Need some advice re a puppy farm!

[TroubledPrincess]

Whilst out on a lovely walk at Bradgate Park (thanks for the recommendation ladies) with my two RRs, I met another RR owner who had rescued her dog from East Midlands rescue two weeks ago. Apparently the dog had come from a puppy farm which was a 2 bed mid terrace with 80 dogs in it! Some were RRs some Boxers some smaller breeds such as pugs and were being all kept in terrible conditions. Her RR was given up for rescue as it had an overlock jaw but apparently as each ember of the family is registered as owning 5 dogs each there is nothing that can be done?! Surely that cannot be the case? The dog had never been walked, didn't know what grass was and had been starved. Surely i can do something? Help please as it has really upset me.

Thanks

Rebecca

What they're doing is illegal. Legislation prevents people from the same family registering their dogs under different names and/or from different addresses in an order to evade the need for a dog breeders' license (and thus a visit from Environmental Health Inspectors).

I'd urge you to report to the local council of the area concerned - ask to speak to a senior officer and then (and this is important) follow up your conversation by putting it in writing to them. Report too to Trading Standards.

Given your area may I also recommend that you email Denise at DOGWATCH, a rescue charity in that area and a trusted contact of mine. She's West Midlands based but may well be able to give you valuable advice and support. Similarly you may well be able to give her valuable information that we can use to stop these bastards.

Denise - [email protected]

PS - also wait for ScuttleButter to advise further please, she's very much an expert on these matters.

Troubledprincess your pups are lovely btw! Another ridgeback owner here sorry to crash your thread!
Hope you get some help it makes me sick to hear what some people do to dogs

Thanks, only one of those is mine, my other one is nearly two! Thanks Val, will do as you advise, the farm is actually in Coalville will contact the council there first thing on Tuesday. I just want to go over there and take all the dogs home. Will email Denise now. Thanks again

Usually, dog breeders are licensed by Trading Standards. So, I'd suggest you contact them urgently first thing on Tuesday morning. Make sure your complaint is logged and you make a note of who you speak to. The other issue is that if they are breeding professionally (and nobody could claim realistically that 80 is a hobby) they will need planning consent. Another issue is HMRC. This could very well be undeclared income. If any of them are benefit claimants, then a call to Social Security could also be useful. I must admit I find it very difficult to believe that 80 dogs could be kept in a terrace house without major issues for neighbours and I also find it odd that a rescue who presumably took in these dogs didn't report it to the appropriate authorities. Most rescues know that telling hte RSPCA is usually a waste of time.

Anyway, TS is your first port of call - let us know how you get on, and we can provide further support from there. Also, don't forget that under FOI legislation you can see the register of breeders (some Councils now keep these registers online, so you can check to see if they are already licensed), and you can see individual inspection reports for any breeder that is licensed.

Thanks for all your help, will do as advised and let you know what happens

Just a quick update I contacted Trading standards and the local council. Apparently the rescue HAD contacted them (the lady I met with the dog had obviously got confused or they changed their mind) and an investigation is under way. Thanks for all your help.

Good news