A dog breeder operating without a license has been fined and banned from selling dogs for a period of two years as a result of legal action taken by Swindon Borough Council.
Kimberley Barton, 58, residing in Sparcells at Melfort Close, pleaded guilty to breeding and selling four litters of puppies without the necessary license, a violation of section 13(6) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The guilty plea was made at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, June 30.
The court imposed a fine of £120 on Ms. Barton and ordered her to pay a victim surcharge of £48, in addition to costs amounting to £600. It is worth noting that the costs approximated the cost of a dog breeding license. Furthermore, she received a prohibition order that prevents her from engaging in dog sales for a minimum of two years.
During the hearing, it was revealed that Ms. Barton sold each puppy for around £2,000. The magistrates took into account that she had knowledge of the legislation governing dog breeding, considering her involvement in dog shows.
The court heard details of the complex breeding operation, including the importation of sperm from the United States. Ms. Barton actively advertised the puppies for sale and entered into formal sales agreements with clients.
Daryl Bigwood, the solicitor representing the Council, informed the court that complaints were received regarding the inadequate social adjustment of some of the puppies, resulting in their return. Moreover, Ms. Barton was accused of refusing to provide refunds for returned puppies and withholding deposits for puppies that were not available as advertised.
Mr. Bigwood also presented evidence indicating that Ms. Barton had bred at least 18 additional puppies despite being aware of the ongoing investigation, highlighting her “flagrant disregard for the law.”
The prosecution of Ms. Barton was the outcome of a comprehensive investigation with the support of Wiltshire Police and the RSPCA.
Councillor Kevin Small, Cabinet Member responsible for Licensing at Swindon Borough Council, expressed his gratitude to the Animal Welfare team, “The regulations for breeding dogs are in place to protect the animals first and foremost, but also the people who are buying them.
“I’d like to thank our Animal Welfare team for their diligence in bringing this prosecution forward, but also our partners in Wiltshire Police and the RSPCA who helped us with the investigation.
“We take cases involving animal welfare extremely seriously and will not hesitate to prosecute if we have enough evidence. If you are unsure about whether a dog breeder is licensed please visit our website, where we list any licensed dog breeding establishments in Swindon.”
