When Fishguard Port police stopped and searched a transit van when it arrived from Rosslare last September, they discovered almost a dozen dogs in blanket-covered cages.
The two bitches and nine puppies – destined for London – were seized by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Animal Health and Welfare Officers and placed in quarantine at a local kennel as the owner did not have the necessary documentation.
The officers arranged for the animals to be examined by a vet who found them in poor condition and full of worms.
The vet also concluded that two of the pups were too young to be transported without their mother and, a short time later, one of them died.
While at the kennels the surviving dogs were given the necessary care and vaccinations.
At Haverfordwest magistrates on Wednesday (24th August), the driver of the van, mother of six Martina O’Brien from Surrey, admitted two Animal Welfare offences.
She was fined £180 for each offence but this was reduced to £120 because of an early guilty plea. Full costs of £2,115.40 were also awarded, together with a £20 victim surcharge making a total of £2,375.40. She will pay at a rate of £10 per fortnight.
O’Brien appeared before the court after a warrant was issued for her arrest having failed to appear before magistrates earlier this year.
Her solicitor, Jonathan Webb, said she had failed to attend court initially because she was fleeing domestic violence.
Mr Webb said the defendant had relied on the word of the person who had sold her the dogs that they had been weaned and wormed.
He added that O’Brien had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity for which she should be given credit.
After the hearing, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services, Huw George, said the Authority would not tolerate any illegal landing of dogs through any port in Pembrokeshire.
“Regular checks are carried out to ensure that all dogs transported through the ports have the correct documentation with them” said Councillor George.
“Fortunately, in this case, the story does have a happy ending. All the remaining dogs and puppies have since been rehomed.”
Caption
One of the cages in which the dogs were found.
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