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Gang Jailed For Selling Sick Or Dying Puppies

Gang Jailed For Selling Sick Or Dying Puppies

Six people have been given jail sentences for their part in selling sick, diseased or dying puppies for a profit of thousands of pounds.

The organised gang sold the puppies for £50 commission each, handing them to loving owners who shortly afterwards found themselves paying for expensive veterinary treatment or even dealing with the death of their beloved new pet.

Three men and three women - all from the Greater Manchester area - are estimated to have made more than £8,000 per week in the trade.

At Oldham Magistrates' Court, the six - Paula Wood, James Brady, Louise Colwell, Kenneth Colwell, Thomas Greally and Stacey Greally - all admitted to charges of failing to protect puppies from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

One of the devastated pet owners was Kimberley McDonald, from Stoke on Trent, who bought cockerpoo Crumpet from Wood and Brady.

She was one of many people who had purchased the puppies to call the RSPCA.

Little Crumpet almost immediately showed signs of illness, coughing and scratching scabs all over his body, and died just 13 days after Kimberley took him home.

She said: "Poor Crumpet was put on an intravenous drip and given a plasma transfusion. He also had a tube put into his nose to feed him as he wasn't eating at all.

"All he wanted to do when I was there was curl up in my arms and I spent the whole time I went crying. Losing Crumpet was the worst heartache I've ever felt in my life.

"This whole experience has massively affected our lives. Not only did it upset our daughter knowing her lovely new puppy was gone after she had only just bonded with him but at the age of six she also discovered how cruel some human beings can be."

Greater Manchester Police and the RSPCA raided the group's homes in Oldham and Failsworth in November 2013 and seized 39 puppies, including chihuahuas, pomeranians, spaniels, shih tzus and Yorkshire terriers (pictured) kept in purpose-built pods at the backs of the homes.

Six were so ill they had to be put down and 65% of those remaining had congenital defects.

Chief inspector Ian Briggs, from the RSPCA's special operations unit, said the case exposed "organised crime and animal suffering on an almost industrial scale".

He added: "This investigation has shown puppy dealers are becoming increasingly savvy to make their dealings look legitimate. They rent houses and put a smattering of furniture in them to make it look like a family home, from which they peddle these sick puppies."

Thomas Greally and Kenneth Colwell were jailed for 20 weeks, while Brady was jailed for 10 weeks.

Wood was given a 12-week custodial sentence which was suspended for 12 months, and must carry out 250 hours' unpaid work and pay £1,000 costs.

Louise Colwell and Stacey Greally were given a 20-week jail term, suspended for 12 months. They must also carry out 300 hours of unpaid work and pay £2,000 costs.

All six were banned from keeping dogs for the rest of their lives.