog called Shadow.

Claire Wainwright and sons Tariq and Adam Ajmal were banned from keeping animals for three years after the RSPCA found seven dogs, including two puppies, and a parrot living in dreadful conditions at a Sheffield property.

RSPCA inspector Leanne Booth attended the property with police on March 30, 2022, after concerns were raised about the animals.

Seven dogs and puppies plus a parrot, were found living in unsuitable conditions.

Inspector Booth said in a statement to the court she noted a strong smell of urine and faeces in the kitchen, where she found two puppies confined to a small wooden dog kennel placed with its door against a wall.

“The kennel was soaking wet and covered in faeces, while there was no bedding and nowhere dry for the puppies to lay down. Hugo’s coat was soaking wet with a mixture of urine and faeces dripping from him. It was difficult to hold him due to the smell,” said the inspector.

“Winnie was also wet and extremely smelly covered in the same unpleasant liquid as Hugo.”

Claire Wainwright and sons Tariq and Adam Ajmal were banned from keeping animals for three years after the RSPCA found seven dogs, including two puppies, and a parrot living in dreadful conditions at a Sheffield property.

There was also a small cage in the kitchen, housing a yellow parrot called Zara. Her cage was covered in faeces and old food and her drinking pot contained soiled water.

When the inspector heard the sound of barking from the garden, Tariq Ajmal led her to a fenced off area where the other dogs were running loose or tethered.

One of the dogs, a cane corso, needed to be restrained by the owner as she was attacking one of the tethered dogs, who was in pain.

“The dog had a small harness tightly fastened around her abdomen and to a chain on a metal ring on the floor, so her movements were severely restricted. She could not access water, she had no shelter or a comfortable rest area and she was limping in pain,” added the inspector.

“Another dog, Coco, had a choke chain around her neck attached to a very short chain, which meant the dog could only stand up in a crouched position. She had no access to water, shelter, or rest area. There was also a cane corso (Shadow), whose tail had been docked and ears cropped.

“The loose dogs in the garden had access to a large garage with three separate rooms which were in complete darkness with no natural light or ventilation. The floor was completely covered with faeces and there were no beds or bedding material, while there were maggots among the faeces and the smell within the garage was overpowering.”

All the animals were seized by the police and taken into the care of the RSPCA.

Claire Wainwright and sons Tariq and Adam Ajmal were banned from keeping animals for three years after the RSPCA found seven dogs, including two puppies, and a parrot living in dreadful conditions at a Sheffield property.

Wainwright told the inspector the dogs belonged to her two sons, Tariq and Adam Ajmal, and that she had helped care for the puppies, while the parrot was owned by the family as a whole.

A vet’s expert report concluded: “There are a number of huge concerns with the conditions these animals were kept in, most notably the poor sanitation in the garage and outside as well as on the young puppies’ fur.

“There was no suitable bedding or suitable-sized shelter and it is unacceptable to keep animals in conditions where there is no access to fresh water, while they are restrained and tethered for long periods with no bowls within reach. The suffering these animals faced was inexcusable and completely avoidable.”

Claire Wainwright and sons Tariq and Adam Ajmal were banned from keeping animals for three years after the RSPCA found seven dogs, including two puppies, and a parrot living in dreadful conditions at a Sheffield property.

In mitigation, the court was told Wainwright had suffered bereavement and physical illness at the time of the offence and it was said she had “too much on her plate” to be able to cope with the dogs.

For Tariq Ajmal, it was said he struggled after the loss of his father and he found it difficult to be at the house on a regular basis. Adam Ajmal was also badly affected by the death of his father and claimed he was not responsible for docking Shadow’s tail or cropping her ears and that he had “rescued the canine from abroad”.

The dogs and the parrot have been cared for by the RSPCA and will be rehomed when they are ready for adoption – the dogs will need suitable and knowledgeable owners as they are large, powerful canines.

Speaking after the sentencing, inspector Booth said: “The conditions in the garage at this property were horrendous, there was not one part of the garage floor that was not covered by faeces. The dogs did not have any dry space to lay in at all.

Sentencing | 12-week curfew; costs of £300 and a victim surcharge of £95. Banned from keeping animals for a pathetic three years (expires April 2026).

The Star

dog attack, Dogs, ear cropping and tail docking, Serial Animal Abusers

Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester: Jade O’Brien

1 Comment

CONVICTED (2023) | Jade O’Brien, born c. 1987, of Ack Lane, Cheadle Hulme, Stockport – left an XL bully in agony with untreated wounds to her ears.

