Chloe Robinson (aged 26), of Mansell Road, Kenginston, and formerly of Conway Street, Birkenhead, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court today (22 February 2021) charged with illegally operating a business of selling animals as pets. She pleaded guilty to the offence.
Chloe Robinson sold a pug puppy, called Doug, to a victim for £1,200. Doug had to be put to sleep on welfare grounds on the same day of the purchase.
Ms Robinson had advertised puppies for sale on Gumtree and Pets4Homes and stood to have gained £12,000 from her criminal enterprise.
James Parry, prosecuting on behalf of Animal Protection Services, said that Ms Robinson did not have a license to sell animals as pets as required.
Robinson told the court she was on benefits and had never worked but she had not repaid the money and could not recall what she had spent it on.
District Judge James Clarke sentenced Robinson to a 12-month community order, with an electronically monitored curfew lasting eight weeks. She was also ordered to repay the £1,200 purchase price and the costs of the veterinary treatment.
In addition, Robinson was banned from keeping and dealing in dogs for three years.
A spokesman for Animal Protection Services said after sentencing: “We are committed to ending the illegal trade in puppies which causes so much unnecessary suffering to puppies and their families. This was the worst case we have successfully prosecuted to date”.