AN ILLEGAL canine breeder from west Wales has been ordered to pay over £100,000 or face a 21-month jail sentence for promoting puppies by way of varied promoting platforms.
Deborah Thomas, of Llanddarog, close to Carmarthen earned greater than £90,000 from the gross sales of 9 litters of puppies over a 12-month interval, with out the suitable licence. Thomas had been suggested by Carmarthenshire County Council of the licensing necessities on quite a few events however continued to function illegally.
Under the Breeding of Dogs Regulations (2014) it’s unlawful to promote three or extra litters of puppies from the identical premises inside a 12-month rolling interval and not using a canine breeding licence. The introduction of the Licensing of Activities Involving Animals Regulations in 2021, additionally signifies that anybody concerned within the industrial promoting of pet animals, on any scale, might have to be licensed.
In a prosecution led by Carmarthenshire County Council, the court docket was instructed that animal welfare officers investigated Thomas’s unlawful breeding exercise following intelligence obtained by the division. Information offered by promoting platforms Gumtree, Pets4Homes, Preloved and Freeads highlighted the size of the operation, and offered the proof wanted for the case to proceed.
A confiscation order underneath the Proceeds of Crime Act was obtained for £90,000, payable inside 3 months, with Thomas additionally having to pay a further £10,000 prices. Thomas additionally obtained a £1000 effective for the offending and should pay a £100 sufferer surcharge, payable inside 12 months.
Failure to pay the confiscation order will end in a 21-month default sentence.
Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr. Aled Vaughan Owen mentioned: “I need to commend the work of our animal well being officers in bringing this unlawful canine breeder to justice.
“It is very important that dog breeders that wish to sell dogs commercially obtain the correct licence so that we, as a Council, can correctly monitor the welfare of the animals involved. As this case proves, the Council will take action against any dog breeder that does not comply with this requirement.”
