Unlicensed dog breeders convicted following investigation by Guildford Borough Council

Two people were sentenced in Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday 8 April for running a dog breeding establishment without a licence. This followed a long investigation by Guildford Borough Council.

Mr Philip Gray of Pirbright Road, Normandy, received a two month prison sentence, suspended for twelve months, and was ordered to pay costs of £25,000. Victims who testified in the case also received compensation totalling £5,900. Mr Gray was also disqualified from keeping dogs for five years.

Dr Louise Keenan, of the same address, also received a two month prison sentence, suspended for twelve months. She was ordered to pay compensation of £39 to one of the victims.

Both defendants were also ordered to pay the Victim Surcharge.

The sentencing judge at Guildford Crown Court, Mr Recorder S Levene, was satisfied that both defendants knew a licence was required for their activities and that they knew that what they were doing was illegal. 

There were £124,000 of puppy sales from the business due to a sudden increased demand for puppies during Covid. Although the judge accepted that the vet’s bills were high, he stated that this was a lot of income for a few months.

During the sentencing hearing that Judge commented that: 
He had no doubt that the business would have continued, had the forces of law and order not intervened.

He noted that there was a £1.3 million property tied up in this business and that the defendants were turning this into a substantial business and an additional related building was being constructed.

He noted the defendants lied to the police and others by claiming the dogs were their pets. And that they advertised the puppies using a variety of fake names and different phone numbers. He commented that this was a big operation.

Lead Councillor for Regulatory and Democratic Services, Cllr Merel Rehorst-Smith, who is a qualified vet, said:

“The victims in this case include families who had bought puppies which became sick. This is heart-breaking and costly for those dog owners. We’re delighted that we’ve been able to secure compensation for them, but this will never truly make up for the emotional distress they’ve experienced.

“This case has taken five years to bring to a conclusion. It shows the diligent work of our Animal Licensing team and their tenacity to see a case through. I’m in awe of the hard work that our teams have put into this.

“I hope that this will shine a light on an industry that needs to be closed down permanently.”

By raising awareness of this case, the council hopes to prevent people inadvertently using irresponsible dog breeders. If anyone has any concerns about dog breeders in Guildford Borough, they can report this on the council’s website.