Total Dog Magazine

Author: Dog News

  • British MPs Condemn Asia’s Dog Meat Trade as “International Barbarism”

    Last week the backbencher debate in the British House of Commons on Asia’s dog meat trade highlighted the levels of cruelty to dogs involved in the industry, and the extreme human health risks associated with eating dog meat, said Soi Dog Foundation.

    Rob Flello MP told of dogs “housed and transported in disgusting conditions in which they can often barely move, and killed in the most excruciatingly cruel and painful ways”. He added “It is common for the animal to be bludgeoned, hanged or electrocuted, and, in some cases, for the animal to be thrown fully conscious into a drum of boiling water—anything that ensures maximum suffering”.

    Inflicting maximum pain on a dog before it dies creates adrenalin that is thought by some in Asia to tenderise the meat.

    Gavin Robinson MP weighed in by describing the Asian dog meat trade as “international barbarism”.

    The scale of the industry is alarming. Around 20 million dogs are killed and eaten each year in China, five million in Vietnam, two million in South Korea, with Indonesia also serving up dog meat dishes. Whilst countries like Thailand and the Philippines have officially banned the sale and consumption of dog meat, the trade still continues underground.

    Aside from animal welfare issues, the debate also revealed serious human health hazards associated with eating dog meat. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, James Duddridge MP said “So unregulated is the dog meat trade industry, that there is a huge risk to human beings from diseases such as cholera and rabies, with the latter found to be present in slaughterhouses and markets in China, Vietnam and Indonesia”.

    Alex Cunningham MP also referred to statistics stating evidence of a 20-fold increase in the incidence of rabies amongst people who had consumed dog meat across the Asian region.

    Hanna Bardell MP also raised concerns about dog meat entering the UK food chain, asking “Do the Governments of our nations have a role to play in terms of the security of the supply chain and making sure that none of this dog meat enters our food chain and threatens our food supply?”

    The British government however is wary of preaching western ideals to eastern countries. Robert Flello MP added: “I do not believe that it is generally this House’s role to tell societies abroad what they should or should not do based on western sensibilities, but we cannot allow tradition to be used as a smokescreen for practices that are barbaric, cruel, inhumane and disgusting”.

    Steve Reed MP agreed, saying “There is a role to be played in seeking to secure global standards of animal welfare and in working with local campaign groups on the ground in the countries affected to help them strengthen their own cases”.

    Conclusion to the Debate

    As a result of the debate, MP James Duddridge made two commitments on behalf of the government; to write to all British Ambassadors in the countries concerned to review what they are doing in relation to the dog meat trade, and to consider a review of how the government interacts on this issue with the various international organisations (for example, the World Health Organisation), specifically on the area of health.

  • Dog Who Disappeared for 5 Years Reunited with Owner

    A dog who went missing five years ago has been reunited with her owner in Melbourne, Australia, thanks to a
    microchip and the staff at Lort Smith Animal Hospital.

    Rebecca Axiak says she never stopped looking for her dog Disco after she disappeared. She told Mashable, “I
    always had hope that she would return, never really expecting it to actually happen.”


    Photo Credit: Facebook.com/LortSmithHospital

    The Herald Sun who originally reported the story say, “After Disco escaped five years ago, she was found in the street by an elderly couple who presumed she was homeless and gave her to a family member.

    The new owner kept Disco, but while she was in a backyard earlier this year, another dog jumped the fence and severely attacked her.”

    Unable to pay for the surgery, they surrendered her to the hospital, where her microchip was scanned.

  • Children and Dogs Alike Join Together Paying Respects at Animals in War Memorial Event

    Today (Friday 13th November) local school children joined representatives from the UK’s most renowned animal welfare charities and advocacy organisations to pay their respects at the annual Animals in War Memorial event.

    One-hundred-and-one years on from the start of the First World War and eleven years since the unveiling of the monument on London’s Park Lane, guests, both human and animal paused to remember, and pay their respects to all the animals who have served in conflicts over the years.

