CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeders Gary Vivers, born c. 1959, and Gill Clarke, born c. 1961, of Cedar Grove, Linton, Swadlincote DE12 6QQ – kept seven badly neglected dogs in filthy kennels
The seven dogs, which included Irish water spaniels and a springer spaniel, had been subjected to prolonged neglect by their owners, hobby breeders Gary Vivers and Gill Clarke, causing them to suffer both physical and emotional harm.
Vivers, who’s originally from Bathgate in Scotland, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering and failing to ensure the needs of the animals were met.
The judge said of Vivers that “he had been responsible for prolonged neglect and that he had caused the dogs a high level of suffering”.
His partner Clarke was found guilty after a trial of offences involving the unnecessary suffering of the dogs. She was cleared of the lesser offence of failing to ensure the needs of the animals were met.
The pair’s animal cruelty came to light in August 2021 after a complaint was made to South Derbyshire about the constant barking of several dogs kept in kennels. The complainant also stated that the premises smelled strongly of urine and that they were concerned about the environment in which the dogs were being kept.
Council officers visited later that day and saw that there were numerous kennels in the garden of the property containing seven dogs.
The kennels contained large accumulations of dog faeces, smelled strongly of urine and were in a poor structural condition with potential physical risks of harm to the animals.
Some of the dogs had severe matting of their fur and appeared to be in a poor physical and emotional condition.
Council officers decided that the welfare conditions were so poor that they needed to make the very exceptional use of animal welfare powers to take immediate possession of the dogs, which were taken into the care of a local dog kennels.
The dogs were examined by a vet the following day who said they had been neglected over a long period of time and agreed that the dogs needed to be taken into possession to prevent suffering.
An eighth dog was later removed from the property in September 2021.
All of the dogs recovered and were rehomed.
Sentencing |
Vivers was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison, which was suspended for 18 months, made the subject of a rehabilitation order and was banned from keeping animals for five years (expires January 2028).
Clarke was banned from keeping animals for just two years (expires January 2025).
The couple were ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £4, 816.
