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A London vet has been convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud by falsifying paperwork for thousands of puppies who were being sold by a puppy farming gang across the capital and South East.

Daniel Doherty (DoB: 28/07/68) of Wood Lane, Iver Heath, operated two My Vets surgeries in Uxbridge, west London, where he conspired with Simon O’Donnell, Thomas O’Donnell, Thomas Stokes, Edward Stokes and others to commit fraud.

The vet faced a four-week trial at Isleworth Crown Court for conspiring with a gang of puppy dealers to commit fraud. The charge said that Doherty, between 1 December 2013 and 14 February 2017 conspired to commit fraud by making false representations to members of the public for the purpose of selling puppies. The representations were intended to disguise the fact that the puppies were of unknown origin (imported or puppy farmed animals), by providing local health check and vaccination cards and false information that the puppy was the offspring of a family pet, home-bred, and socialised within a local residential family environment.

Doherty pleaded not guilty and jurors heard evidence from Metropolitan Police officers, RSPCA investigators and members of the public who had purchased puppies from the gang. The jury’s guilty verdict was unanimous.

RSPCA inspector Kirsty Withnall, who led the investigation into Doherty’s involvement with the gang – nicknamed Operation Rivet – said: “This was a vet who should have known better and should have had the animals’ best interests at heart.

“But he was supplementing his income with fraudulent cash from the puppy trading gang who were making millions from selling sick and dying puppies to unsuspected members of the public.

“Doherty was knowingly signing off vaccination cards and veterinary paperwork for thousands of puppies in the gang members’ real names as well as approving the paperwork that was written out in their fake aliases.

“He was complicit and, if anything, aided their fraud because any buyers who purchased puppies from the gang may well have been comforted and reassured by the fact that the dog they were buying had paperwork to say it had already been to a vet for vaccinations and health checks. The problem is that the puppies had not been adequately checked so some were already harbouring illnesses by the time they were sold.”

Vaccination cards said the puppies had been vaccinated against deadly viruses and diseases like parvovirus, which many of the puppies owned by witnesses in the trial had actually contracted, some succumbing to the highly contagious viral disease.

Jurors also heard evidence that a past employee at MyVet 24/7 had raised concerns about Doherty and his practices.

Separately, one complaint, lodged with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons by a vet in Hertfordshire, raised concerns over the lack of information Doherty was including in the vaccination cards he was issuing .

The RSPCA gathered evidence that 4,689 puppies were taken to MyVet 24/7 by the gang between 23 March 2011 and 10 May 2017 for their first vaccinations.

Inspector Withnall added: “Doherty offered the gang discounted vaccinations at just £16 per vaccine and flea/worming treatment so that works out at more than £75,000 in his pocket.”

One family who were caught up in the scam were the Reeds from West Sussex. They spotted cavapoo Max being advertised online in November 2015 and, after visiting to meet him, paid £470 in cash and took him home to their farm.

Rebecca Reed said: “The breeder couldn’t find the vaccination paperwork so said he’d send it on.

“We were so excited to have him home but, just 17 hours after he arrived, it all went wrong.

“Max was a lot quieter than he first seemed. He was so tiny. He wasn’t interested in eating but was constantly drinking.”

When he collapsed and didn’t have the energy to lift his head the family rushed him to the vet. After weeks of veterinary care and lots of tests he was diagnosed with megaesophagus (a hereditary condition in which the oesophagus doesn’t function properly, so they can’t get food into their stomachs easily).

Emergency treatment and surgery cost the family £5,600 and they rearranged their routines and work shifts around Max’s care. Thankfully, the plucky little pup pulled through and now – aged three – is doing well.

“He has gone from strength to strength,” Rebecca added. “The vets called him a ‘miracle’ and couldn’t believe he’d pulled through. We’re just so pleased he’s now a happy, healthy dog and can live a normal life.”

Doherty will appear back at Isleworth Crown Court next month (May) for sentencing.

The other members of the puppy farming gang he colluded with are also due back in court for sentencing next month

Over 1,000 racing greyhounds die or are killed each year, according to new figures by the greyhound racing industry.