    The Animals in War Memorial was unveiled in 2004 by HRH the Princess Royal. Trustees of the Animals in War Memorial Fund raised the £2 million needed to build the monument through a national appeal and the consequent generosity of many individual donors, charities and companies.

    Representing the next generation, two local school children were also present after winning the Animals in War Poetry competition. Pupils from Warren Mead Junior School, Banstead were also at the service. They presented a collection of poems and drawings, inspired by Animals in War, at the memorial.

  • Bulldog Sets New World Record Skating Through Longest Human Tunnel

    Otto, a three-year old Bulldog from Lima, Peru broke the Guinness World Record yesterday skating through a human tunnel of 30 people.


    Photo credit: Guinness World Records

    See him in action below:

    Otto’s owners, Luciana Viale and Robert Rickards told the Guinness World Record team that they were inspired to get a Bulldog after they saw videos of the world famous skateboarding Bulldog, Tillman, who sadly passed away recently.

  • British Parliament to Discuss Asia’s Dog Meat Trade

    A formal debate in the House of Commons on Thursday November 5th will again bring attention to the dog meat trade in Asia, which sees around 30 million animals a year killed and cooked up in specialist restaurants for seemingly insatiable diners. The debate follows an Early Day Motion on January 28th 2015 which saw an almost unprecedented 142 MP’s sign a demand calling for the end to the dog meat trade in Asia. The motion was led by MP John McDonnell, and sponsored by MPs Peter Bottomley, Jeremy Corbyn, Andrew George, Jim Shannon and David Simpson.

    In recent months, a growing number of British celebrities have joined the swathe of animal rights campaigners lobbying governments and calling for an end to the trade. Ricky Gervais, Dame Judi Dench and actor and animal rights campaigner Peter Egan were amongst others who recently spearheaded a campaign and petition organised by Thailand’s Soi Dog Foundation. The petition (here) calls on the Thai government to stop illegal exports of dogs from Thailand to Laos and Vietnam, to satisfy dog meat demand in those countries.

    China remains the largest consumer of dog meat in the Asian region, accounting for around 20 million dogs a year, according to animal rights campaigners. The now infamous Yulin Dog Meat Festival, which takes place very year in the southern province of Guangxi, neighbouring with Vietnam, sees over 10,000 dogs killed and eaten in just 48 hours. Campaigners claim the animals are treated inhumanely, trussed up and packed tightly into small cages, then skinned alive in some cases. There also remains a myth that the more adrenalin running through the dogs body as it is killed, the tastier the meat.

    Vietnam is the second largest consumer of dog meat in the region, with around five million dogs meeting their fate every year in the thousands of primitive slaughterhouses across the country. Demand is so high in fact, there are estimates suggesting that up to 70% of dogs in the food supply chain are stolen family pets. Over the past two years there have been numerous incidents of dog thieves being lynched by angry villagers, and even villagers being killed by the dog thieves.

    Campaigners see the House of Commons debate as the first step towards the British government taking a firm stance with its Asian counterparts regarding working together to shut the industry down.

  • Are Pugs the UK’s Favourite Dog Breed?

    With two books currently hitting the UK shelves about the lovable Labrador written by TV presenter Ben Fogle and dog behaviourist, Pippa Mattinson, you might be surprised to hear that it seems Pugs top the charts as the most sought after pet says online marketplace, eBay.co.uk.

    With celebs including Gerard Butler, Kelly Brook and Paris Hilton stepping out with the pint sized pet once beloved by Queen Victoria, the online marketplace has seen more than 300 pug related products sold every day on site, that is 13 every hour – with listings covering everything from a £1,400 pug painting to a ‘Beware of the Pug’ sign that could be yours for as little as 99p.

    labrador photo

    Meanwhile, the loyal Labrador, trots in second on the doggy ranking, selling 91 Lab related products a day with live listings including a £300 tablecloth and the bijoux sized French Bulldog breed, closely related to the champion Pugs, make third place having sold just 4,300 products in the last three months. The German Shepherd and beloved Staffie come in fourth and fifth respectively.

    So what do you think? What makes these five breeds so special? Share your comments below and let us know if you are an owner of the UK’s top 5 dog breeds according to the online marketplace.

