CONVICTED (2014) | Edward Rafferty, a traveller from Chaxhill, Westbury-on-Severn, Forest of Dean GL14 – caused unnecessary suffering to dogs, sold dogs without a licence and boarded dogs without a licence.
Forest of Dean District Council began investigating Rafferty after receiving an allegation that he was breeding dogs without a licence.
In conjunction with officers from the local policing team and the Rural Crime Team of Gloucestershire Constabulary, a warrant was executed at a premises in May 2023.
A commercial dog breeding enterprise was discovered with commercial kennels at the rear of the property.
Adverts for the sale of puppies were placed on websites such as Gumtree and Pets4Homes.
Those adverts were false and gave the impression that the seller was selling dogs from a family home and he was a reputable breeder. The adverts reported that the puppies were raised in a caring family home, and were all vet checked.
The prosecution was brought by Officers in the Street Wardens Team and Licensing department at FODDC, assisted by the Council’s Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit (CFEU) and the Council’s Legal team.
Rafferty pleaded guilty to offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and an offence relating to the Fraud Act 2006.
Sentencing | 22-month custodial, suspended for 18 months; 200 hours of unpaid work; ordered to pay £151,241.50 under the Proceeds of Crime Act (his estimated profit from the illegal sale of dogs). This must be paid within three months. There was an order of costs made against him of £7701.00 and he also has to pay compensation to victims of £342.22 and a victim surcharge of £149.00. Rafferty was disqualified from keeping dogs for life.