Animal abuser: Jade O'Brien from Stockport failed to get treatment for her bulldog puppy's wounds leaving it in agony
Jade O’Brien told an RSPCA inspector she likes the crop-eared look on dogs

Jade O’Brien’s six-month-old XL bully-type breed called Babyface had stitch wounds that became infected after undergoing an ear cropping procedure, which is illegal in the UK.

O’Brien said the procedure had been carried out abroad but admitted she did not take the dog to a vet for treatment.

Stockport woman Jade O'Brien's puppy was left with untreated infected stitch wounds from ear cropping
O’Brien’s puppy was left with untreated infected stitch wounds from ear cropping

The RSPCA first became involved when Inspector Beth Fazakerley went to a vets in Accrington, Lancashire, on September 1, 2021 to examine two dogs who had been seized by police as part of an investigation under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Stockport woman Jade O'Brien's puppy was left with untreated infected stitch wounds from ear cropping

One of them was Babyface who had ‘prominent scars’ from stitches after recently having her ears cropped. A staff member confirmed that when the dog arrived at the kennels two weeks before, she was suffering with open wounds to both ears.

Stockport woman Jade O'Brien's puppy was left with untreated infected stitch wounds from ear cropping

In a witness statement Inspector Fazakerley said: “You could clearly see multiple horizontal scars and I was told that when she was seized she still had sutures that were cutting into her skin due to how inflamed and infected her ears were.”

Animal abuser: Jade O'Brien from Stockport failed to get treatment for her bulldog puppy's wounds leaving it in agony

O’Brien later told Inspector Fazakerley that the dog had been imported from the US and that she was bought with her ears already cropped.

“She informed me that she bought Babyface from America as she buys her dogs from there and she said she likes the cropped-eared look,” the inspector said. “She said she’d only had Babyface a few days and she’d bought her with her ears already cropped.”

“I asked if the dog had seen a vet and she said she didn’t want to take her as she knew she would get in trouble. But she’d asked her gardener, who breeds dogs, for help and he provided her with some antibiotics.”

O’Brien said she had administered one dose of antibiotics before the dog was seized from her home along with another female bully breed.

After being seized, Babyface was taken to a vet to have her stitches removed and she was treated with painkillers and antibiotics.

An expert vet said the wounds on each of the dog’s ear pinnas appeared to be less than a week old and were ‘severely infected’ with a ‘pus-like discharge.’

They concluded that Babyface would have been in pain for at least five days as she had not received any pain-killing medication.

O’Brien pleaded guilty to a charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog.

Another defendant has pleaded guilty to an animal welfare offence and will be sentenced at a later date, the RSPCA said.

Animal abuser: Jade O'Brien from Stockport failed to get treatment for her bulldog puppy's wounds leaving it in agony
History of violence: O’Brien is pictured during a court appearance in 2013 where she faced charges of assault

O’Brien, who has a 2013 conviction for assaulting a lollipop lady, claimed in mitigation she had ‘been influenced’ and ‘has health issues’.

Babyface was taken into the care of the RSPCA’s Southport, Ormskirk and District Branch who will now find her a new home.

Speaking after the case, inspector Fazakerley said: “Ear cropping is all about image and owners who do this to their dogs or take on ownership when this procedure has already been done don’t seem to realise the repercussions for the animals in terms of how it affects their behaviour or the dreadful pain they go through.”

Sentencing | 18 month community order with 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days; £495 in costs and victim surcharge. Deprivation orders on Babyface and the other bully breed dog. Three-year ban on keeping any canines (expires March 2026).

Manchester Evening News
ITV News

Update | December 2023

O’Brien has now been sentenced to four months in prison after an XL Bully she was in charge of mauled a dog owner and killed another dog in two horrifying attacks just two weeks apart.

Narla will be destroyed after her owner allowed her to be dangerously out of control, resulting in her killing another dog and biting a woman in two separate incidents

Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how a woman was walking her one-year-old spaniel with her two children in July 2021 when she spotted a large grey dog running down O’Brien’s driveway. O’Brien was looking after Narla for her ex-partner when the attacks took place.

The woman worried by the XL Bully grabbed her spaniel but then the dog attacked her instead. She was forced back into a hedge and was bitten with serious injuries to her arms and legs while she was left with marks that were visible six months afterwards.

