Dog Kennel Boss Charged with Animal Offences

Tue, 11 May 2010

The owner of a Wickford-based dog kennels has admitted a number of animal related offences at Witham Magistrates’ Court. Loretta Bastin who runs Runwell Kennels in Wickford pleaded guilty to a number of charges including possessing animals who had not been properly vaccinated and overbreeding a dog, having made the same Pomeranian bitch given birth to a second litter of puppies within 12 months. As well as a number of technical offences, Bastin was ordered to pay costs of £1,800 and was given an 18 month conditional discharge.

It is not the first time Bastin has faced animal offences, having previously appeared in court in connection with the sale of unwell pet dogs who had been imported from unlicensed Irish puppy farms. Though importing animals and pets from unlicensed breeders from outside the UK is not illegal, it is considered undesirable as the dog may unknowingly possess the contagious parvovirus which rapidly spreads from dog to dog through exposure to faeces.

Having liaised with vets and the RSPCA, Chelmsford Council took the decision to prosecute after several inspections of the kennels.

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