The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Animals seized in raid on home
ScottishSPCAremovenearly90dogs
A series of failings allowed a north-east property to be used as an illegal puppy farm, a campaigner has claimed.
Nearly 90 dogs and puppies were seized from a property at East Mains of Ardlogie, Fyvie, in Aberdeenshire on Tuesday when Scottish SPCA officers stormed the home.
The animal charity described the scene as potentially one of the largest illegal farms in the country.
It is the second time the site has been raided by the charity.
In 2013, officers seized 72 dogs from “horrific” conditions as part of a wider operation to stop illegal breeding. Three members of the same family admitted setting up the farm and received banning orders at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
In the latest swoop, more than 100 animals were taken away from the site, including rabbits and ferrets.
Last night a local campaigner, who did not want to be named, said the site was “known” to have been used to house dogs.
Last year, a puppy breeding licence was sought for the site – before being withdrawn at the 11th hour ahead of a ruling.
A separate application was later made in a different name to convert outbuildings on the farm into kennels.
A petition from concerned animal lovers was eventually signed by 7,500 people in an uproar against the scheme before councillors voted to refuse it.
The campaigner added: “The council have failed all round. I don’t feel they have done enough and they still aren’t doing enough.”
She said people knew the dogs were there.
Local councillor Anne Stirling said the news of the illegal puppy farm would “shock” the tiny community.
A spokeswoman for Aberdeenshire Council confirmed that no breeding activity was approved for the site.
“We had not had any complaints from any third parties about puppy breeding on the site,” she said.
“We can confirm that they did not have a licence to breed dogs on the site and they also did not have planning permission.”