In a second attack just two weeks later, the XL Bully went for a small white dog that was being walked near O’Brien’s home. The teenage girl who was walking the animal ran away as she thought Narla was going to attack her but instead she went for her dog.

Sadly the white dog had to be put down by a vet after being badly bitten and having flesh ripped from her hind legs.

O’Brien pleaded guilty to two charges of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and one charge of using threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour.

Jonathan Condor, defending, told Manchester Magistrates’ Court that the XL Bully belonged to her former partner who was on remand in prison for allegedly assaulting her.

He claimed that the defendant was the victim of domestic abuse and had suffered a stroke but still accepted her responsibility for the attacks.

Mr Condor said that O’Brien was a “dog lover” and was upset by the attack on the teenager’s pet. She was also said to be “strongly opposed” to Narla being put down. He argued that O’Brien needed to “settle down and get a clean start”.

District judge Thomas Mitchell said he took O’Brien’s circumstances into consideration and that they had “to some extent been imposed upon” her by the ex-partner and that she was not the best person to be looking after the dog. But he jailed O’Brien for four months saying it was a serious case that required immediate custody.

O’Brien was also banned from owning a dog for five years, given a £154 victim surcharge and a destruction order was also made for the XL Bully Narla.

Mirror

Dogs, ear cropping and tail docking, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders

Garthamlock, North-East Glasgow: Henry Chrystal

2 Comments

CONVICTED (2023) | “puppy butcher” Henry Chrystal, born c. 1989, of Tillycairn Drive, Garthamlock, Glasgow G33 – failed to treat his puppies’ mutilated ears.

Greeder and puppy butcher Henry Chrystal from glasgow

In January 2023 Chrystal pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to puppies Donut and Dumpling through failing to provide veterinary treatment for injuries caused by a prohibited procedure, namely ear cropping.

Donut and Dumpling had their ears cropped by cruel Glasgow breeder Henry Chrystal
Mutilated for profit: Donut and Dumpling had their ears cropped by cruel breeder Henry Chrystal

A Scottish SPCA Special Investigation Unit (SIU) inspector involved in the case said they were alerted by a member of the public.

He said: “Both dogs had injuries to their ears. The wounds were red, crusted and looked recent.

“We immediately removed the dogs due to concerns for their welfare and took them to one of our centres to be examined by a vet. The vet examined their wounds and found they were still in a stage of healing and appeared to cause some discomfort when touched.

Donut and Dumpling had their ears cropped by cruel Glasgow breeder Henry Chrystal

“This illegal procedure would have caused these puppies considerable pain and discomfort, for purely cosmetic reasons.

“The procedures are likely to have taken several minutes and there will have been a lot of bleeding. Both puppies were then left in chronic pain until they received the care they needed at our centre.”

Donut and Dumpling had their ears cropped by cruel Glasgow breeder Henry Chrystal

The inspector said Chrystal had claimed he had owned the puppies for two weeks and that their ears were already cropped when he received them. He claimed they were given to him ‘on breeder’s terms’, meaning he would keep them as a pet until the breeder required them back for breeding.

When asked why he hadn’t sought veterinary treatment for the puppies he said that he didn’t take them to the vet because they were ‘not his dogs to take to the vet’. Both pups have been rehomed.

Sentencing | 40-day restriction of liberty order. Two-year ban on keeping animals (expires January 2025).

Daily Record

Additional Information

Henry Chrystal’s brother is Andrew William Stuart Chrystal, born 3 April 1998, and according to the 2022 public electoral roll living at Townend Farm, Kilsyth, Glasgow G65 0QE. Andrew Chrystal is sole director of Dog Food Bull Brand Ltd, which was founded in September 2022.

He and partner Melissa Brodie, born 11 September 1998 and a nursery nurse at Happy Days Nursery in Kirkintilloch, also breed and sell dogs – their ears routinely cropped – under the trading name Variety Bulls or VBulls. Facebook page here. Instagram profile here.

Andrew Chrystal is an associate of Thomas Rayment, a county lines drug gang leader, and Ryan Howard, who were exposed in a 2023 BBC Panorama investigation into extreme breeders (available on the iPlayer or via the YouTube link below). Rayment and Howard own and run Muscletone Bullys, a canine fertility clinic based in Wigan, Greater Manchester.

