CONVICTED (2024) | Tomos Davies of Rhydygors Farm, Talog, Carmarthen SA33 6NS – ran an unlicensed puppy farm and sold litters online under multiple aliases.
An investigation by Carmarthenshire Council showed dairy farmer Tomos Davies was advertising pups on popular websites including Pets4homes, Gumtree, and Freeads using nine different accounts, some of which were not registered in his name.
An investigation was launched into the father-of-four’s activities in October 2022 after the council received received reports that he was breeding and selling litters of puppies without the required licence.
The court heard that despite contacting the local authority the previous January to inquire about obtaining a dog breeding licence and receiving a comprehensive information pack outlining the necessary steps and legal requirements, the defendant had never submitted an application.
In February 2023 the council made requests to a number of online advertising platforms under the Data Protection Act which showed the defendant was running nine advertising accounts on websites such as Preloved, Pets4homes, Kennel Club, Gumtree, and Freead. Five were registered in Davies’ name and four accounts were registered to a third party.
The advertising records showed that between April 2021 and February 2023 the defendant listed 11 litters of puppies for sale with breeds including Labradoodles, French Bulldogs, Labradors, Beagles, and Dobermans.
Davies pleaded guilty to an offence under the Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) (Wales) Regulations.
Sentencing | conditional discharge; £1,000 towards the cost of his prosecution.