CARMARTHENSHIRE’S animal health officers have been praised by the council after an illegal dog breeder was convicted in court.

61-year-old Deborah Thomas, from Llanddarog, earned more than £90,000 from the sale of nine litters of puppies over a 12-month period, without the appropriate licence.

Carmarthenshire County Council led an investigation into the activities of Thomas as it is illegal to advertise three or more litters of puppies from the same premises within a 12-month rolling period without a dog breeding licence under the Breeding of Dogs Regulations (2014).

Anyone involved in the commercial selling of pet animals – on any scale – must be licensed following the 2021 introduction of the Licensing of Activities Involving Animals Regulations.

The council had advised Thomas of the licensing requirements a number of times prior to the conviction but she continued to operate illegally.

Animal welfare officers from the council were involved in investigating Thomas after receiving intelligence of the activities, with advertising platforms Gumtree, Pets4Homes, Preloved and Freeads providing information which highlighted the scale of the operation and the evidence needed for the prosecution.

Cllr Aled Vaughan, Carmarthenshire County Council’s cabinet member for climate change, decarbonisation and sustainability, said: “I must commend the work of our animal health officers in bringing this illegal dog breeder to justice.

“It is very important that dog breeders that wish to sell dogs commercially obtain the correct licence so that we, as a council, can correctly monitor the welfare of the animals involved. As this case proves, the council will take action against any dog breeder that does not comply with this requirement.”

Thomas must pay back £90,000 in a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act and this must be paid within three months. She also has to pay £10,000 prosecution costs, a £1,000 fine and £100 victim surcharge, which must be paid within 10 months.

If she does not pay the confiscation order, she will be sent to prison for 21 months.