The figures also reveal that the racing dogs suffer almost 5,000 injuries a year – suggesting that either one in every three racing dogs is injured, or dogs are suffering multiple injuries.

Chris Luffingham, Director of Campaigns at the League Against Cruel Sports, said:

“Dog lovers around the country will be asking if one dead dog is too much to pay for a sport which is solely designed to give people something to bet on. Can this industry possibly justify 1,000 fatalities – a quarter of which actually took place at the track side? No they cannot.

“The language used by the greyhound racing industry shows they believe that over 1,000 dead dogs every year is an acceptable number. They claim they are showing ‘care and attention’ to greyhounds, so it is deeply concerning to consider what they would consider negligent.”

The figures show 1,003 fatalities a year:

· 257 euthanised at track side on ‘humane grounds’

· 348 for which treatment was deemed too expensive, there was poor prognosis or no home was found.

· 267 were killed due to being ‘unsuitable for homing’

· 55 died from ‘sudden death’

Chris Luffingham added:

“These figures hide some disturbing truths. What caused the sudden deaths? Were those euthanised at trackside really unable to be saved? For those deemed too ‘expensive’ to save, how much was too expensive? We believe these figures disguise a life of suffering and a deplorable end for many of these dogs who are simply born to be raced. It’s time greyhound racing was consigned to the ranks of cruel sports which are no longer acceptable.”

One example is the case of Reverse Backways last year who was put down at the track. Ultimately it was found that this was because he was “not a good enough prospect as a racer” and the vet involved said that “he could not be sure he had been given any reason why the greyhound should be put to sleep” and that “owners often gave no reason and he would not always ask.” (source)

Trudy Baker of greyhound campaigner’s Greyt Exploitations suggested that horrific as it is, the figures may be an underestimation of the problem.

“The injury and retirement data is of no value unless it can be independently verified by the public. The industry has a moral duty to be accountable and transparent regarding each and every dog’s fate – by name – once they’re deemed a financial liability. Greyhounds are sentient creatures — not disposable gambling chips.”

Injuries

The figures also show injury statistics; however these are presented in percentage form per ‘race performance’. In real terms, there were around 5,000 injuries last year, out of 14,000 dogs in the industry.

Chris Luffingham said:

“These figures, which the industry is apparently proud of, show that either one in every three dogs is injured, or dogs are suffering multiple injuries. These injuries are not an unavoidable risk – they are an inevitable consequence of an industry based on dogs’ suffering.”

At a trial in November he was found guilty in his absence of failing to meet the needs of a Shih Tzu dog called ‘Charlie’ by failing to meet his need to be euthanised in an appropriate and humane manner.

Three-year-old Charlie’s burned body was found in woods behind Mead Walk in Walker on Wednesday 15 March last year and the RSPCA and Northumbria Police put out an appeal for information.

RSPCA Inspector Cathy Maddison said: “Poor Charlie was discovered when firefighters were called to extinguish a fire in the woods.

“He was inside a bin bag which had been set alight, presumably by a blow torch which was also found at the scene.

“Charlie was found to be microchipped, which after some investigation, led us to Rourke.”

Post mortem results found that Charlie died from a severe skull fracture as a result of blunt force trauma to the head, before being set alight. It couldn’t be determined whether he was struck once with immense force or several times in the same location.

Rourke gave no comment when interviewed and pleaded not guilty at the first hearing. When he didn’t show up to court for the trial the case was heard without him and he was convicted.

In mitigation given before yesterday’s sentencing, the court heard that Rourke accepted that he hit Charlie once with a hammer with the intention of killing him without causing unnecessary suffering. The court heard that be had Charlie since he was a pup but could no longer look after him. He had tried rehoming him with family but it hadn’t worked out, and he didn’t know what to do with him. He had not attended the trial as he was working away.

Rourke was disqualified from keeping all animals for 10 years and cannot appeal for five years. He was also given a 12-month community order including 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 120 hours of unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £750 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

“Everyone involved in this case has found it upsetting to work on. I’d like to thank them all. We’ve been in the dark all the way through the investigation about what actually happened to Charlie and why as Rourke refused to give us any information,” said Inspector Maddison. “Whatever possesses someone to think this is an appropriate way to end a dog’s life is going to remain a mystery to me.”

