CONVICTED (2015) | puppy farmer Margaret Helen Davies, born 21 August 1948, of Hagloe House, Awre Road, Blakeney GL15 4AA, but as of 2022 believed to be in Barry, South Wales, – continued to breed dogs after her licence was refused.
In January 2015 Davies pleaded guilty to operating a breeding establishment without a licence.
Magistrates heard Davies’s puppy farm had been licensed by Forest of Dean District Council since 2007. In March 2014 the Licensing Committee refused her application for a new licence, which would have allowed her to continue breeding pugs, chihuahuas, poodles and Boston terriers, with around 100 breeding bitches and their puppies being kept in sub-standard wooden kennels.
A separate breeding licence application by Davies’s daughter Helen Pike and her husband Richard Pike was also refused during the same hearing.
Despite no longer having a licence to advertise and sell puppies, Davies continued to breed in excess of 78 puppies.
Sentencing: fined £300 and ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge and £1,000 costs. Disqualified from operating a breeding establishment for a period of three years (expired 2018).
Update | December 2021
It was reported that an order under the Animal Welfare Act had been made against Margaret Davies and husband William Robert Davies (born August 1945). This came after council inspectors found two dead puppies amongst many dogs being kept in dark, filthy, overheated and pest-infested conditions at their home.
Faeces had piled up in the pens at the alleged puppy farm run by the pair, and some dogs had little daylight and limited drinking water.
Barrister Greg Gordon, representing Forest of Dean District Council, said that twelve dogs and two litters of puppies had been removed by council inspectors and others had since been signed over to the council’s care.
The Davies were not present in court and were not legally represented. An interim order depriving them of the puppy farming operation was made by the magistrates pending a full hearing in January 2022.
Mr Gordon said the dogs had been seized from Hagloe House, Blakeney, because they were suffering from signs of neglect and had been certified as such by inspectors and a vet.
“On July 1 this year [2021] the Forest of Dean District Council executed a search warrant on the property and found dogs in four different locations in the grounds of the property.”
“A farm shed had been converted into kennels and was home to two Corgis, three terriers and a Samoyed. There was an overpowering and acrid smell of urine and faeces, which got worse the further in the inspectors entered the building.
“The central walkway was surrounded by separate pens and was covered in used bedding which was covered in faeces. The concrete floor had a very thin layer of shredded paper. There was no clean or comfortable bedding provided and there was no access to water.
“These pens hadn’t been cleaned for some time and it appeared that the dogs were rotated from one pen to another.
“In a second barn, which was much worse than the first, with poor natural light, there were 12 dogs, four French bulldogs, four Schnauzers and four terriers. The bulldogs were in enclosed pens which had even less natural lighting.
“These dogs were penned in to what would be classed as overcrowding. There was a build-up of flies due to the amount of faeces in the barn. Only one bowl of water was visible, which was also contaminated by faeces.
“The whole site raised health concerns and was suffering from a lack of pest control.
“One of the bulldogs had visible problems with its eyes. The inspectors told Margaret Davies that no dogs were to be housed in the second barn and seized the 12 dogs there, which were signed over to the district council.”
Mr Gordon said the Davies were told that criminal proceedings were likely to take place in due course.
Mr Gordon told the magistrates that despite improvement notices issued by the district council the Davies’ had done little to comply.
Mr Gordon added: “The dogs should be re-homed as it is in the best interests of the animals’ welfare.”
“Two Scotties and two corgis were kept in metal grilled pens which offered no shelter from heat or rain and lived among a growing pile of faeces.
“In the main house there were five dogs, two of which were seized during the first visit. A Corgi was penned in with her litter of eight puppies, one of which was unresponsive and lifeless.
“One of the inspectors picked this puppy up and shows it to Margaret Davies, who appeared to be wholly uncaring over its welfare.
“The Corgi and her puppies were in front of an Aga in the month of July. It was hot.
“There was a cage in a back room, which was poorly lit and had poor ventilation. Two Schnauzers were housed inside, each with their litter of puppies. A heat lamp was resting on top of the cage making the metalwork too hot to touch.
“One of these puppies, belonging to a Schnauzer, was also lifeless.”
Mr Gordon alleged that the court heard that the following day the Davies were served with an improvement notice, but they made little effort to comply with the order. They had provided fire extinguishers and made some attempt at pest control, but little else – in fact things had got worse with even less drinking water available.
Some effort had been made to remove the faeces as this had been scooped up by a digger and left in the trough.
Mr Gordon said: “The Davies have shown complete disregard for housing the dogs properly, as there was enough space to do so.
“The cost to the council in dealing with this has been in the region of £17,000, which is mainly made up of vets fees as the animals have been placed in foster homes until this case is resolved.”
The magistrates granted the interim deprivation order, which will be formalised at a hearing on January 26, 2022.
Update | January 2022
On 26 January 2022 Margaret and William Davies were ordered to pay legal costs of £19,762.50 plus the expenses of caring for twenty neglected dogs and puppies that were seized from their home by animal welfare officers.
Barrister Greg Gordon, representing Forest of Dean Council, explained that twelve dogs and two litters of puppies had been removed by council inspectors on July 1 and 8, 2021 and others had since been signed over to the council’s care.
