Newport: Six jailed for £300,000 puppy-selling fraud

Eleven members of the same family have been sentenced for animal cruelty offences

Six men have been jailed after a £300,000 puppy-selling ring saw dogs mis-sold, mistreated and bred in sheds.

Eleven members of the same family, from Newport, admitted animal welfare offences and all have been banned from owning dogs for a minimum of 10 years.

RSPCA investigators found caged dogs emaciated, thirsty and in poor health at Ellen Ridge Traveller Site, Newport.

The six men and five women, all members of the McDonagh family, were sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday.

The men were jailed after admitting conspiracy to defraud in addition to animal welfare offences, whereas the five woman were each handed community orders.

• Pet monkey offered cocaine and flushed down toilet

• Owners' cruelty left pet monkey unable to walk

• Dog injured after being thrown from car at 50mph

They were handed the following sentences:

• 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, for 20 months

Edward, John, Martin, Patrick, and Patrick Christopher McDonagh (left to right), and Francie McDonagh (not pictured), have been jailed

Judge Geraint Walters said the family engaged in "carefully coordinated action" which left those who had purchased the animals in "unspeakable distress".

The judge said the scheme had made use of multiple properties, vehicles, phone numbers and vet practices along with false adverts and documentation.

The RSPCA found the puppies were advertised as "home bred, healthy, and a well-socialised family pets", however were in some cases bred in sheds, purchased from abroad and sold with a variety of health concerns.

Gwent Police raided Ellen Ridge Traveller Site in April 2020, which resulted in 21 dogs being seized, four of which the RSPCA reported were confirmed stolen and returned to their owners.

Two French bulldogs were found in poor health at an address on Maesglas Road, Newport

The raid uncovered vaccine documents linking the dogs with addressing belong to the McDonagh family, leading to a further raid on Maesglas Road in April 2021.

In total, 22 buyers gave statements, some of whom paid £2,500 for dogs which in some cases were sold dehydrated, underweight or unwell.

Following the sentencing, RSPCA inspector Kirsty Withnall said: "The heartbreaking reality of puppy farming is that the welfare of the puppies comes second to making money.

"The sums of money involved are just eye-watering and it's another reminder of how unscrupulous this trade can be."