An unlicensed puppy breeder was found with 29 dogs cooped up in pens which were covered in faeces and urine. The animals were found to have serious health conditions with one puppy suffering from deformities. Tammy Hart, 48, was running a puppy farm from her home in Blackwood, Caerphilly, and came to the attention of the local authority after she failed to renew her licence. Officers had previously made attempts to arrange an inspection but the defendant made continuous excuses.
A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard between September 2021 and May 2022 Hart had advertised 17 litters for sale, with puppies sold at upwards of £1,500 each. Advertisements were deceptive as they did not reveal the defendant was a commercial breeder. Officers from Caerphilly council’s licensing department carried out a search warrant at Hart’s property on November 9, 2022. There were a number of pens and kennels in the yard of the house and a brick outhouse where there was a strong smell of faeces and urine.
The puppies were kept in a confined, crowded, and filthy space where they had little room to play, eat, sleep, or go to the toilet. A total of 29 puppies were discovered in total with many suffering undernourishment and dental disease. Also discovered was a nine-week-old Shih Tzu puppy who was found to have an undershot jaw and an extended abdomen as well as a swollen stomach. In his sentencing remarks, Judge Richard Kember expressed concern over the poor condition of the puppy.
Hart, of Central Avenue, pleaded guilty to eight counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, two counts of carrying on an activity without the authority of a section 13 licence, and three counts of engaging in commercial practice as stipulated by the law. In mitigation, the court was told about Hart’s personal struggles including alcohol issues and anxiety, as well as the impact of the Covid pandemic and a rat infestation at the kennels. Hart was sentenced to 16 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 52 weeks, and she was disqualified from keeping animals for seven years.
Following the hearing, a spokesman from Caerphilly council emphasized the seriousness of unlicensed dog breeding and the importance of adhering to regulations for the welfare of animals. The council encouraged those considering dog breeding to contact their licensing team for guidance on obtaining the necessary licences to ensure animal welfare at breeding establishments is monitored and safeguarded.