Couple crammed dogs in stacked cages at 'horrific' Lanarkshire unlicensed animal boarding site

A couple who kept dogs in stacked cages at their unlicensed animal boarding site have been handed a two-year animal ban.

Gary and Eden Hopkins kept the animals in the kitchen of their home in Lanarkshire in cages, with one crammed with four dogs.

The dogs were unable to move in the cages, which were described as falling apart and without bedding.

The room they were kept in was extremely warm and the dogs were panting heavily.

The Hopkins’ offending came to light after a client’s lurcher had returned from the unlicensed boarding site with a limp, huge open sores on his legs and saturated in urine.

A vet found the dog, called Monty, had infected wounds on his hocks which had been drastically swollen for days.

Monty’s owner contacted the Scottish SPCA and an inspector attended the property in July last year along with police officers.

They discovered seven dogs in the kitchen in the stacked cages.

The Scottish SPCA inspector said: “I was absolutely shocked at what we saw and the conditions they we kept in. The dogs were petrified and cowering away. They had tried to cram as many dogs as possible into each cage.

“One cage had a Dobermann, and a Collie so badly confined their legs were tightly intertwined and they couldn’t move at all. The base of their cage was wet and sticky, and they had no access to water.

“Stacked on top, was another small cage containing a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The dog’s head, nose and tail were touching the bars on all sides, he had no space to stand and turn.

“Another cage held four dogs. The environment was completely unsuitable, and it was horrific to see.”

When the dogs were released from their cages, they behaved erratically and passed copious amounts of urine, indicating they had been left in the cages for a long period of time.

They were removed from the property and taken into the care of the Scottish SPCA for further treatment.

Six dogs were returned to their owners after their microchips were scanned while the remaining dog, a pug named Bella, belonged to the Hopkins.

She underwent treatment and was signed into the care of the Scottish SPCA.

Gary and Eden Hopkins were sentenced at Hamilton Sheriff Court on June 17 after pleading guilty to breaching animal welfare legislation.

Gary Hopkins was also handed a 60-day Restriction of Liberty Order, and his wife was sentenced to 160 hours of unpaid work.

The Scottish SPCA inspector said: “Both showed complete disregard for the dogs in their care, causing them and their owners, significant distress and suffering. They showed they cannot responsibly take care of their own dog, let alone run a dog boarding business.

“While we welcome the sentencing, we are concerned that without a longer-term ban, they will go on to get other animals and subject them to similar circumstances.”