A security firm boss has admitted causing unnecessary suffering to dozens of cats and dogs at a filth-ridden Perthshire puppy farm.
More than 60 animals were rescued from appalling squalid conditions at South Cairnies Farm Cottage in Glenalmond.
Police and Scottish SPCA officers swooped on the remote property in October 2020 after local vets raised concerns about the condition of a disease-riddled German Shepherd called Sophie.
Daanyaal Chowdhury, director of London-based K9 Cube Ltd, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted three breaches of the Animal Health and Welfare Act.
The 29-year-old, from Manchester, was banned from keeping pets for five years.
Sheriff Garry Sutherland issued the disqualification order after hearing some of the animals were riddled with pathogens, which posed a public health risk.
Animals riddled with disease
Chowdhury admitted, as the person responsible for animals, by act or omission he caused them unnecessary suffering by failing to provide adequate care or treatment and failing to get veterinary advice or treatment for health conditions.
The court heard that, between April 20 and October 28 2020, he failed to treat:
- A black and tan German Shepherd called Sophie, found with a chronic skin disease and wounds between her toes;
- Dolly, a female Spanish Mastiff-type dog which had dermatitis, eczema, an infected wound, hair loss and a matted coat;
- Dogs Sky, Lexi and Kilo which suffered orthopaedic conditions including degrees of dysplasia;
- Dogs Kilo, Nancy, Coco, Roxy and Diago, all suffering from dental diseases such as fractured teeth.
He further pled guilty to causing suffering to 15 cats – including one which later died – which had ear mite infestations and conjunctivitis.
Chowdhury also admitted he failed to provide suitable accommodation for all 33 dogs, 17 puppies and 16 cats.
The court heard the animals were exposed to waste, loose and exposed electrical cables and garden debris hazards.
They did not have adequate resting areas, dry bedding or proper shelter from the elements.
He further failed to provide some of the animals with adequate ventilation, light, hydration and nutrition.
Security work
Chowdhury originally denied all charges, blaming a man who was employed to manage the site on his behalf.
He changed his plea to guilty on the morning of his trial, after accepting ultimate responsibility for the animals’ welfare.
Solicitor Doug McConnell, defending, said: “Mr Chowdhury is devastated that he finds himself in this position but more so the effect this has had on his animals.”
He said: “He was company director of a firm which supplied working dogs for security at farms and businesses.”
Mr McConnell said his client was stuck in Manchester and unable to travel to Perthshire during the 2020 Covid lockdown.
“That is not an excuse, because he was responsible for these animals and should have been making sure they were not in the environment that they clearly were.
“He accepts that he should have been on top of this.”
Sheriff Sutherland deferred sentencing until next month but issued an instant ban on keeping animals.“The reason I am doing that is to protect animals,” he said.
“But it also to protect the general public, given that there were so many pathogens detected in dogs and cats, which could be passed on to humans.”
Speaking after Thursday’s hearing, Scottish SPCA inspector Katherine Aitchison said: “We are pleased that Daanyaal Chowdhury pled guilty today in court.
“The suffering that the animals in his care endured was horrendous and we look forward to sentencing.”
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