  • London Artist & His Dog Get Commuters Talking About World Homeless Day

    London artist John Dolan lived on the streets for more than 20 years before being discovered by a gallery owner, and is now one of East London’s most  prominent artists with sell-out exhibitions and pieces going for six figure sums.

    To raise awareness for charity StreetLink and World Homeless Day 2015, he took to the street with his dog to encourage passers by and commuters to take part in a giant mural.

    Watch the event unfold in the video below.

  • Justice for Gizmo, Alfie & Finn – A Shocking Case of Dog Trainer Abuse?

    This week we received a communication from the Justice for Gizmo, Alfie & Finn team. Their appeal, below, outlines some truly shocking allegations against a trainer and kennel owner. At the end of this statement is a PDF you can download which contains further information on allegations levelled against Lawrence Moran of Total Dogs Ltd. Be warned, this document contains upsetting images.

    Justice for Gizmo, Alfie & Finn: Statement

    As part of the ongoing campaign to get justice for the dogs killed, lost and injured while under the care of Lawrence Moran at Total Dogs Ltd, there will be another protest taking place at his property.

    Background

    In August 2015 Gizmo, a male Shih Tzu who was staying at Total Dogs Ltd was reported missing by Moran but after a month long search it was discovered that Gizmo was actually mauled to death and was never missing. Moran had tried to cover up his death by disposing of his body and concocting a story that he had ran away. Also in August, Finn a healthy 3 year old Chihuahua allegedly died of a heart attack whilst staying with Moran at his boarding kennels. Finn’s body has never been recovered. In March 2014 Alfie, a male Yorkshire Terrier was staying with Moran when he told his owner’s that he had ran away. Alfie has never been seen again and Moran has since admitted to his death but will not disclose how he died or say where his body is. Since the plight of these 3 dogs has come to light there have now been over 30 reported cases of neglect or abuse suffered to dogs at the hands of Lawrence Moran.  Please find attached a list of allegations. This list is still ongoing with people coming forward to share their stories every week.

    Lawrence Moran is clearly a danger to any animal in his care, the evidence against him and the lies he has told are overwhelming. We want answers, what really happened to Gizmo, Alife and Finn and where are their bodies!? Why are the council still letting Lawrence Moran board dogs at his property!?

    He does not have a dog boarding licence and there have been ongoing planning concerns for his boarding facilities at his current property, yet he is still trading!

    http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/netherton-kennel-owner-ordered-close-10037753

    We would urge the council to act immediately so that no more dogs suffer at hands of Lawrence Moran.

    We have set up an online petition calling for the RSPCA to ban Lawrence Moran from owning and working with animals, this has now reached over 15,731 signatures.

    https://www.change.org/p/rspca-ban-lawrence-moran-of-total-dogs-ltd-from-owning-and-working-with-animals

    We have also set up a Facebook page calling for Justice for Alife, Gizmo and Finn, the three dogs who went into Lawrence Moran’s care and sadly never returned to their owners.

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/1470187679954229/

    If you require any further information please reply to this email address.

    Please note that the full names and contact details of the owners will be available upon request.

    Please help us to get justice and prevent any more dogs from suffering.

    Many Thanks,
    Justice for Gizmo, Alfie and Finn

    Download Allegations List (warning: contains upsetting images)

  • Experts Warn Central Heating Could Trigger Increased Risk of Parasites at Home

    As the central heating dial is turned up across the UK, experts are warning pet owners about the increased risk of fleas in warm households.

    New research carried out by Bayer Animal Health for its ‘Home Invaders’ campaign, has shown that a third of pet owners are unaware that switching on the heating in the autumn and winter months can present an ideal breeding ground for fleas and where a flea infestation occurs, warm conditions can lead to flea pupae hatching in the home.

    Parasitologist Ian Wright from the European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) UK and Ireland says: “As long as the humidity remains over 75 per cent and temperatures don’t exceed 30°C then for fleas, the warmer the better. Fleas can complete their life cycle in less than 3 weeks at 29 °C so the warmer the house is, the faster they will reproduce up to that point. It should also be said, that fleas can still breed at 17 °C, just at a slower rate.”

