A couple who kept over 100 puppies in squalid conditions to try and make profit have been ordered to pay £150,000 or face jail.
William Perriton, 42, and Rebecca Heath, 39, ran the illegal puppy farm from a dark and windowless outbuilding at their home in Dorset.
Officials from the local council received complaints about the operation and visited the premises, where they found dozens of puppies being kept in extremely unpleasant conditions.
The German Shepherd and Cane Corse puppies were extremely malnourished and living on urine soaked bedding in the dark with just a heat lamp to keep them warm.
Investigators found evidence found on one of the defendant’s phone showing that the dogs were being sold for between £900 and £1,200 each.
Perriton and Heath had first claimed the presence of so many puppies at their home in Three Legged Cross had been due to accidental breeding.
But following further complaints, officers from Dorset Council returned three more times and found evidence of an unlicensed puppy farm.
Perriton and Heath pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the animals involved, failing to ensure their needs were met and carrying out a dog breeding business without a licence over a 14 month period.
Judge William Mousley gave the couple year-long community orders to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work at Bournemouth Crown Court in October.
The pair have since returned to court for a Proceeds of Crime hearing where it was heard that all of the money they earned through the illegal operation will need to be repaid.
Perriton was ordered to pay £115,000 or risk 18 months in prison and Heath was ordered to pay £34,000. They have three months to pay the money.
They both need to pay a further £4,500 in prosecution costs but they escaped a ban on owning dogs.
Laura Beddow, portfolio holder for customer and community services at Dorset Council, said: ‘It’s quite common for people to be unaware that they need a licence to sell any puppies, even one or two.
‘It’s particularly tricky with cases like this to draw a line between simple mistakes and when it becomes an intentional illegal operation.
‘I’m very proud of the team involved in this case as they dealt with it very sensibly and worked worked with a local animal rescue charity to make sure all of the puppies involved have found new homes.
‘I own rescue dogs myself so it is an issue I really care about, we need to do everything we can to stop illegal breeding.’
All of the puppies that were found at the unlicensed farm have been rehomed after being nursed back to health by an animal rescue charity.
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