Rich Bulldog Breeders Prosecuted After Investigators Exposed Their Illegal Puppy Farm
When you think of Bulldogs, an image of a stumpy, short-snouted dog instantly comes to mind. They may come in shades of gray, white, or brown and often have an overbite.
That’s because, with human intervention, they have been bred that way. Although those features may appear endearing to some, they present numerous health problems for the dogs that possess them.
In the past, bulldogs were athletic dogs that looked less extreme than what we see today. Their primary purpose back then was to look after livestock, which they still did until recently, when unethical breeding rendered them unable to carry out such tasks.
This is why laws have been enacted to protect bulldogs from being exploited as cash cows, where they are forced to produce multiple litters of puppies. These puppies are typically sold for a substantial sum of money, as they should be purchased from licensed breeders.
However, there are still individuals who take the illegal route, not only breeding without a license but also forcing these poor dogs to mate and produce litter after litter in a short amount of time. Such individuals aim solely to profit from these dogs, exacerbating their health problems.
A married couple named Karl and Victoria Shellard have been ordered by a judge to pay a fine of £400,000 for being involved in illegal bulldog breeding
The couple established the unethical business in their country home and called it 'PosherBulls'. They were reported to have reaped extreme profits after taking advantage of the market boom during the quarantine period.
The couple was consistent in posting adorable pictures to lure in buyers and sold puppies for up to £20,000
It turns out that they were breeding female bulldogs to produce more than one litter per year, which is against animal welfare laws
It was revealed to the court that over the course of their six-year business, they had bred 67 litters of puppies
One of the dogs named Coco apparently produced six litters within four years.
Through the advertisements they posted and the website they operated, the couple made £372,000 and accumulated assets worth about £1 million. Investigators then took the initiative to bust the shady business.
When their four-bedroom detached home and two other properties related to the business were raided, investigators found 20 dogs along with a laboratory equipped for unethical breeding. An additional 24 dogs were found in another property, and six more dogs were discovered in a distant building.
The court learned that animal welfare officers had already visited them and requested that they apply for a breeding license at the start of their business. Instead, they ignored this request, and investigators found a half-finished application form during the raid.
The couple admitted to not submitting the license and to practicing back-to-back breeding of the dogs for six years.
Prosecutor Tim Evans, who was handling the case, stated that even if they had acquired the license, the way they bred the dogs would still constitute an animal welfare offense.
The couple pleaded guilty to running the puppy farm, and despite positive customer reviews, it was illegal.
The couple was fined for a list of offenses, including £43,775 ($59,600) to cover court fees, a fine of around £19,000 ($25,800) for both of them, and they must return £372,531 ($507,480). Unless they are able to pay it off in three months, they will face 24 months in jail.
Laws exist for a reason. Dogs are protective, but they cannot protect themselves in these situations, so they should not be abused.
How do you feel about this couple's business? We'd love to hear from you in the comments.
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