Illegal puppy farm operators avoid ban from owning dogs

William Derrick Perriton and Rebecca Heath failed to meet the majority of the needs of dozens of Cane Corso puppies.

When Dorset Council officers and a vet visited their address in Three Legged Cross, it was found that the canines did not have a suitable environment and diet, they were not able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns and they were not protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard the couple were advised on four separate occasions in 2019 that they needed to apply for a licence to run a dog breeding business.

However, when the local authority executed the warrant in March 2020, no application for a licence had been made.

Dorset Council (Image: Dorset Council)

Judge William Mousley KC, who decided against imposing a custodial sentence, said: “This was deliberate commercial and illegal conduct in which you both had significant roles.”

Perriton, 42, and Heath, 39, both of Church Road, Three Legged Cross, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, failing to take steps to ensure then needs of animals were met and carrying out a dog breeding and selling business for 14 months without a licence.

Prosecuting, Syan Ventom said the breeding operation took place at the defendants’ home address.

He said the needs of 39 of the of the dogs found on the premises were not being met.

The council first had contact with the couple in October 2017 when an officer visited following a complaint about a dog that had excepted.

Dorset Council (Image: Dorset Council)

At the time, they told the officer they were considering dog breeding and advice was given on what they required to carry out that activity.

A complaint about dog barking in September 2019 saw the council return to the address.

Questions were raised about puppies being sold and Perriton said this was after “accidental mating” had taken place.

In October 2019, the defendants advertised a litter of German Shepherd puppies.

They did not act on further advice and continued to trade commercially, advertising on social media the court heard.

Mr Ventom said there was evidence of puppies being sold for between £900 and £1,200.

• Read more: Dorset charity helps to rescue 96 dogs from ONE 'disgusting' house

A telephone was seized after the warrant and conversations on WhatsApp showed Perriton being told he should advertise a puppy for sale at £3,500, to which he replied did not have a licence and the dog warden was “keeping an eye on him”.

Dorset Council (Image: Dorset Council)

While the vet had sufficient evidence to make an order to seize the dogs, the defendants voluntarily handed over ownership.

The court heard the dogs were kept in two windowless, single-storey outbuildings. There was a strong smell of ammonia and bedding “ringing wet with urine”.

Mr Ventom said the conditions were described as “extremely unpleasant for dogs and humans”.

The canines were taken into the care of the council, provided with veterinary treatment and eventually rehomed.

Mr Ventom said one of the Cane Corso bitches, Jet, had since been put down but there was no evidence before the court as to why this action had been taken.

• Read more: Dogs with ears illegally removed sell for thousands

Mitigating for both defendants, Laura Collier said: “In short they meant well and they did it badly and they regard to a huge extend the suffering that was caused to the animals.”

Ms Collier said the couple had four domestic dogs, which were well looked after.

The barrister said it was not necessary, appropriate or proportionate to impose a disqualification order.

Ms Collier said there was a “wealth of evidence” that the defendants were “well-intentioned but incompetent in their conduct”.

She referenced reports from a vet about healthy litters belonging to the couple since 2017, courses undertaken by Heath in canine health and puppy care, and positive reviews on social media from people who bought puppies.

The couple had applied for planning permission to change the use of the premises for dog breeding but “could not wait any longer” to start breeding due to the financial investment they had made, Ms Collier said.

The court heard the defendants made admissions when interviewed via post due to the pandemic and they had insisted they would not get involved in breeding again.

Dorset Council (Image: Dorset Council)

Ms Collier said they had been "overwhelmed" by everything involved with running the operation and they had not been able to cope.

Judge Mousley KC ruled it was a case of high culpability but lesser harm despite the number of dogs involved.

The defendants were issued with a 12-month community order, with a requirement to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work each.

The judge decided against imposing a disqualification order, which had been applied for in relation to owning dogs by the prosecution.

If you are interested in court and crime news, stay up to date with all our latest updates in our dedicated Facebook group. To find out more and to join click here.