Illegal dog breeders sentenced for animal cruelty

Sonia Black and Jason Walsh pleaded guilty to animal cruelty

A man and a woman have been given 22 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to unlicensed dog breeding and animal cruelty.

Sonia Black of Banbury and Jason Walsh of Reading had their sentences suspended for 12 months, in which time they will need to undertake 100 hours of unpaid work.

The pair who ran their illegal business breeding and selling dogs in Banbury were also fined £4,154 each and banned from keeping dogs, at a hearing at Oxford Magistrates Court on Friday.

Black and Walsh bred and sold at least 116 puppies illegally between January 2019 and August 2024, the court heard.

In one instance, a Doberman in their care went into labour and they did not seek veterinary support for more than 12 hours. This resulted in one puppy being still born and unnecessary suffering to the mother.

Black and Walsh bred and sold at least 116 puppies illegally

Councillor Rob Parkinson is portfolio holder for safer communities with Cherwell District Council, which investigated the breeders.

He said: "Unlicensed dog breeders and sellers have no place in our community. Their presence is detrimental to animals under their care and residents who unknowingly purchase their pets from them.

"This case is horrendous and highlights the devastating consequences of people illegally breeding dogs. Unlicensed breeders and premises are not inspected and therefore not regulated to the standards required by the Animal Welfare Act. Not meeting such standards can put pets and people at risk of harm and, consequently, purchasers at risk of emotional distress and financial harm.

"I would like to thank our licensing team for successfully shutting down this operation and preventing any other dogs from coming to harm at the hands of the two defendants."