A businessman who exposed dozens of animals to suffering in a filth-ridden puppy farm in rural Perthshire has been given an unpaid work order of just 90 hours.
Conditions at Daanyaal Chowdhury’s dog security firm operation at Glenalmond were so appalling they posed a public health risk.
Around 60 animals – some of them pregnant – were rescued from the property by police and SSPCA officers following a raid in October 2020.
Local vets had raised the alarm after treating a disease-ridden German Shepherd called Sophie.
Chowdhury, director of London-based K9 Cube Ltd, was banned from keeping animals for five years when he appeared at Perth Sheriff Court last month and admitted three breaches of the Animal Health and Welfare Act.
The 30-year-old returned to the dock on Thursday for sentencing.
Business went bust
Sheriff Garry Sutherland said he was persuaded against jailing Chowdhury, after hearing how his company had gone bankrupt.
Solicitor Doug McConnell, defending, said the firm now owed £360,000 to multiple creditors including friends and family.
“He is now being hounded and sued by individuals for that money,” he said. “The support from his family has also been reduced.”
Mr McConnell added: “He does appreciate the significant impact on his animals.
“In hindsight, I’m sure he would have done things differently, He thoroughly regrets what happened.”
A 30-year-old Manchester businessman has been sentenced for animal neglect offences after admitting causing unnecessary suffering to dozens of cats and dogs at a Perthshire farm. https://t.co/yIPfafOVVH pic.twitter.com/2O6AI0M3eY
— COPFS (@COPFS) May 25, 2023
Sheriff Sutherland told Chowdhury: “This was a very unfortunate situation.
“The animals’ suffering was terrible and unnecessary.”
He said he accepted that his business had been impacted by Covid, and stressed he would be unable to owned animals for five years.
”I am minded to deal with this by a way other than a custodial sentence.”
Chowdhury was ordered to carry out 90 hours of unpaid work and was placed on supervision for a year.
Dogs went untreated
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.
Conditions caught on camera
Shock video of the police raid, obtained exclusively by The Courier, revealed the extent of the horrors inside South Cairnies Farm Cottage.
The 10-minute clip shows a near-empty room crammed with puppies scrabbling to escape and a German Shepherd who has gnawed a hole through in his kennel.
Most of the animals were rehomed by the SSPCA following its successful civil case against Chowdhury’s company last year.
Outside court, Chowdhury stressed he didn’t blame the six staff he brought in to run the site, but questioned why they were not charged instead of him.
“It boils my blood,” he said.
Fiscal Depute Andrew Harding said the raid followed a complaint made to the SSPCA hotline on October 28, 2020.
Inspectors were told of German Shepherd Sophie, being treated by local vets, whose skin was infected and weeping. She squeaked in pain while being inspected, the court heard.
Chowdhury was not at the property when it was raided.
An SSPCA inspector called him from the scene and told him his animals were being seized.
Mr Harding said that an inspection of the animals found some “zoonotic” pathogens.
“That means they could effect humans as well as other animals,” he said. “Any animals sold from the premises represented a potential public health risk.”
The site was described as “hugely unhygienic, poorly organised, inhumane and placed animals in danger”.
Following legal action against Chowdhury’s firm in 2021, the SSPCA won permission to rehome all the surviving cats and dogs.
“They are all now being groomed and cared for regularly,” said Mr Harding.
Procurator fiscal statement
Helen Nisbet, Procurator Fiscal for Tayside, Central and Fife said: “This was a case of widespread and indiscriminate neglect where cats, dogs and puppies were caused unnecessary suffering.
“This suffering was entirely preventable and could have been avoided by proper management and timely veterinary treatment.
“Instead, Daanyaal Chowdhury failed to provide the animals he was responsible for with an adequate environment and kept them in terrible, inhumane conditions.”
How the story unfolded
Perthshire puppy farm boss admits animal neglect
How callous Perthshire puppy dealer’s cruelty was exposed
Shock video reveals horrific conditions inside Perthshire puppy farm
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