Alexandra Burke of Fairhope Avenue, Lancaster appeared before Lancaster Magistrates’ Court on Monday 22nd March 2021 to answer offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 and Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
Ms Burke plead guilty to all offences and was fined £320 and ordered to pay a contribution to prosecution costs of £450. The Magistrates’ disqualified her from dealing in dogs (both selling and breeding) for 3 years.
George Miller, of Woodlands Drive, Heysham, Morecambe appeared before Lancaster Magistrates’ Court on the same day in relation to similar offences.
Mr Miller was fined £1,173 and ordered to pay a contribution to prosecution costs of £900. The Magistrates’ disqualified him from dealing in dogs (both selling and breeding) for 3 years.
The proceedings were brought by Animal Protection Services, a registered charity that investigates and prosecutes organised animal cruelty. The prosecution follows an investigation into the unlicensed sale of puppies in the Northern Region.
A spokesperson for Animal Protection Services said: “Trading of puppies without a license is not acceptable. The undermining of the statutory licensing regime is a risk to animal welfare and consumer protection.”
“The illegal puppy trade has become a low risk, high reward trade and we are determined to ensure that opportunists and organised criminals are brought before the courts to face justice”, the spokesperson added.