'Bombproof pups': Stourbridge man bred dogs illegally and advertised them on Facebook and Instagram

Aiman Ahmed, 25, was repeatedly warned by council officers that he needed a licence to breed and sell dogs legally but did not apply for one, Dudley Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday.

Reports of dogs including a Belgian Shepherd, a Cane Corso and two Chow Chows being kept and having puppies in the garage of the property in Stourbridge were made to Dudley Council between April 2022 and June 2023, prosecutor Saima Ahmed-Aziz told the court.

The council's environmental health team sent Ahmed a letter in October 2022. Over the following months, officers were able to contact him and he confirmed that he was the owner of dogs at the property.

In February 2023, complaints were received about noise and odour coming from the garage. "[Ahmed] was sent a further letter warning him that breeding and selling dogs without a licence was illegal," Miss Ahmed-Aziz said.

In April that year, another complaint about the property was received by the council's environmental health team.

Meanwhile, puppies were being advertised for sale on Instagram while a Facebook profile under Ahmed's name was posting videos and photos of Cane Corso and Malinois dogs, including hashtags referring to the dogs' breeds.

A video of two Cane Corsos was posted in August 2022 along with a caption saying: "This one's all about quality over quantity." It also made reference to "the two most famous Corsos in the UK meeting".

A photo of one puppy was posted with the caption "Bullet the Designer Protection Dog".

A video of a Cane Corso that appeared to be pregnant was uploaded with the caption "Not long left".

One video of a large litter of puppies came with the caption: "These pups will have rare colours, extremely forward & high drive, environmentally sound and bombproof pups, coming with a lifetime of help."

Miss Ahmed-Aziz told the court: "The evidence shows that the defendant has been advertising puppies for sale for around 12 months."

Police officers visited the property on March 29 last year on unrelated matters and found the set-up in the garage, including multiple dogs. It also had several cages and pens for the dogs, as well as a bed and a PlayStation games console.

The property did not have an associated licence for the breeding and selling of dogs, or a history of being licensed for such activities.

Ahmed, of Mountain Ash Drive in Stourbridge, was interviewed on June 12 last year and told officers he thought he did not need a licence because he bred three or fewer litters a year. He said he only gave dogs away to family and friends, and said breeding was a "hobby" of his.

When he was asked to provide his phone, he said he didn't have one despite the numerous photos and videos posted to his account. Police searched his home and found two phones there, but he refused to give up the passwords to open them, even after being warned it was an offence to do so.

Ahmed was charged with carrying on a restricted activity without a licence as well as failing to assist a person exercising their power of entry, both offences under the Animal Welfare Act. He pleaded guilty to both on Wednesday.

Mitigating, Shanaz Begum told the court: "Mr Ahmed has pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity.

"Since he was a child, he's had an interest in dogs. He's always loved dogs.

"When he was at university he says he became interested in breeding dogs and that's when he started doing it, some time ago. It's always been a hobby of his."

She said that Ahmed checked the government website about dog breeding and thought he didn't need a licence because of his circumstances.

"There is no suggestion of animal cruelty or anything of that nature. Mr Ahmed put in a lot of time and effort into the dogs to make sure they were all looked after.

"The dogs were advertised on social media using his own genuine details. He tells me that he didn't make a financial gain from the puppies and gave most of the dogs away to family and friends where the dogs were to be looked after.

"He is a man who loves his dogs and as a result of the dogs being taken away, his mental health has deteriorated."

Magistrates ordered Ahmed to pay a £200 fine, an £80 victim surcharge and £3,805.80 towards the prosecution's costs of bringing the case.

A senior Dudley borough councillor welcomed the sentence.

Councillor James Clinton, cabinet member responsible for environmental health and trading standards, said: “Unlicensed dog breeders undermine our efforts to protect the welfare of animals in Dudley borough.

“Dogs purchased from unlicensed breeders may have serious health and behaviour issues - that`s why breeding dogs and advertising a business of selling animals without a licence is illegal.

“Licensing allows us to undertake checks on a business to ensure that all welfare standards are being met and animals are leading healthy, happy and safe lives.

“I’m pleased we got this outcome which hopefully sends the message to other people that we take animal welfare extremely seriously.”