[Animals] Shropshire woman who neglected dozens of animals loses appeal against prison sentence

[FazzNoth]

A Shropshire woman who caused dozens of animals to suffer while running an illegal dog breeding business has lost an appeal against her prison sentence. Alison Bransby, 62, made £150,000 from the animals and was sent to jail for 22 weeks on October 6 at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court.

Bransby, of Hollins Lane, Tilstock, had admitted 17 animal welfare offences relating to 27 dogs, eight puppies, two cats, a horse, a lamb, a terrapin and an African grey parrot at an earlier hearing. This included one offence of breeding and selling puppies without a licence.But she launched an appeal at Worcester Crown Court which was dismissed by a judge today (November 18), meaning Bransby’s lifetime ban on keeping all animals will also continue. She will also have to pay costs of £44,000.

 

Thirty five dogs, including cavapoos, cockapoos, dachshunds, Cavalier King Charles spaniels and terriers were found living in "appalling" conditions at her property after the RSPCA and West Mercia Police carried out a warrant at the address on February 24 2021, the RSPCA said. The investigation was launched following complaints from members of the public who had bought puppies and dogs from the farm which later became ill.

The court heard how Bransby was illegally operating an extensive commercial dog breeding operation at the site and advertised the enterprise on different websites. Dogs and puppies were housed in wooden sheds, pens and kennels, some barely bigger than a large rabbit hutch.

She’d made £150,000 from illegally breeding and selling the puppies, and about £9,000 in cash was seized from a safe at the property during the operation.

In her evidence, Kate Parker, the RSPCA inspector who led the warrant, said: “There were wooden sheds with stable type doors. Inside I could see a typical breeding set up for puppies, with a heat lamp angled over a plastic dog bed, an empty bowl and some soiled rags inside the bed.

"Inside a lean-to type construction there was a row of metal constructed kennels. There was a thin layer of sawdust on the concrete floor, clutter, household items and electrical cables dangling inside, accessible by the dogs housed in each.

 

“I offered Alison Bransby the opportunity to sign over animals she wished into the care of the RSPCA to assist in reducing numbers and ease difficulties in caring for them on site, to which she disagreed.”

Among the large number of dogs found was an emaciated and elderly King Charles Cavalier called Teddy, who is thought to have been used for breeding. Curled up in a plastic bed in the corner of the dark kitchen, he was found to be blind and deaf with only one tooth left in his mouth.

His fur was stained with urine and he was suffering from severe, untreated ear disease which was so long-standing that both ear canals had effectively collapsed. Such was the extent of his neglect that he was put to sleep on veterinary advice to prevent further suffering.

Dozens of other neglected and poorly animals were discovered at the property, which a vet said had been inadequately cared for for at least nine months due to the severity of ear and dental disease present in some of the cats and dogs. They included:

Fifteen dogs of various ages and breeds - some with urine stains on their fur and significant underlying health conditions - living in dark, cluttered and unhygienic conditions in the kitchen with limited access to water bowls and bedding.

Eight puppies, born to a one-eyed mother dog, found in an outdoor kennel block with no water whose basic standards of animal husbandry had not been met.

Four dogs living in one of several substandard kennel blocks and pens that had severe dental disease and had been suffering for at least four months because of the defendants' failure to seek veterinary treatment.

Two cats that had been suffering unnecessarily for a period of at least six weeks and six months respectively due to significant ear disease, with one of the animals having a visible protruding mass.

A lamb whose lower eyelids had rolled in, causing pain, trauma and ulceration to the surface of the eye.

A terrapin with a heavily deformed shell living in an enclosure with no UV or heat source.

An African grey parrot with extensive fur loss to his chest living in a filthy cage with a thick layer of dried faecal matter.

A thoroughbred mare called Ruby with severely overgrown hooves that had not been treated for at least six months and teeth that had not been seen for two years.

 

A vet said that none of the 41 animals that were seized had been provided with a suitable environment by the defendants and insufficient steps had been taken by them to protect the animals from pain, injury, suffering and disease.

The vet added: “It was abundantly clear from the layout of the property, the dogs present, the previous advertisements and the presence of puppies that the property was being used as a dog breeding establishment, which was unlicensed. As such the dogs should have been housed in accommodation consistent with a licensed breeding establishment, which makes specific requirements in relation to space provision, as well as the materials from which the kennels are constructed.

“The external kennels and pens that the dogs were being housed in fell far short of the licensing standards and hence it is my expert opinion that the environmental provisions for the dogs were unsuitable for their needs.”

RSPCA animal centres in Leicester, Birmingham and Aylesbury, assisted by a number of the charity’s fosterers, took in the animals. All but three have since been rehomed. Sadly Ruby the horse and both cats were put to sleep on veterinary advice to prevent further suffering.

Speaking after today’s hearing, chief inspector Ian Briggs from the RSPCA’s special operations unit, which investigated the illegal selling, said: "We’re pleased this case has finally concluded and that the vast majority of the animals who suffered such terrible neglect are now living happy lives in loving new homes. We'd always encourage anyone thinking of getting a puppy to adopt rather than buy, and to do lots of research first to ensure they source a dog responsibly.”

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newsbirmingham/shropshire-woman-who-neglected-dozens-of-animals-loses-appeal-against-prison-sentence/ar-AA14hhNd