January 28th 2024.
Several dogs were recently rescued from a truly horrific situation. These poor animals were being kept in terrible conditions, and it was all due to the actions of a puppy farming gang. This group was making a fortune by selling sick and dying dogs to unsuspecting customers, and their deceitful actions have finally caught up with them. Wally David Beaney, Louise Smith, Maria Smith, and Charlotte Lauren Byron have all been sentenced to prison for their cruel and neglectful behavior, which resulted in the deaths of multiple dogs. A fifth member of the gang, Debbie Lorraine Lampard, received a conditional discharge after pleading guilty to one charge.
According to the court, the gang was making a substantial amount of money by repeatedly breeding dogs, but they failed to provide proper medical care for the animals. The police and RSPCA launched a joint investigation after receiving reports from people who had purchased sick puppies from this gang. Sadly, many of these puppies had contracted the parvo virus, a highly contagious and fatal illness, and they died within days of being taken to their new homes.
The conditions in which the dogs were living were described as dark and smelly, and it was clear that these animals were not receiving the care they needed and deserved. Thankfully, the dogs were taken away from this terrible situation and given the proper treatment they needed. In September 2021, three raids were carried out at properties in Kent, where more than 30 dogs were found in horrible conditions. The vet who examined the puppies' living conditions described them as dark and smelly, and three of the puppies required urgent veterinary attention.
During the raids, many adult dogs were also found in the garden of the properties, including two pregnant dogs who were suffering from parasites and dental issues. The police also seized phones containing enquiries from people interested in purchasing puppies from this gang. RSPCA inspector Vikki Dawe expressed her shock and dismay at the conditions in which these dogs were being kept, stating that it was far from what potential buyers would have expected based on the adverts placed for the puppies.
The court heard that three Golden Retriever puppies, purchased from Charlotte Lauren Byron's address in Kent, died within four days of being bought in July 2021. It was discovered that three other dogs also died shortly after going to their new owners. The RSPCA and police were alerted to this puppy farm after owners raised the alarm about their sick dogs.
A vet who examined the case stated that this suggested the seller was aware that one of the puppies was sick at the time of the sale, but they did not notify the other buyers. This lack of transparency and care for the animals' well-being ultimately led to their unnecessary deaths. On January 25, all five defendants were sentenced for their crimes.
Wally David Beaney, 39, of Meopham, Kent, received a sentence of four and a half years in immediate custody and a ten-year ban on keeping dogs. He pleaded guilty to four offenses under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, as well as one charge of conspiracy to commit fraud. Louise Smith, 63, also from Meopham, was sentenced to two years and four months in custody and banned from keeping dogs for five years after pleading guilty to one offense under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and one charge of conspiracy to commit fraud.
Maria Smith, 35, of Meopham, received a sentence of two years and four months in custody and was disqualified from keeping dogs for five years after pleading guilty to two offenses under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and a charge of conspiracy to commit fraud. Byron, 36, of Meopham, was sentenced to two years and three months in custody after pleading guilty to one charge of conspiracy to commit fraud. Lampard, 60, of Vigo, Kent, received an 18-month conditional discharge after pleading guilty to selling puppies without a licence.
Sergeant Darren Walshaw of Kent Police's Rural Task Force stated that the gang was making a significant amount of money by breeding and selling dogs but failed to provide them with the necessary medical care, such as worming medication and inoculations. He added that their actions were cruel and neglectful, and it ultimately resulted in the unnecessary deaths of numerous animals.
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