    According to the research, more than a third of pet owners turn up their heating in the autumn and winter months to between 21°C and 25°C, providing an optimum temperature for fleas to breed in. The study also revealed that one in 10 pet owners have noticed fleas on their pet and in the house during autumn and winter months, indicating they are not seeking preventative treatment at this key time of year.

    dog photo

    It is estimated that 95 per cent of the flea population in a home can be found within carpets and soft furnishings, which is perhaps no surprise when almost half of owners admit sharing a bed with their pet and three quarters allow their cats to sleep on their sofa.

    Furthermore, 27 per cent of pet owners seek parasite treatment advice online before going to their vet and 10 per cent only ever treat their pets when they see fleas. Worryingly, half of pet owners were completely unaware their pet had fleas until they were shown by a vet. Pet owners are reminded that while the web is a useful resource for gaining background information discussing an effective parasite protection plan with your local vet, will allow you to tailor the requirements for you and your pet.

    Paul Manktelow, Veterinary Surgeon, founder of Vital Pet Health and co-presenter of the Home Invaders documentary, says: “There is a high probability your dog or cat will have had fleas or worms at some point in their life but depending on the degree of the infestation you may not have realised how many live hidden away in your home. It is important to speak to your vet about receiving the right preventative treatment to stop these infestations.”

    Richard Wall, Professor of Zoology at Bristol University, says: “Only 1-5 per cent of the flea population is actually represented by the adults on the pet and is really just the tip of the iceberg. The remaining 95 per cent is hidden in the environment. They may be found in a wide variety of locations within the domestic environment, including wooden flooring and car upholstery.”

    Vicky McAlister, Senior Product Manager at Bayer Animal Health, comments: “In order to keep pets and families healthy it’s of vital importance to not only kill the existing parasites, but also prevent the parasite lifecycle from continuing. The best way to prevent fleas and worms from spreading is to use an all year round protection plan.”

    ‘Home Invaders’ is a national campaign which is shining a light on the fleas and intestinal worms that live on our pets and in our homes, and is part of Bayer Animal Health’s wider ‘It’s a Jungle Out There’ parasite protection initiative.

    You can help spread the word and find out if your pet and family could be at risk, by following the conversation at www.facebook.com/jungleforpets or by following ‘JungleForPets’ on Twitter. You can also watch the Home Invaders documentary at www.itsajungle.co.uk.

  • Ricky Gervais Tweet Helped Animal Rescue Raise Three Times as Much Funds to Help Feed Starving Dogs

    British comedian and animal advocate Ricky Gervais has shown his support for many animal welfare campaigns and openly admitted his fans and followers on social media make a real difference sharing his posts, but all the same it’s heartening to read that after a trip to the Emmy’s two social media posts from the man himself have resulted in treble the amount of funds raised to help feed the forgotten and starving animals at the Odai shelter in Romania.

    The fundraising page was set up by K-9 Angels who were alerted of the neglected dogs in the Odai shelter in Romania last week and immediately got to work to raise funds for food, beds, bowls and medical care to help support Paws2rescue on the ground in Romania. It was an amazing team effort and within days a good amount of money raised.

    Ricky Gervais showed his support over social media and shared the K-9 Angels plea to help the dogs of the Odai shelter crisis and his actions dramatically increased the amount of funds raised to help the Odai dogs.

    The Tweet and Facebook post from Ricky Gervais said:

    “OK. That’s The Emmys done. Now back to important stuff. Emergency food & aid for dogs at Odai public shelter, https://www.youcaring.com/the-dogs-of-odai-434412#.VgAqpKXS5_4.twitter… pls RT”

    The tweet received over 600 retweets and took the funds raised from £3,000 to £14,500 which was incredible. Within days the donations had trebled and Ricky, along with the donors, had literally helped to feed 650 dogs. These dogs will need ongoing food sent and as well as sanitiser, beds and medical care.

