backyard breeder Patrick Lynch, Rochdale – kept puppies in filth conditions.
Lynch pleaded guilty to breeding dogs without a licence and failing to ensure their welfare.
He was prosecuted following a raid on his then home in Foxholes Close by Rochdale Council’s trading standards team on 21 March 2023. Acting on intelligence that dogs were being bred illegally at the address, officers discovered three Rottweiler puppies confined to a tiny bathroom smeared with faeces and soaked in urine.
A vet present during the inspection described the stench inside the room as “overwhelming”. Faeces covered the floor and walls, and no bedding or clean space was provided for the animals. All three dogs were removed immediately and taken to kennels.
Very sadly, the puppies later contracted parvovirus and were euthanised.
Sentenced to a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for two years; ordered to pay £2,400 in prosecution costs and a £154 victim surcharge. Banned from owning, keeping or transporting dogs for 10 years (expires May 2035).