Carmarthenshire Farmer Handed Prison Sentence For Squalid Conditions
A Carmarthenshire man has been sent to prison after 34 dogs were found living in squalid conditions on his farm near Ammanford – many of them in an extremely poorly state of health.
Andrew Paul Thomas (d.o.b 17/02/1978) of Bryncethin Road, Garnant, appeared at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Wednesday 21 September) facing several allegations under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. He pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering, not providing a suitable environment for a large number of dogs kept at a farm, failing to treat health problems and failing to provide a number of sheep and pigs with a suitable environment.
It was on 6 March (Mother’s Day) this year when an RSPCA inspector attended the premises and found 34 dogs living in shocking conditions. There were a range of small breeds including, bichon frises, schnauzers, cocker spaniels, Jack Russells and pugs, many of them covered in filth, faeces and urine. There was no sign of food, clean water or bedding.
The District Judge sentenced Thomas to five months in prison with an additional two months imprisonment for breaching a previous sentence. He was also disqualified from keeping all animals for five years and ordered to pay costs of £750 and a victim surcharge of £115.
Following the hearing RSPCA inspector Gemma Cooper said: “Within five minutes of my arrival I was covered in head to toe in faeces and urine. I was drenched to the bone. It was unimaginable.
“The dogs were stinking because they were living in this horrific environment. There were puppies being born in faeces.
“There were dogs that had untreated ear and teeth problems that needed immediately veterinary treatment and there were six underweight dogs that were all noticeably skinny.
“There were also a number of sheep and a couple of pigs that had been shoved into a barn. There was no ventilation, no water or food and they were just crammed in.”
The inspector found six dogs with ear problems, two dogs with teeth problems, six underweight dogs and a number of sheep and pigs in an unsuitable environment.
The RSPCA removed 43 dogs but puppies were then born resulting in a total of 48 dogs in the charity’s care. The dogs were cleaned up and given immediate veterinary treatment and the appropriate care for any health problems. They will now be made available for rehoming.
Inspector Cooper added: “Removing the breeding bitches and their puppies from the horrific living conditions was the best Mother’s Day present I could have given them.”
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