    K-9 Angels aim to raise a minimum of £30k to purchase food and medical supplies and beds for a whole year.

    As this was a crisis we had to move fast to make sure the first food packages where delivered, said Victoria Eisermann, founder of K-9 Angels, who flew out to Romania to help deliver emergency supplies purchased with the money raised with Ricky Gervais’s help while team K-9 got to work ordering additional supplies. It was all systems go to help the dogs of Odai.

    It was emotional but at the same time uplifting to be able to deliver food to the Odai dogs. Orders have been made for sanitise and beds which will be delivered very soon. Victoria says, “We will continue to raise funds to be able to feed the dogs for a year and hopefully treat some of the dogs medically.”

    Speaking of the power of social media and the cause a spokesperson for K9-Angels said: “A very HUGE THANK YOU to EVERYONE who donated and raised funds to help the Odai dogs and special thanks to Ricky Gervais for sharing our posts which was a MASSIVE help to these dogs! Amazing team work!”

    To help give the dogs of Odai a better future, show your support and donate to the cause. Visit the fundraising page here: https://www.youcaring.com/the-dogs-of-odai-434412

  • Have YOUR Say on Whether Ryanair Should Allow Dogs on Board Flights

    Budget airline Ryanair want to hear from customers about whether dogs should be allowed to fly on board as part of the airline’s “Always Getting Better” initiative which acts on customer feedback.

    Speaking to The Huffington Post UK a representative of the airline said, “This is one of a number of proposals we are looking at under our Always Getting Better programme. “We are open to lots of suggestions and it’s one we are weighing up.”

    airplane photo
    Photo Credit: thejaan

    Comment below with a Yes or No vote on whether you think dogs should be allowed to travel on board Ryanair and have your say. Feel free to include any notes, such as flight length etc and we’ll share your views with the airline.

  • South Korean Firm Will Clone Your Dog

    South Korea’s Sooam Biotech launched its cloning laboratory in 2006 and hit the news a year later when Missy, the world’s first cloned companion dog, was announced.

    If you’ve got $100,000 going spare, the firm can clone you a dog.

    Digital Trends Reports:

    The technique to clone a dog is surprisingly simple from a theoretical standpoint. DNA from the dog to be cloned is collected from the skin or other live cells. While the cloned DNA is being processed, a donor egg is collected from a female dog and emptied of its DNA by removing the nucleus. The cloned dog’s DNA is injected into the empty egg and fused with the embryonic contents. This embryo is then implanted into a surrogate female dog who carries and delivers the cloned puppy.

    Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/dog-cloning-south-korea/

  • Hero Dog Saves Cats Dumped in Crisp Box

    The RSPCA is appealing for information after an unlikely hero came to the rescue of a cat and her kittens which had been dumped in a crisp box in Middlesbrough.

    The terrified trio had been left to die, trapped in a box with no food and water and dumped in bushes in a park under the cover of darkness.

    By an incredible stroke of luck the cats were sniffed out and saved by Vader the dog who was out on a late night walk with her owner Sharon.

    Sharon Smith, who lives near Pallister Park in Middlesbrough, said: “I had been throwing the ball for her, she went into the bushes to get it and I could she was nudging a box and whining. I knew it must be something important because she’d left her ball behind and she’s crazy about her ball.

    “I went over to take a look could see there were some holes in the box and it was moving so I called my son and he came and helped me take Vader and the box home.”

    Sharon was stunned when she opened the taped-up Doritos box and found a tortoiseshell cat and two ginger tabby kittens inside.

    She said: “When I pulled off the tape and opened the box I saw the cat and kittens inside and I was shocked. They were terrified. It was a small box for them, it was just heartbreaking.

    “It’s is disgusting that anyone would dump them like that. It’s absolutely appalling.”

    The mother cat, who is thought to be between one and two-years-old, and her kittens who are thought to be about eight-weeks-old, were taken to the vets to be checked over and are now in RSPCA care.

    RSPCA Inspector Emma Stainthorpe said: “The box was very small for the three of them, there was no food or water and the bottom of it was soiled with urine.

