The investigation began in April 2020 when Ms. Barton initially inquired about a dog breeding license. Despite being provided with an information pack, subsequent complaints from neighbouring properties surfaced, leading to allegations of illegal dog breeding, unauthorised construction of kennels and stables, noise disturbances from barking dogs, and dogs straying and fouling outside the property.
In May 2021, an advert on the Pets4Homes website revealed that Ms. Barton was advertising a litter of puppies, prompting a warning letter from Carmarthenshire County Council. However, the situation escalated when Dyfed Powys Police received additional complaints in April 2022.
A Data Protection Act request, by the Local Authority to Pets4Homes, uncovered alarming information. Between May 17, 2021 and July 30, 2022, Ms. Barton bred as many as nine litters of puppies and offered four individual dogs for sale, all without the required dog breeding license.
Despite previous advisories, Ms. Barton continued her breeding operations, leading to legal action by the County Council.
The court’s decision resulted in a conditional discharge for 12 months for each offence. Financially, Ms. Barton is obligated to pay £26,721.12 as funds confiscated under proceeds of crime act 2002, with a three-month repayment period, allowing for a six-month default. Additionally, she faces a monthly cost of £10 toward £500 in legal fees and a victim surcharge of £22.
Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability – Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen said: “This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to dog breeding regulations and obtaining the necessary licenses to ensure so that we, as a Council, can correctly monitor the welfare of the animals involved.”
