Bexleyheath puppy farmer kept cats and dogs in 'disgraceful' conditions

Bus driver Glen Hayes, 53, kept 38 dogs and 18 cats without enough food and water, and many suffered from serious illnesses in the freezing back garden while the front room was kept "pristine" for customers.

RSPCA inspectors first became aware of the puppy and kitten farm as complaints mounted up in the run-up to last Christmas.

It received six complaints relating to Basset hounds, dachshunds and a boxer, with one dachshund pup dying on Christmas Day having contracted parvovirus at the pet farm.

Eventually inspectors raided the house owned by Janet Oxlade, 67, in Grazeley Close, Bexleyheath, on January 25.

They recorded a video which shows the squalid conditions the animals were kept in.

Dogs can be seen whimpering and coated in mud - while cats can be seen stuck inside rabbit cages full of excrement.

Bexley Magistrates' Court heard the animals suffered illnesses ranging from eye infections to severe mouth disease, and some died.

Hayes worked "back of house" in charge of cleaning and feeding the animals while Janet Oxlade was "the front of house" as part of the "disgraceful" money-making scheme.

He denied causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and failing to meet the needs of animals under the Animal Welfare Act but was convicted after trial in November.

He was found guilty of eight counts of causing unnecessary suffering and two counts of breaking duty of care as a person responsible for an animal.

At a previous hearing Oxlade was handed a lifetime ban on keeping any animals after being found guilty of the 10 charges.

Today Hayes, from Gillingham in Kent, was also handed an indefinite ban from keeping animals.

Sentencing Hayes to 20 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordering him to pay costs of £3,650, District Judge Nigel Dean said: “At least one or two of those dogs died at that address.

“Hayes worked back of house, while Oxlade was dealing with people at the front.

“Investigators found dogs in makeshift cages coated in mud - they suffered from tooth decay and conjunctivitis.

“Cats were not provided with suitable conditions for their living needs and puppies were discovered with no drinking water.

“These are very serious offences where animals were kept in squalid conditions.

“The evidence against Mr Hayes is compelling.”

RSPCA inspector Cliff Harrison said: "There was filth and mud everywhere and the dogs couldn't get out of the mud at all.

“The animals were smothered in faeces, they just didn't know where to go.

"It's utterly disgraceful to keep animals in these conditions while she lived in a clean house."

The court heard the investigation cost more than £12,000 - with the RSPCA being forced to foot the bill.

Defending, Jason Lucking said: “Mr Hayes has large debts that he accumulated over his life - he doesn’t have much disposable income.

“He was a man that attended the property and helped clean out the animals - his role was to feed and water the animals.”

All of the animals have since been rehomed or are in foster care awaiting new homes.

Carroll Lamport, from the RSPCA special investigation unit, said the conditions of the farm were typical among puppy breeders.

She said: "The conditions were horrific, one vet said that the dogs were so matted their fur looked like armour.

“Sadly, in some cases, people’s beloved new pet puppies had been so poorly that they’d died.

"The house and garden were total mayhem but the living room - the only space prospective buyers were allowed access to - couldn’t have been more different - a pristine and impeccably clean space.

“Hayes was involved in the day-to-day care of these animals and should have known better than to keep them in such horrendous conditions.

“Thankfully, we were able to save these lovely dogs and cats and they will all go on to lead much happier and healthier lives.”

Oxlade was sentenced to 20 weeks, suspended for 18 months and forced to pay a total of £2,115 in costs in August.