CONVICTED (2023) | puppy farmer Virginia Nelson aka Virginia Mahon, born 30 October 1978, a traveller from Hallbankgate, Brampton CA8* – for animal welfare and fraud offences relating to unlicensed breeding.
Greedy, cruel and dishonest puppy farmer Virginia Nelson, who is better known by the name Virginia Mahon, is disqualified in dealing in animals until November 2026.
Nelson admitted failing to be licenced for the activity of selling animals as pets in the course of a business.
Investigations into Nelson started in August 2022, following a report of the sale of a six-year-old dog, who was advertised as a one-year-old. The buyer also reported that the dog had ear and skin infections. A vet later concluded that the animal could have avoided unnecessary suffering with timely vet treatment.
A separate report was made after Nelson sold a five-week-old puppy that was too young to be away from her mother and did not have the appropriate vaccinations.
This activity is a breach of Lucy’s Law, legislation which prohibits the sale of animals without a licence.
Sentencing | fined £140, ordered to pay £2,500 costs and a £56 surcharge. Disqualified from dealing in animals for three years (expires November 2026).
CONVICTED (2021) | puppy farmer Jayne Bowerman, born 9 January 1961, of 4 Ty Meddyg, Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent NP23 5FP – falsely advertised farmed puppies as home-bred
Jayne Bowerman received a heavy fine for her illicit puppy trading business.
Jayne Bowerman pleaded guilty to nine offences following an investigation into her family’s pet shop by Blaenau Gwent Trading Standards Service.
Family business: Jayne Bowerman is pictured here with husband and business partner Lee Bowerman, their daughter Harriet Bowerman, and son Jack Bowerman. The latter, a horse dealer trading under the name Trenewydd Welsh Cobs, is also a puppy trader and frequently advertises litters on Facebook and elsewhere.
Bowerman advertised and sold puppies by giving the impression she was a private breeder, when in fact Tyr Meddyg Pups, the business she owned jointly with her husband Lee Bowerman (born 21 July 1958) , was a commercial pet shop. She also failed to disclose that she was not the owner of the mother dog referred to in the adverts.
Jayne and Jack Bowerman
Bowerman had hidden the business’s identity when advertising, often using false names and contact addresses when placing adverts on websites such as Freeads.co.uk – which strictly prohibits pet shops from advertising.
Trading Standards received a number of complaints – dating from June 2019 – from customers who felt misled, as they thought they were buying from a private breeder and were expecting that they would be able to view the mother.
Lee Bowerman with son Jack.
Many of the complainants said they would not have contacted the seller after viewing the adverts had they known the business was a licensed pet shop.
Richard Crook, corporate director for public protection at Blaenau Gwent council, said: “Adverts must provide prospective customers with clear and accurate information about the product, in this case animal, being sold and about the type or nature of the business that is offering the pet for sale.
“The Trading Standards investigation revealed that Bowerman did not do this and deliberately misled customers.”
Patrick Smith, defending, told the court that since Bowerman had been aware of the investigation, she had stopped advertising.
He also claimed that the business had received threats and intimidation and claimed there had also been instances where his client’s adverts had been cloned and replicated.
Bowerman pleaded guilty to a total of eight charges of a trader engaging in unfair commercial practice, and one charge of a trader engaging in a commercial practice which is a misleading omission.
She was fined a total of £4,500, and ordered to pay £10,000 in costs, as well as a £181 victim surcharge.
Source: Facebook 19 July 2021.Source: FacebookSource: Facebook.
Cllr Joanna Wilkins, executive member for the environment at Blaenau Gwent Council, said: “This was a lengthy and challenging Trading Standards investigation where victims were misled by the practices of Bowerman.
“The case illustrates the importance that puppy purchasers know the origin and home environment of the animal they are purchasing.
Jayne and Jack Bowerman.
“The Tyr Meddyg business did not stick to the rules and advertised under false names, masquerading on advertising platforms as private home breeders.
“Fortunately, Lucy’s Law was adopted as law in Wales on September 10, and it is now illegal to sell puppies or kittens unless being sold by the original breeder.
“This will provide greater protection for customers and combat third party sales which are often linked to puppy farming.”
