Illegal puppy breeder made up to £57k while claiming benefits

A MAN living on benefits made tens of thousands of pounds in less than a year and a half by illegally breeding puppies.

Ashleigh Price, of Llwynhendy in Carmarthenshire, sold the dogs on the Gumtree and Free Ads websites between April 2020 and November 2021. In total, he sold 10 litters in that period, despite it being illegal to advertise for sale three or more litters in any 12-month period without a dog-breeding licence.

The offences came to light when Carmarthenshire council officers were tipped off that Price, 25, had kennels in his garden at Parc Richard in Llwynhendy and visited the property.

They checked with both Gumtree and Free Ads and discovered four accounts had been set up in Price’s name, along with two in his wife’s name, advertising the sale of Jack Russells, Labradors, Cocker Spaniels and West Highland Terriers.

Most of the adverts stated the puppies for sale were family pets. Price pocketed between £34,000 and £57,000 in the 16-month period in question.

When the case was heard at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court, Price said he wanted to make more money due to the fact that he only earned £120 a week in benefits.

Following prosecution by Carmarthenshire council, Price was fined £500 and ordered to pay costs of £750 and a victim surcharge of £50.