Variety Bulls’ Instagram profile is private but here’s a selection of images from the various Facebook profiles. No words needed

We now understand that the two puppies for which Henry Chrystal was convicted were actually bred and (allegedly) mutilated by Variety Bulls. This being the case, it would seem that the wrong brother was prosecuted and the authorities now need to take a close look at Andrew Chrystal, assuming he’s not already on their radar.

Dogs, ear cropping and tail docking, Pet Profiteering

Wrexham, North Wales: Jordan Birchall-Roberts and Carl Birchall

2 Comments

CONVICTED (2022) | Jordan Birchall-Roberts, born 11 January 2002, of Heol Cadfan, Coedpoeth, Wrexham LL11, and Carl Cassius Marius Birchall, born 14 March 1974, of 43 Meadow Lea, Caia Park, Wrexham LL13 8SN – failed to provide veterinary care and attention for a puppy with cropped ears.

Animal abusers: Carl Birchall (left) and son Jordan Birchall-Roberts from Wrexham, Wales. Pictures: Facebook

The pair, who are father and son, pleaded guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act of failing to meet the needs of a bulldog called Zena by failing to provide proper and necessary veterinary care and attention for her cropped ears.

Cruelty victim Zena with cropped ears

The court had heard that the defendants told the RSPCA they had owned the puppy for a week and her ears were already cropped.

RSPCA inspector Rachael Davies attended Meadow Lea in Wrexham on June 9, 2022. She found Zena in the living room and could see instantly that her ears had been cropped and that they looked “swollen and appeared to have been cut unevenly”.

Animal abuser: Carl Birchall from Wrexham. Picture: Facebook

Inspector Davies – who was speaking to a lady at the property – said in a written statement: “I could see the holes where the stitches had been.

“The lady told me that the first night the puppy came home it was screaming in pain so they gave it some Calpol and since then it had been fine.”

Zena’s owner Birchall-Roberts then returned and inspector Davies asked him where he got the dog from.

Animal abuser: Jordan Birchall-Roberts from Wrexham, Wales. Picture: Facebook

He explained that had been given a phone number which had come off Gumtree.

“He said he then picked the dog up from some men at a service station in Chester,” she added.

“I asked if the puppy had seen a vet, he said no. I advised him that I was concerned about the puppy’s ears as they looked very swollen and painful and that I wanted to take the puppy to the vet to get them checked.

“At first he was reluctant however after speaking to his father he agreed to let me take the puppy to the vet. He told me the puppy was seven weeks old when he got her and he had owned her for one week.”

Cruelty victim Zena with cropped ears

At the vets Zena was examined and a vet confirmed that her ears were swollen with signs of infection. She was taken into possession by police and placed into the care of the RSPCA.

Animal abuser: Jordan Birchall-Roberts from Wrexham, Wales. Picture: Facebook

A witness statement from a veterinary surgeon said Zena would have endured suffering when these wounds were sustained and the days following this (timescale of approximately one week).

They added: “The suffering in the days after could have been reduced by adequate assessment and treatment, had Zena been presented to a veterinary surgeon earlier.

“I estimate that Zena has not had her needs met for approximately one week, or the time since sustaining the wounds to her ears, allegedly one week prior.

“A reasonable person would have presented this puppy to a veterinary surgeon on the day of purchase or ownership.”

Prior to the hearing Zena was signed over to the RSPCA.

Sentencing | each was ordered to pay £300 costs, a £120 fine and a £34 victim surcharge. A 24-month disqualification from keeping all animals for 24 months (expires December 2024).

The Leader
Wrexham. com

Dogs, ear cropping and tail docking

Airdrie, North Lanarkshire: Andrew Kirkland

2 Comments

CONVICTED (2022) | Andrew Dean Kirkland, born July 1990, of Thornlea Gardens, Airdrie ML6 6HW – illegally cropped the ears of his American bully pup, Kane.

Andrew Kirkland only received a 12-month ban after illegally cropping an American Bully pup’s ears

Kirkland, company director of Cranium Ink Ltd, admitted causing unnecessary suffering through failing to provide veterinary treatment for injuries caused by a prohibited procedure.

Social media images proved that puppy Kane’s ears had been mutilated while in Kirkland’s care

A Scottish SPCA special investigations unit inspector involved in the case said “We attended a premises in Airdrie on 30 April 2021 and found Kane, an American bully puppy aged between five and six months, at the property with cropped ears.