    “The mother cat was not microchipped so we do not know who her owner is. She is friendly so it would appear she’s been handled and was someone’s pet. It’s really important that people get their cats neutered if they do not want kittens.

    “Vader is such a lovely little dog, without her these little kittens may not have survived. She really is the hero of the hour.”

    Vader,a five-year-old white Staffordshire Bull Terrier named after the Star Wars villain Darth Vader, is being spoiled rotten as a reward for finding the dumped cats.

    Proud owner Sharon added: “I wouldn’t have looked in the box unless Vader had brought my attention to it. I thought it was just rubbish.

    “I don’t know what would have happened to those poor kittens if Vader hadn’t found the box, I dread to think.

    “Thank goodness for Vader, she really is a hero. I’ve given her three new tennis balls as a treat for finding the kittens as she was so focused on the box she lost her ball.”

    Anyone with information about who abandoned the kittens late on Tuesday 22 September can contact the RSPCA appeal line on 0300 123 8018 and leave a message for Inspector Emma Stainthorpe.

  • Sniffer Dog Trained to Count Harvest Mouse Population

    A flat-coated Retriever named Tui has been enlisted to detect the scent of harvest mice by tracking their presence in the countryside easier and more efficiently, meaning a more accurate picture can be built up of how many harvest mice there are in the UK.

    One of the most elusive and smallest mammals in Great Britain, finding the harvest mouse is often difficult and time-consuming, even for experts.

    Led by PhD researcher Emily Howard-Williams at Moulton College in Northamptonshire, Tui, will be trained to learn how to identify the tiny creature to shed some light on one of the most iconic species of the British countryside.

    As Emily explains, “The harvest mouse appears to have undergone significant declines in parts of the countryside, partly in response to the intensification of modern agriculture, but also due to habitat loss. Yet it still remains difficult to ascertain just how many there really are. The funding from by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species  (PTES) will help to train our resident harvest mouse detector dog, enabling us to determine whether using sniffer dogs is the best approach in tracking these creatures!”

    With the aid of a trained dog, Emily’s team will be able to survey a site more rapidly, with less margin for error. A similar method is already being successfully used in New Zealand to seek out kiwi birds. Two English setters managed to sniff out 30 birds in just four days.

    Nida Al-Fulaij, Grants Manager from PTES concludes, “We all know that dogs have an amazing sense of smell. The UK enlists the help of sniffer dogs at airports, music festivals and in the army, so why not also use them for conservation purposes to find harvest mice. The trained eye may miss a harvest mouse nest, but a trained nose is much more likely to pick up on a familiar scent and alert the handler to the presence of recent harvest mice activity in that area. We are very excited to be funding this project and look forward to seeing what results reveal about harvest mice populations in the UK”.

  • Jail for Gang That Made Over £8k per Week Selling Sick Puppies

    Members of an organised gang who are estimated to have made more than £8,000 a week selling sick, diseased and dying puppies have been jailed after one of the RSPCA’s biggest ever investigations into the puppy trade.

    The case concluded today and lifted the lid on the trade in puppies, which were being sold for £50 commission each – before many subsequently died or needed lengthy and expensive veterinary treatment due to their poor health.

    Paula Wood, James Brady, Louise Colwell, Kenneth Colwell, Thomas Greally and Stacey Greally – all from the Greater Manchester area – admitted a string of animal welfare offences linked to organised crime involving the sale of sick puppies. They were sentenced today (3.8.15) at Oldham Magistrates’ Court.

    One puppy sold by Wood and Brady, called Crumpet (right), was so sick that he was put on a drip and had to be fed through a tube in his nose, before he died.

    Thomas Greally and Kenneth Colwell were sentenced to 20 weeks in custody, while Brady was given 10 weeks custody. The district judge said the number of puppies Thomas Greally admitted to selling for between £550-£650 meant some weeks he would have made more than £8,000.

    Wood – who the district judge said had shown no remorse – was given a 12 week custodial sentence which was suspended for 12 months. She must carry out 250 hours unpaid work during a 12 month community order and also pay £1,000 costs.

