A man has been jailed for running Scotland’s largest puppy farm in Aberdeenshire.
At Aberdeen Sheriff Court today Frank James, of Banff, was also handed a lifetime ban from keeping dogs, rabbits or ferrets.
The 54-year-old was found guilty of causing more than 100 animals unnecessary suffering and failing to take steps to meet their needs last month.
The dogs, rabbits and ferrets were seized by the Scottish SPCA from a farm near Fyvie in November 2017.
Yesterday, Sheriff Sukhwinder Gill described James as “selfish and cruel beyond belief” as she jailed him for nine months.
His co-accused Michelle Wood, who was also found guilty of animal welfare charges, was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.
The 30-year-old, of Berrymuir Road, Macduff, was also put on curfew for six months and is subject to a supervision order for two years.
She too was banned from keeping from keeping dogs, rabbits and ferrets too, but for 10 years.
However the sheriff allowed both to keep their existing pets – James’ two dogs and Wood’s four.
Reacting to the verdict, SSPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “The Scottish SPCA has been picking up the pieces from Frank James’ greed-driven puppy farming operation for several years and we welcome the court’s judgement that his offences merit a jail sentence.
“His disregard for the welfare of animals under his care shows he is devoid of any empathy towards them and, when he is released from prison, we hope he is never in a position to own or sell animals again.”