Two women have been handed suspended sentences for keeping dogs and puppies in dire conditions at a puppy farm in Essex.

Teresa Wade (DoB: 4/5/59) of Ship Lane, Aveley, in Essex, and Victoria Montgomery (DoB: 5/12/61) of Melford Avenue, Barking, in London, both pleaded guilty at Southend Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (20 February) part-way through a trial for a string of animal welfare offences.

The duo admitted keeping dogs and puppies in dirty, unsuitable conditions following an investigation into puppy farming by the RSPCA.

Wade pleaded guilty to three animal welfare offences and was disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years and was given a five-month prison term, suspended for 11 months. She was also ordered to pay £500 in costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

Montgomery admitted one animal welfare offence and was given a three-month jail term, suspended for 11 months, and was also ordered to pay £500 in costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

The RSPCA launched a large-scale investigation – called Operation Excel – in the breeding and selling of puppies in Essex in 2014 after receiving a string of calls from members of the public who had bought puppies that had become extremely sick or, in some cases, even died.

When the RSPCA and police executed a warrant at a site in Essex – and two other residential addresses, one in Essex and one in London – officers found 76 dogs and puppies, including poodles, cocker spaniels and some of the popular designer crossbreed types such as cavachons, cockerpoos and golden doodles.

The dogs were seized and placed into the RSPCA’s care and a number of pregnant bitches went on to have 27 puppies in the charity’s centres. Of the 103 dogs in total, four sadly died, but courts ordered for the remaining 99 dogs to be rehomed ahead of the court hearing.

RSPCA inspector Carroll Lamport, who led the investigation, said: “After a number of calls from people who had bought puppies that had fallen ill we became suspicious of a gang who appeared to be selling a large number of puppies.

“The dogs were being bred on an industrial scale at a site in Aveley and were kept in disgusting conditions in makeshift kennels and pens in outbuildings.

“When it was time to sell the puppies – for hundreds of pounds each – they would be moved to two houses being used as front addresses to sell the puppies from. The staged houses to gave the impression that the dogs were much-loved family pets. The reality was far from that.

“These dogs were kept in dark, damp pens covered in filth. They were in terrible conditions, riddled with worms and fleas, with matted, dirty coats. Many of them were extremely poorly with campylobacter and giardia – both serious and potentially deadly parasitic illnesses.”

RSPCA investigations determined that while many of the dogs were being bred on-site, a number of puppies were also being imported from abroad.

“These dogs were being kept in horrendous conditions, it must have been hell for them,” inspector Lamport added.

“Sadly, we lost a few of the pups but, thanks to the wonderful dedication of our animal centre staff and fosterers, the rest have all flourished and are now happy, healthy dogs in loving homes.

“Many of them still carry the scars – both mental and physical – from this part of their life, though. Some have ongoing health problems caused by the conditions they were kept in while others have developed behavioural issues because they were not properly socialised as pups.”

“It’s clear that this gang didn’t have a care in the world for the welfare of these dogs. All they saw when they looked into their dark, sad eyes was a way to make thousands and thousands of pounds.”

One of those puppies rescued from this awful life was Khaleesi, now three. Her heavily pregnant mother, Mia, was rescued from the puppy farm before giving birth to seven pups.

Khaleesi, or Kizzy as she’s known at home, now lives with Jemma and Rob Notley in Horsham, West Sussex.

“She was really timid as a puppy,” Jemma said. “She wouldn’t go outside but would sit on the doorstep and tremble. She was frightened of everything: leaves, the wind, even her own shadow.

“In her first year she was allergic to everything. She was on antibiotics and steroids a lot.

“She is still very nervous in crowded places and is frightened of loud noises. She also still struggles with allergies, we have to be really careful with what she eats and in summer it gets much worse.

“But generally she’s a very happy, healthy dog – and she’s spoiled rotten.

