Watch: Animal welfare officers raid puppy farm which Cannock Chase Council describes as 'worst ever example of neglect'

In October 2019, the council's environmental health officers mounted a rescue mission along with animal welfare officers and raided the Wilsons' Mount Street home in Hednesford.

They found 60 dogs in "rancid and filthy" conditions where females had been caged and forced to have puppies which the Wilsons sold. They made an estimated £105,000 in two years and were given suspended sentences at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday.

Following the sentencing, Councillor John Preece, portfolio holder for environment and climate change at Cannock Chase Council, told the Express & Star: “This was the worst case of animal neglect our environmental health officers have encountered.

"Motivated purely by greed, Ian Wilson and Sue Wilson went to great lengths to mask their offending and to deceive the people they sold the dogs to."

The council successfully rehomed every dog found in the puppy farm including some to their previous owners, who the Wilsons had tricked into believing they were going to a loving home.

Councillor Preece said: "The only good story to come from this is that every dog was successfully rehomed and, six years on, are in loving homes."

The council vowed to stamp out illegal puppy farms in its district.   

Councillor Preece added: "We really have cracked down on this activity in Cannock Chase district but no doubt there are more unlicensed breeders and sellers out there. 

"To anyone involved in this despicable activity – it’s only a matter of time until our environmental health officers are putting your door through next."  

The environmental health officers (EHOs) who raided the property were so overcome by the stench of urine in the Wilsons' house they could only cope standing in the room for 20 seconds. 

Prosecuting, Mark Jackson told Birmingham Crown Court: "The experienced EHO that attempted to remove the Alsatians describes how they had faeces-covered paws and how the overwhelming stench of ammonia from the sodden sawdust/faeces covered floor was so strong that his eyes were streaming with tears. 

"The conditions were so extreme and the ammonia levels so strong, it prevented him from remaining in the room for more than 20 seconds at a time."

Ian, 76, and Susan, 71, Wilson were given 22 and 20 months prison terms, suspended for 18 months. They will have to attend rehabilitation days and adhere to a three-month nightly curfew. They were given a three-year criminal community order which bans them from selling pets. They were allowed to keep their own dogs as pets.