Animal welfare groups discovered greater than 50 dogs inside his home
A Poole man has been prosecuted for unlawful canine breeding following a two-year investigation led by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, marking the primary profitable conviction by the authority in bringing an unlicensed breeder to justice.
Ian Rosenborg, 59, was discovered responsible of breeding three or extra litters of English Bulldog, French Bulldog and Cocker Spaniel puppies throughout a 12-month interval, in addition to promoting them with no licence below The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations Act 2018.
Rosenborg was sentenced to 2 months imprisonment suspended for 12 months and ordered to hold out 120 hours of unpaid work, throughout a listening to at Bournemouth Crown Court.
He was additionally advised he must repay the money he benefitted from by way of his criminality – a sum totalling £53,260, of which £10,500 will have to be settled inside a three-month interval ruled by a court docket order, with any defaults on these funds leading to six months imprisonment.
The profitable prosecution follows an intensive investigation between 11 October 2019 and 5 July 2022 by BCP Council, working alongside Dorset Police’s Rural Crimes Team, the RSPCA and Trading Standards, the place a warrant was issued to look his Hamworthy property in July 2021.
It was throughout this warrant execution by the respective authorities that Rosenberg was discovered to be housing a complete of fifty dogs and 5 litters of puppies.
New licensing rules have given native authorities extra powers to prosecute unlicensed breeders in recent occasions, with councils beforehand relying closely on old laws corresponding to The Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 and Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999.
However, it’s usually extraordinarily difficult relating to proving acts of unlicensed breeding, because it’s solely reliant on preliminary complaints coming ahead which kind the premise of an investigation.
In this case, as soon as the preliminary studies have been acquired, Dorset Police instigated their entry warrant, normal welfare checks have been carried out by the RSPCA and the councils Animal Welfare Officers have been capable of examine the illegal breeding actions carried out at Rosenberg’s premises.
Trading Standards supplied the monetary investigation which in the end led to this profitable prosecution.
Councillor Kieron Wilson, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services at BCP Council, stated: “This successful prosecution has been the culmination of lots of hard work from BCP Council and partner agencies over a lengthy period with the importance of animal welfare at its forefront, highlighting just how seriously we take this type of illegal activity.
“We’ll continue to investigate all reports of unlicensed dog breeding and come down hard on those who fail to adhere to the rules, treating these crimes in the same way as other fraudulent or acquisitive offences.
“We hope this sentencing acts as a deterrent to others and encourages everyone to follow the official protocols.”
Police Constable Sebastian Haggett, of the Dorset Rural Crime Team, stated: “The welfare of dogs and puppies should always be the priority for any buyer or breeder.
“Unlicensed breeders go unmonitored which can mean that welfare standards are not always maintained, much to the detriment of the animals involved.
“The result of this investigation is a good example of joint partnership working between BCP Council, the RSPCA, Trading Standards and Dorset Police, and I hope the sentence serves as a deterrent to those who illegally breed animals.”
