Puppy farmers also handed suspended prison terms after admitting animal welfare offences

Pedigree dog breeders Jeffrey Speakman, 66, and his son Richard Speakman, 22, from Bury in Greater Manchester, appeared at Bury Magistrates Court on October 7 for sentencing, after admitting 11 offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, in a case brought by the RSPCA.

The animal charity visited Jeffrey Speakman's property on Bentley Hall Road with a vet, police and Bury Council environmental services on Thursday, May 2, 2013. As a result, 137 dogs were seized and placed in the RSPCA's care. The dogs included Labradors, collies and Malamutes, some of which were pregnant, and puppies of various ages.

RSPCA inspector Jason Bowles said: "Some of the dogs were six years old and had been used as nothing more than ‘breeding machines’, producing litter after litter of puppies to be sold for £250-plus each.

“A female chocolate Labrador was found dead when we arrived. She had suffered from pyometra and septicaemia. She suffered multiple organ failure. She hadn’t been seen or treated by a vet.

“Four collies had been separated off and were living in a dark building around the back of the farm because they hadn’t sold for whatever reason. Unfortunately, they were aggressive and had to be put to sleep as a result," he added.

When interviewed by RSPCA staff, the Speakmans said they sold 400 or 500 puppies a year.

During the sentencing, Jeffrey Speakman also admitted two further allegations relating to three puppies suffering from untreated parvovirus, found at his farm on Bentley Hall Road at a later date.

Mr Bowles said: "The three puppies were in a very poor state and, unfortunately, despite the best efforts of RSPCA vets, one died a couple of days after being rescued."

Appearing in court on the morning of October 7, Jeffrey and Richard Speakman both received a 10-year ban on owning, keeping, participating in keeping, dealing, having any control over, transporting or arranging the transportation of dogs.

As well as the ban, the Speakmans were each sentenced to a four-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months, 200 hours of unpaid work, and were ordered to pay £500 costs at £10 a week.

All dogs seized were eventually signed over to the RSPCA and sent to its animal centres and branches across the country. The dogs have now either been rehomed or are awaiting new homes.

Footage of the rescue was aired on Channel 5's documentary series, The Dog Rescuers, on October 8 at 7:30pm.

Image courtesy of the RSPCA