The conviction of a Tayside woman who bought farmed puppies in Ireland and then sold them in Angus and Dundee car park deals should serve as a warning about the danger on online pet purchases, an MSP has warned.
Jaimie Colquhoun will be sentenced next month after being found guilty at Forfar sheriff court of selling dogs without a licence in Arbroath and Dundee.
She was snared as part of a major multi-agency fight being waged on both sides of the Irish Sea to combat the evil trade.
A sheriff has warned the 26-year-old, of Dunholme Road, Dundee a ban on keeping animals is one of the sentencing options available to the court.
Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: “The sale of any kind of animal via websites can be fraught with difficulty, as buyers often don’t know the background or health of their new pet.
“I would urge prospective buyers to check the provenance of online sellers before agreeing to buy.”
Mr Kerr also urged potential pet owners to support the valuable work of animal charities by considering rehoming pets.
“We also have many excellent rehoming centres in Scotland, with thousands of pets waiting for new, loving homes.”
The trial of Colquhoun at Forfar sheriff court heard that she was offered immunity from prosecution if she went undercover to expose those involved in the puppy trade, but she declined for fear of being branded “Cruella de Vil”.
Colquhoun’s activities, which the court heard involved her travelling as a ferry foot passenger to buy litters from a man she knew only as Thomas, before bringing them home in carriers and selling the pups via Gumtree, came to the attention of agencies involved in SSPCA-led Operation Delphin.
Involving animal welfare organisations, police, Customs and trading standards, it has led to several prosecutions and dozens of young dogs seized before they could fall into the hands of unscrupulous dealers for sale to unsuspecting pet lovers.
An undercover inspector from the Scottish SPCA Special Investigations Unit said, “We are pleased Colquhoun has been found guilty following our investigation.
“The court will now decide on the appropriate sentence. Under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 this may include a ban on keeping animals.”
The inspector added: “This investigation was a result of work carried out under Operation Delphin.
“The Special Investigations Unit of the SSPCA spearhead the fight against the multi-million pound illegal puppy trade alongside partner organizations including ISPCA, USPCA, DSPCA, RSPCA, HMRC Trading Standards, Stenaline, Police Scotland Port unit and APHA.”
