ATTILA KOVACS OF KINGSWOOD BRISTOL FACES SUSPENDED SENTENCE OVER ILLEGAL DOG TRAFFICKING AND CRUELTY

Attila Kovacs, a man born around 1979 and residing on Two Mile Hill Road in Kingswood, Bristol, has been found guilty of serious animal cruelty and illegal dog importation activities. The case, which has garnered significant attention, reveals a disturbing pattern of neglect and unlawful trade involving numerous dogs imported into the UK under deplorable conditions.

In June 2021, Kovacs pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to causing suffering to animals, specifically targeting a French Bulldog named Lola. He admitted to failing in his duty to ensure the welfare of the animals under his care, as well as engaging in the illegal importation, breeding, and sale of dogs without the necessary licensing from local authorities. Prosecutor Lee Reynolds provided detailed insights into the nature of Kovacs' criminal activities, describing a prolonged period during which he was involved in an unlawful trade of puppies.

Reynolds explained that between December 2019 and June 2021, Kovacs was actively involved in importing puppies from abroad, often in appalling conditions. Many of these puppies were heavily pregnant upon arrival, and the animals were kept in extremely poor environments once they reached Kovacs' residence. The conditions included cramped cages with minimal light, surrounded by hazards, and with little regard for the animals' health or well-being. The court heard that Kovacs failed to seek veterinary advice, despite the evident health issues faced by the animals, and attempted to conceal his activities by using accounts and addresses registered in other people's names. It was clear that if he had applied for a breeding license, he would not have been granted one, given the neglectful and hazardous conditions he maintained.

The investigation uncovered that Kovacs had imported pregnant dogs and puppies into the UK, keeping them in confined spaces within his property in Kingswood. The charges stemmed from a visit to an address on Stanley Road, Warmley, Bristol, on June 29, 2021, where authorities found seven animals living in dire circumstances. The severity of his misconduct was compounded by a prior Criminal Behaviour Order issued against him in 2016, which was related to illegal activities involving the trading and keeping of dogs.

The authorities' intervention was prompted by links between Kovacs and the importation of five dogs in poor condition in 2019. A subsequent search of his property in Warmley revealed dogs confined within a shipping container, kept in squalid and unsanitary conditions. During the search, officers and a veterinarian entered the container, which was locked at the time. Inside, they found seven dogs housed in four cages at the rear of the container, with an additional larger cage near the entrance that was empty. Kovacs claimed this was where a Rottweiler was kept. The cages measured approximately 108cm wide, 74cm high, and 76cm deep, but contained no food, water, or bedding.

The interior of the container was dark, with a strong smell of feces and urine. The ventilation was poor, with only one small window slightly open and two others covered with wood panels. The floor was scattered with rat bait, and there were multiple holes where the walls met the floor. The dogs found inside exhibited infections in their ears and eyes, suffering but ultimately treatable, and all survived. Kovacs did not comment when questioned about the conditions.

Defense attorney Matthew Comer highlighted Kovacs' personal circumstances, noting that he is a married father of three with mild learning difficulties and struggles with literacy in both Hungarian and English. Comer explained that Kovacs had attempted to find legitimate ways to support his family, which included his wife, who suffers from regular seizures. Despite the hardships, all rescued dogs were rehabilitated and returned to health.

In sentencing, Kovacs received a 24-month prison sentence, which was suspended for 21 months. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. A ten-year Criminal Behaviour Order was imposed, prohibiting him from any future involvement in the importation, sale, advertising, or distribution of animals. The order also restricts him to owning only two domestic pets, which must be microchipped and photographed, and he is required to inform the local authority if he moves house.

Further complicating his case, Kovacs' son, Antonio Ronaldo Emillio Kovacs, born on January 17, 2002, and residing at 46 Stanley Road, Warmley, was convicted in October 2021 of similar cruelty charges. Police found 13 dogs living in squalid conditions at the Rangeworthy Court Country House Hotel in South Gloucestershire. Antonio Kovacs received a 15-week suspended jail term and a ten-year ban on owning animals, underscoring a troubling pattern of animal cruelty within the family.