Six men found themselves behind bars following the dismantling of a sophisticated £300,000 puppy-selling ring, where dogs were subjected to mistreatment, deceitful sales tactics, and bred in substandard conditions.
Hailing from Newport, eleven members of the McDonagh family admitted to various animal welfare offenses and were slapped with a decade-long ban on owning dogs.
An investigation by RSPCA officers uncovered a distressing scene at Ellen Ridge Traveller Site in Newport, where caged dogs languished in appalling conditions, suffering from malnutrition, thirst, and neglect.
At the sentencing in Swansea Crown Court, the six men were convicted of conspiracy to defraud alongside charges related to animal welfare, earning themselves prison sentences. The five women were handed community orders. Here are the sentences handed down:
- Martin McDonagh, 42, of Maesglas Crescent: three years and six months
- Patrick McDonagh, 22, of Maesglas Crescent: 18 months
- Francie McDonagh, 35, of George Lansbury Drive: three years and two months
- John McDonagh, 33, of Laburnum Drive: three years
- Patrick McDonagh, 47, of Moorland Road: three years and six months
- Edward McDonagh, 28, of Maesglas Street: 20 months
Judge Geraint Walters denounced the McDonagh family’s actions as a “carefully orchestrated” scheme, causing immense suffering to those who unwittingly purchased the mistreated animals.
The judge highlighted the elaborate nature of the operation, which involved multiple properties, vehicles, phone numbers, vet practices, false advertisements, and fraudulent documentation.
Despite being advertised as “home-bred, healthy, and well-socialized family pets,” the puppies were often bred in squalid conditions, imported from overseas, and sold with a myriad of health issues.
A raid conducted by Gwent Police at Ellen Ridge Traveller Site in April 2020 led to the rescue of 21 dogs, four of which were confirmed stolen and reunited with their rightful owners by the RSPCA.
Further investigations revealed vaccination records linking the dogs to the McDonagh family, prompting a subsequent raid on Maesglas Road in April 2021.
In total, 22 buyers provided statements, detailing how they had paid exorbitant prices of up to £2,500 for dogs that were dehydrated, underweight, or suffering from illness.
Reflecting on the case, RSPCA inspector Kirsty Withnall remarked, “The tragic reality of puppy farming is that profit often takes precedence over the welfare of the animals. The sheer magnitude of the sums involved is staggering, underscoring the unscrupulous nature of this trade.”