Neal and Debbie Harper who were described as not showing a “trace of humanity” admitted charges of animal cruelty at Birmingham Magistrates Court.
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| Having not a trace of humanity: Debbie Harper |
Neil Harper, 45, who had admitted 14 charges of animal cruelty and one of trading as a pet shop without a licence, was jailed for six months.
His wife, 29, who had pleaded guilty to the same charges, was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for two years.
The couple, of Netherhouse Close, were also banned from keeping any animal for life.
District Judge Sham Quereshi said it was clear from photos that the puppies found at the address were malnourished and kept outside without any heating, food or water.
He said that neither defendant had shown a “trace of humanity” and that puppy trafficking from Southern Ireland appeared to be “quite a big business.”
The judge said the only reason he had not sent Debbie Harper to jail immediately was because she had five young children.
Nick Sutton, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said the charges arose from an extensive investigation into the commercial selling of puppies who were dealt with in a “brutal” way.
He said the dogs, including King Charles Spaniels, boxers and pugs, were delivered to the Harper’s home from various parts of the country and then advertised for sale at between £150 and £700.
A woman who had gone to the address to buy a Boxer for £500 discovered the animal to be extremely emaciated while other visitors saw other dogs in a similar condition.
Mr Sutton said police and RSPCA officers went to Harpers’ home on February 28 this year and were shown into the back garden.
There they found puppies being kept in crates in two sheds with no bedding. In one of the sheds the crates were on top of each other where the dogs were huddled together shivering.
Mr Sutton said two of them were very seriously ill and had they not been rescued they would almost certainly have died.
When interviewed Neil Harper said he had been involved in the puppy selling business for about a year and that “quite a few” puppies had died and that the supplier would simply replace them.
He claimed that he and his wife got a cut of £20 to £30 for each puppy sold.
Julian Derry, defending, said the couple were deeply sorry for what they had done and had got themselves in a situation they could not get out of, having received threats of violence from those who supplied the puppies.
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| Two of the puppies after they were cared for by the RSPCA. |
"I think this sentence sends out a very clear message that these actions are completely inhumane and will carry stiff penalties when they are brought to court.”
(birminghammail.net - Oct 25, 2012)