“We immediately removed the dog due to concerns for his welfare and took him to a veterinary surgery. He was examined and it was determined the ear cropping would have taken place more than three weeks prior. Three quarters of both of the flaps on his ears had been removed and there were dimples either side of the wound consistent with the placement of suture material.

“This illegal procedure would have caused Kane considerable pain and discomfort for purely cosmetic reasons.

“At first, Kirkland tried to claim that the dog had been imported from Bulgaria with cropped ears but we know this not to be the case. We also found several photos on Kirkland’s mobile phone showing both Kane as a puppy with intact ears and with fresh wounds from the procedure while in his care.

“When confronted with this evidence Kirkland said he thought ear cropping was legal and had been told it would make his dog less aggressive and stop him fighting with other dogs.

“In the UK, as ear cropping is a prohibited procedure, any operation is unlikely to be carried out with appropriate anaesthetic or pain relief. Kirkland has allowed this to be carried out to a defenceless young dog, undoubtedly causing significant unnecessary suffering, with no regard for the pain and discomfort this would ultimately cause Kane.

“We are pleased that Kirkland has been given a ban but, given that he has shown a premeditated willingness to compromise welfare for a purely cosmetic reason, we would have liked it to be for a longer period of time.”

Sentencing | 190-hour Community Payback Order; 12 month ban on owning, keeping or working with animals.

Daily Record
SSPCA News

Dogs, ear cropping and tail docking

Walthamstow, London: Ramadan Murati

1 Comment

CONVICTED (2022) | Ramadan Murati, born c. 2002, previously from Leicester but now of Folkestone Road, Walthamstow – had a puppy’s ears cropped.

Bully's ears were sore and red, with exposed cartilage
Bully’s ears were sore and red, with exposed cartilage

Albanian national Murati was warned that the procedure to his 15-week-old dog Bully was illegal, but he went ahead with it anyway.

The RSPCA was contacted by a veterinary practice after he took the dog for a vaccination, and the vets could see he had recently had his ears cropped.

Bully was placed in the care of the animal rescue team after RSPCA inspector Herchy Boal attended.

Leicester Magistrates’ Court heard that Murati previously asked vets and the RSPCA where he could go to get Bully’s ears cropped – and was told in no uncertain terms that he cannot do this.

The inspector said: “I could see instantly that the puppy’ ears had been recently cropped, they appeared sore and red, but were not actively bleeding.

“The puppy was called Bully and was around 15 weeks old. He was friendly and on taking a closer look I could see that his ears were starting to heal and granulate, but were still sore.

“Both ears flaps had been cut, with exposure of the cartilage surfaces.”

An expert vet said that there was no evidence of any “conventional surgical technique, sutures or dressing” covering the ears.

The vet added: “In my professional opinion the patient was subjected unnecessarily to a procedure, that regardless of the medical care provided, always implicated discomfort and potential pain during and after the procedure.

“The degree of pain will have been depending on the degree and depth of the anaesthesia and analgesia that was provided when the procedure took place.”

Inspector Boal added: “Bully was also quite old to have had his ears cropped which again would have been more painful for him and he could have further health issues from this in years to come.

“I am happy to say that Bully was signed over to the care of the RSPCA and has since been rehomed to a lovely family who completely adore him.”

Sentencing | Fined £120 and ordered to pay costs of £150 and a £34 victim surcharge. At the magistrates’ court, Disqualified from keeping all animals for just two years (expires November 2024).

Guardian Series
MyLondon

Dogs, ear cropping and tail docking, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex: Rory Canny and Sophie Snell

1 Comment

CONVICTED (2022) | backyard breeders Rory Canny, born May 1992, and Sophie Louise Snell, born 27 November 1991, both of St Osyth Road East, Little Clacton, Clacton-on-Sea CO16 9NZ – illegally cropped dogs’ ears.

Canny and Snell, who trade under the name Bully Lair UK, were convicted of one offence each under the Animal Welfare Act relating to the cropping.

Logo for the pair’s dodgy breeding business.

RSPCA officers started an investigation after reports of dogs having cropped ears.

A warrant was executed at a property in Clacton where several dogs were found, including a number that had been cropped.

The vile pair lied that this dog, known as Bjorn, had been imported from Bulgaria, when they had bred him themselves.
The pair denied all knowledge of ownership in relation to Nylah.