    Louise Colwell and Stacey Greally – formerly McEwan – was sentenced to 20 weeks custody, which will be suspended for 12 months. She must also carry out 300 hours of unpaid work and pay £2,000 costs.

    All six defendants were banned from keeping dogs for the rest of their lives.

    The case against the six defendants was part of a major investigation known as Operation Pagan, which has been led by the RSPCA’s special operations unit.

    None of the defendants would reveal where any of the puppies came from. However, they admitted failing to ensure the welfare of the puppies they were selling after numerous witnesses contacted the RSPCA after buying sick puppies from the six who appeared before the court.

    It is suspected they had been imported from across Europe and then sold by the defendants as part of an organised business.

    Chief inspector Ian Briggs, from the RSPCA’s special operations unit, said: “This case is hugely significant. It shows the lengths some dealers will go to, making it look like the puppies they are selling have been bred in a homely environment.

    “They produce glossy brochures, healthcheck cards and fancy looking ‘pedigree’ documents that aren’t worth the paper they are written on.

    “This investigation has shown puppy dealers are becoming increasingly savvy to make their dealings look legitimate. They rent houses and put a smattering of furniture in them to make it look like a family home, from which they peddle these sick puppies.IMG_9537.JPG

    “On some occasions that we have been told about, adult dogs would be presented under the false pretence that they were the parents of the puppies being sold.

    “It is organised crime and animal suffering on an almost industrial scale.”

    Warrants were carried out by Greater Manchester Police, with RSPCA attendance, at properties on Fields New Road, Oldham, and Valentine Street, Failsworth, on 27 November 2013. These followed a number of calls to the RSPCA from members of the public who had bought sick puppies from the addresses, after they had been advertised online.

    A total of 39 puppies of unknown origin were seized during warrants including chihuahuas, pomeranians, spaniels, shih tzus and Yorkshire terriers (pictured) that had been kept in purpose built pods at the rear of the addresses.

    The court was told that six of the puppies were so sick they had to be put to sleep by a vet, while 65% had congenital defects of some kind.

    Other items seized by police during the warrants included approximately £3,500 in cash and a step-by-step guide to selling puppies, which said sellers would receive £50 commission on every sale they made.

    Thomas and Stacey Greally and Kenneth Colwell were arrested and interviewed, while Louise Colwell was interviewed at Fields New Road.

    Glossy ‘Kennel Registration’ packs (right) found during the warrants showed links to Brady and Louise Colwell’s mother, Wood, who were also selling puppies.

    A warrant was subsequently carried out at Owler Lane, Oldham, on 18 December 2013, but no puppies were found.

    However, the RSPCA had received many concerned calls from people who had purchased puppies from the address, including Kimberley McDonald, from Stoke-on-Trent, who bought cockerpoo Crumpet from Wood and Brady. Crumpet died just 13 days after Kimberley took him home.

    Kimberley said: “On the surface when we arrived to collect Crumpet everything seemed fine. We pulled up outside a lovely semi-detached house which was very clean and the people seemed really in to their dogs.

    “But on the journey home Crumpet kept doing this weird snuffling then coughing like a cat does when they have a hair ball. He also kept constantly scratching and had all these little scabs all over him.

    “His health carried on deteriorating badly and after lots of vet visits over the coming days, he was admitted to the surgery and after some tests they found out he had parvo.

    “Poor Crumpet was put on an intravenous drip and given a plasma transfusion. He also had a tube put into his nose to feed him as he wasn’t eating at all.

    “Every time I went to visit Crumpet it was a military operation. I had to have a shower just before I went and as soon as I’d got changed I had up walk straight out of the door without touching anything in the house. I had to put scrubs on when I was there and gloves too so I couldn’t even touch him properly. It was awful.

    “All he wanted to do when I was there was curl up in my arms and I spent the whole time I went crying. Losing Crumpet was the worst heartache I’ve ever felt in my life.

    “This whole experience has massively affected our lives. Not only did it upset our daughter knowing her lovely new puppy was gone after she had only just bonded with him but at the age of six she also discovered how cruel some human beings can be.”