“When I think about what life had in store for her before her mother was rescued by the RSPCA it brings tears to my eyes. Thinking of her hiding in the corner of a cold, cramped pen is heartbreaking.”

A man has been jailed after admitting a string of offences following an RSPCA investigation into dog fighting after a training yard was discovered in a sleepy, country village.

Neil Forrest (DoB: 26/06/74) of Meadow View, Aspenden, in Hertfordshire, appeared at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (15 February) for the start of a two-day trial but entered guilty pleas to three of four offences, including causing unnecessary suffering to a dog and keeping or training a dog for use in connection with an animal fight.

He was sentenced to a total of 24 weeks in prison and was disqualified from keeping all animals for life. He was also ordered to pay £750 in costs.

RSPCA inspector Cliff Harrison, who led the investigation, said: “Aspenden is a sleepy little village and Forrest’s home looks like any other normal, family bungalow. But behind closed doors, Forrest was involved in the barbaric and brutal dog fighting underworld – a secret he kept well hidden until one of his dogs went missing one day and was found by a member of the public cowering in their garden nearby.”

On 5 March 2017, a black and white Staffordshire bull terrier type bitch was found covered in wounds and scars (pictured). She was collected by a local charity and taken to a vet who alerted the RSPCA.

“This poor dog was absolutely covered in wounds – both fresh and historic – with bite marks, scratches and puncture wounds predominantly around her muzzle, ears and legs,” inspector Harrison added.

“These sorts of injuries are exactly the sort of thing we we see when dogs are forced to fight another dog and the vet agreed that the injuries were consistent with dog fighting.

“Veterinary staff said they thought her freshest wounds were around three to four days old so we suspect she’d been used in a fight just a few days earlier.

“Luckily for this girl – nicknamed Kali by staff – we were able to treat her and she is now fully recovered and receiving lots of TLC in RSPCA care.”

While Kali was being treated a number of calls were made to local vets and dog wardens reporting a missing black Staffie. Three different numbers were noted down, one of which was traced back to Forrest and two others, believed to be his friends’, which were later found on his mobile phone.

Kali was seized by police and placed into the RSPCA’s care. A police dog legislation officer* concluded that she was not a banned breed so she can now be rehomed (pictured, now).

On 19 May, RSPCA joined Hertfordshire Constabulary to execute a warrant at Forrest’s home where three further bull breed type dogs were found at the premises along with a spaniel**.

“When we raided Forrest’s home with found three dogs kept in kennels in the garden, two of which were extremely athletic, fit bull breed types which were restrained with thick collars and chain tethers within the kennels,” inspector Harrison added.

“A third bull breed was found in a crate in the garage and a fourth dog – a spaniel – was also found although there were no concerns for this dog.

“We also found books and articles on pit bulls and dog fighting, and we recovered a photo of Forrest holding a dog in his garden suggesting it was a three-time champion with ‘Neil’s Yard’ written on the back.

“Inside the garage we found a treadmill and scales – often used by dog fighters to train their dogs and prepare for a fight – but when we interviewed Forrest he denied having any involvement with dog fighting.”

RSPCA inspector Cliff Harrison, who led the investigation, said: “It’s clear from the evidence that Forrest is obsessed with dog fighting and is involved in keeping, training and fighting his dogs.

“It appears he has tried to run his own dog fighting yard – called Neil’s Yard – but it’s unclear whether he’s had much if any success with that.

“What is clear is that his dogs have significant injuries consistent with dog fighting and have clearly been caused suffering due to his pastime.

“We believe he has been involved in this abhorrent, secretive bloodsport for years.”

Peter Madden, dog advisor for the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Dog Unit, said: “We were pleased to be able to support our RSPCA colleagues with this investigation and the jointly executed warrant at Forrest’s address.

“I am pleased with today’s sentence and hope it sends out a clear message to anyone considering being involved with dog fighting in any way. We take reports of this nature and animal welfare very seriously.

“We will always take action and I am glad the court has recognised the severity of the offences by issuing a custodial sentence and by banning Forrest from owning animals for life.”

The court also ordered for Forrest to be deprived of ownership of Kali who RSPCA staff will now seek to rehome.