Mr Gordon said: “Today’s hearing is only about money. The order to remove the animals was dealt with at a previous hearing. The only issues that could not be dealt with on that occasion were the monetary issues.
“There are two claims against the Davies’. These are the expenses in keeping the dogs – keeping them kennelled and healthy, vets bills and the like, which amounts to £17,820.
“The animals were kept by the local authority from the beginning of July 2021, until the end of September. This was 10 adult dogs and 10 puppies. Two had already been fostered out.
“All the dogs are now in foster homes so there are no ongoing costs.
“The legal costs for this prosecution come to £1,942.50. The issue for the court is effectively the Davies’ ability to pay these costs.
“There are three sets of assets: the farm itself which is valued at £1.3million, but legal enforcements against the farm all but wipe out any equity in this property.
“The Davies’ also have a retirement bungalow, which has some equity in it and there is also some farm equipment on site, which is valued at approximately £60,000.
“This we believe is enough to pay the costs being requested. However, in the circumstances, we suggest that the Davies’ have a year in which to pay these costs.”
Mr Gordon added that the dogs had been seized because they were suffering from signs of neglect and had been certified as such by inspectors and a vet.
Margaret and William Davies, both pensioners, were not present in court but were represented by Aled Owen, who told the magistrates: “This hearing is effectively a preamble to other litigation due in March.
“This elderly couple are in a difficult situation and are embarrassed that they have got themselves into such a poor financial position. They were rather naive in their outlook.
“There are proceedings ongoing at the county court in respect of a bridging loan taken out 10 years ago. This small sum has escalated over the years.
“There is concern among the farming community about the growing number of asset rich but cash poor farmers still operating today who have been targeted by specialist companies.
“If the farm is retained by the Davies’ they have control in how much they get for it when it is sold. A ‘fire sale’ would also raise valuable funds.
“But a court may instruct others to sell the farm on the Davies’ behalf, which in all likelihood place the couple in negative equity.
“However, the retirement bungalow has some equity in it, as does the farming machinery. The couple are currently living off the state pension.
“Aside from the court hearing in March, there is more litigation still in the pipeline. There is no income from the farm as it ceased being used as an agricultural farm some years ago due to Mr Davies’ illness.”
Presiding Justice Dr Rennie Thompson said: “We have given the matter due consideration and we find that the prosecution costs are proportional and reasonable.
“There has been a considerable effort to mitigate the costs of looking after these animals by fostering and other methods to keep the costs down.
“We appreciate the financial situation this couple find themselves in, but we understand that there is equity in other assets other than the main farm itself.
“We therefore award the full costs, including legal fees, of £19,762.50 to Forest of Dean District Council and that is to be paid in full in 12 months.”
Update | November 2022
Margaret Davies, who now reportedly lives in Amhurst Crescent, Barry, South Wales, was banned from keeping dogs for life after she admitted causing unnecessary suffering to pets in her care at a suspected puppy farm.
She pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a 14-month-old French bulldog called Winston by failing to get veterinary treatment for a variety of conditions, and a similar charge involving another French bulldog, Amelia, by failing to get treatment for tumours and blindness in one eye.
Davies also admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a seven-year-old Schnauzer, ‘Nathalie,’ by failing to provide veterinary treatment for severe and painful periodontitis which led to 20 teeth having to be extracted.
She also admitted to meet the needs of 27 dogs and puppies in her care by failing to provide adequate drinking water, clean bedding, a suitable diet and protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease on July 1, 2021.
Three charges against Mrs Davies’ husband William Davies were withdrawn after the prosecution offered no evidence.
Heath Thomas, defending, said that his client would benefit from a pre-sentence report before she is sentenced.
District Judge Nicholas Wattam imposed an immediate ban on Davies owning dogs for the rest of her life.
He also ordered for pre-sentence reports to be prepared on her. Davies was released on unconditional bail to return to the court on February 6, 2023, for sentencing.
Update | March 2023
On Monday 27 March 2023 Margaret Davies was given a 36-week jail term suspended for 18 months after admitting five animal welfare charges. She was also ordered to pay court costs of £9,104.11.
She was banned from keeping dogs for life.
Davies, who now lives in Barry, South Wales, admitted three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to three dogs by failing to seek veterinary treatment for them.
She also admitted failing to meet the needs of 27 dogs and puppies in her care by failing to provide adequate drinking water, clean bedding, a suitable diet and protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
A compensation order of £17,820 imposed last year to cover the cost of kennelling and veterinary treatment for the dogs has still not been paid, the court heard.
Aled Owen, defending, said Davies began dog breeding to help the dairy farm’s finances.
He said the venture had initially “thrived” but she had struggled when new legislation was introduced.
Mr Owen said: “Davies increasingly found the paperwork side of the business more and more difficult, which coincided with her husband becoming ill at around the time of the visit of the inspectors and the loss of a younger family member.
“Davies admits that there were issues that needed to be attended too, but she was juggling so much in her private life that something had to give.”
Judge Nicholas Wattam told Davies said the conditions on the farm had caused serious injury to a number of dogs.
“This is a case where there was prolonged ill-treatment with the animals in your care and this continued, despite being given advice from animal welfare officers,” he added.