Officers also carried out online research into Bullylair UK kennels and found a number of images on social media showing puppies who were being bred and having their ears cropped.

In her witness statement, RSPCA inspector Caroline Richardson – who compiled a research report based on the kennel’s Instagram images – said: “An image posted on May 9, 2020 on the BullylairUK Instagram page shows an entire litter of puppies with whole ears, stating they are four weeks old.

“Bjorn (pictured above) is then posted in December 2020 with cropped ears. Canny and Snell… both confirmed in interview this is the same dog and that they bred the dog.”

The couple claimed they adopted Bjorn when he was four months old, only to change their story and admit to breeding him, but saying they sold him to a friend overseas and he only returned when the ‘friend’ arranged the cropping.

However, online evidence – including photos posted online during the time period he was allegedly overseas – suggests the dog was with them, and there are no travel documents to support their claims.

A second dog, Tiger Lily, is pictured on the same Instagram account with whole ears. She has similar markings to a dog seen on the day of the visit (WR/6) – a “distinctive fork shape” white chest marking – with cropped ears.

When interviewed, the pair denied breeding her – saying she came from another kennels.

A third dog, Nylah, is seen pictured in May 2020 as a four-week puppy with whole ears. Another photo in March 2021 showed her with cropped ears and it was claimed she was co-owned with another kennels. In interview, Snell said she didn’t know who owned Nylah and Canny denied being her co-owner.

A fourth dog – Saber Tooth – is seen in an image posted on Instagram on 1 January 2021 with uncropped ears. In March 2021, a video is posted showing Canny holding a puppy with very similar markings with his ears now cropped.

Canny said, in interview, that the puppy with cropped ears was a different dog and is from another kennels. He said that Saber Tooth was from Bulgaria.

inspector Richardson said: “Ear cropping is an horrific 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 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.”

Sentencing |
Canny: 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
Snell: six-month curfew.
£600 each in legal costs.
Five-year ban on keeping dogs (expires November 2027).

Essex Live

Dogs, ear cropping and tail docking, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders

Wimborne, Dorset: William Perriton and Rebecca Heath

Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2022) | William Derrick Perriton aka Herbie Perriton, born 21 June 1980, and Rebecca ‘Ree’ Heath, born 29 November 1982, of 138 Church Road, Three Legged Cross, Wimborne BH21 – ran an illegal dog breeding business and failed to meet the needs of the animals they greedily exploited.

Perriton and Heath pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, failing to take steps to ensure then needs of animals were met and carrying out a dog breeding and selling business for 14 months without a licence.

When Dorset Council officers and a vet visited the couple’s address in Three Legged Cross, it was found that the canines did not have a suitable environment and diet, they were not able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns and they were not protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

The court heard the couple were advised on four separate occasions in 2019 that they needed to apply for a licence to run a dog breeding business.

However, when the local authority executed the warrant in March 2020, no application for a licence had been made.

Prosecuting, Syan Ventom said the breeding operation took place at the defendants’ home address.

He said the needs of 39 of the of the dogs found on the premises were not being met.

The council first had contact with the couple in October 2017 when an officer visited following a complaint.

At the time, they told the officer they were considering dog breeding and advice was given on what they required to carry out that activity

A complaint about dog barking in September 2019 saw the council return to the address.

In October 2019, the defendants advertised a litter of German Shepherd puppies.

They did not act on further advice and continued to trade commercially, advertising on social media the court heard.

Mr Ventom said there was evidence of puppies being sold for between £900 and £1,200.

A telephone was seized after the warrant and conversations on WhatsApp showed Perriton being told he should advertise a puppy for sale at £3,500, to which he replied did not have a licence and the dog warden was “keeping an eye on him”.

The court heard the dogs were kept in two windowless, single-storey outbuildings. There was a strong smell of ammonia and bedding “ringing wet with urine”.

Mr Ventom said the conditions were described as “extremely unpleasant for dogs and humans”.

While the vet had sufficient evidence to make an order to seize the dogs, the defendants voluntarily handed over ownership.

The canines were taken into the care of the council, provided with veterinary treatment and eventually rehomed.

Mr Ventom said one of the Cane Corso bitches, Jet, had since been put down but there was no evidence before the court as to why this action had been taken.

Mitigating for both defendants, Laura Collier said: “In short they meant well and they did it badly and they disregarded to a huge extent the suffering that was caused to the animals.”

Ms Collier said the couple had four domestic dogs, who were well looked after.

Ms Collier said there was a “wealth of evidence” that her clients were “well-intentioned but incompetent in their conduct” adding that they had been “overwhelmed” by everything involved with running the operation and they had not been able to cope.

She referenced reports from a vet about healthy litters belonging to the couple since 2017, courses undertaken by Heath in canine health and puppy care, and positive reviews on social media from people who bought puppies.

The couple had applied for planning permission to change the use of the premises for dog breeding but “could not wait any longer” to start breeding due to the financial investment they had made, Ms Collier said.

The barrister said it was not necessary, appropriate or proportionate to impose a disqualification order.

The court heard the defendants made admissions when interviewed via post due to the pandemic and they had insisted they would not get involved in breeding again.

Judge Mousley ruled it was a case of high culpability but lesser harm despite the number of dogs involved.

The judge decided against imposing a disqualification order, which had been applied for in relation to owning dogs by the prosecution.

Sentencing | 12-month community order, with a requirement to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work each. No ban.

Bournemouth Daily Echo

Update 28/11/2022

Perriton and Heath returned to court to hear details of the financial penalties – confiscation order and court costs – being levied against them following their conviction for illegal puppy selling.

A confiscation order is made against a convicted defendant ordering them to pay the amount of their financial benefit from crime. In this case, as the defendants were selling puppies without a licence, the income they made from selling puppies needs to be paid.

For the confiscation order, Perriton was ordered to pay £115,000 or risk 18 months in prison. Heath was ordered to pay £34,840 or risk nine months in prison. Both will also need to pay £4,500 each in prosecution costs, with a victim surcharge of £85 each.

Dorset Council are set to receive 37% of the confiscation order funds, which amounts to £55,440. This will go into the Community and Public Protection budget to be spent for the benefit of the community on general prevention and enforcement measures. The rest is split between central government and the HM Courts & Tribunals Service.

Dorset Council news

Dogs, ear cropping and tail docking, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders

Plymouth: Jamie and Adrian James

Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2022) | backyard breeders Jamie James, born 10 June 1995, of HMP Channings Wood & his father Adrian James, born c 1971 of Devonport Road, Plymouth – cropped puppies’ ears to make more money.

Jamie James, a habitual criminal who can now add animal cruelty to his list of previous convictions.

Jamie James, a cocaine addict with previous convictions for Class A drug dealing and domestic violence, admitted three animal welfare offences following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA. His father, Adrian James, was convicted alongside him although, it was claimed in court, played a “lesser role” in the cruel profiteering. The pair traded under the name Southwest Dogfather.

RSPCA officers visited in September 2021, after police obtained a warrant to search for puppies with illegally cropped ears.

During the visit, a female grey merle pocket bully with cropped ears and a tan and white male pocket bully with cropped ears were discovered.

RSPCA Inspector Pippa Boyd noted that bleeding indicated that the cropping had been done recently and was not fully healed.

Dog passports were provided by the men, but these did not contain the necessary vaccination stamps or details to support that the dogs had been legally imported. The date of birth also appeared to have been doctored on the passports to show a different date.

Evidence gathered by the charity from phone records showed dogs were being sold for commercial gain through Gumtree, with a business logo shared between the two men.

Whatsapp messages and videos shared between father and son also proved the dogs had been born under their care and their ears had been cropped.

In messages sent to his father on August 8, 2021, Jamie James shared videos of puppies with freshly cropped ears – just hours after sharing clips showing the same dogs with their ears intact. Earlier messages showed he had travelled to Gloucestershire with the dogs before returning to Plymouth that day.

Additional messages see the two men discussing the dogs’ ears and showing a tool to remove staples. There were also discussions about giving the dogs a substance to allow them to remove the staples, with comments and videos showing the effect the substance had on the dogs and a picture showing a staple that had been removed.

Sister Beth James also appears to be involved in backyard breeding and owns a dog with cropped ears.

They also discussed pictures for online selling sites and how much had been made from the sale of other dogs.

In another conversation between the two men, Jamie James is seen saying: “You get top money if you get their ears done. That’s what I’m going to do.”

Sentencing |
Jamie James: 12-months in prison; £756 in costs and charges. 20-year disqualification from keeping animals but may appeal after 15 years.
Adrian James: 120 hours of unpaid work; £695 in costs and charges. Disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years but can appeal after seven years.

Plymouth Live