WEDNESBURY BACKYARD BREEDER CARL PRICE SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC ANIMAL CRUELTY IN SQUALID HOME

Carl Kevin Price, a backyard breeder from Wednesbury, was found guilty in 2023 of severe animal welfare violations after authorities uncovered the deplorable conditions in which he kept his dogs. Born around 1974, Price resided at 69 Dorsett Road, Wednesbury WS10 0JF, where he maintained a total of 11 spaniels in an environment described as utterly filthy and neglectful.

Inspectors from the RSPCA arrived at Price’s residence to investigate reports of animal cruelty. What they discovered was a scene of unimaginable squalor and suffering. The interior of the home was overwhelmed by the stench of feces and urine, making it immediately clear that the animals had been living in neglect for an extended period.

Inside the front room, the inspector, Vicky Taylor, found a small dog crate containing a spaniel named Millie, along with four puppies, all of whom were covered in urine. The crate itself was soaked with urine and smeared with feces, with no bedding provided for the animals. In a tragic corner of the crate, a dead puppy was discovered, alongside four other puppies and an adult dog. The scene was a stark testament to the neglect and poor conditions in which these animals were kept.

Further inspection revealed two additional crates in the kitchen, stacked on top of each other, both equally filthy and covered in excrement. Inside these crates, a spaniel and three more puppies were found, all in a state of extreme dirtiness and discomfort. The animals’ fur was matted with feces and urine, indicating a lack of proper care and hygiene.

In the conservatory, the inspector observed floors and walls smeared with excrement, adding to the overall picture of neglect. A black and white spaniel named Misty was also found in a top crate, not the mother of the puppies, but kept in similarly appalling conditions with three young pups. All of these animals were wet, dirty, and covered in waste, highlighting the severity of the situation.

Vicky Taylor described the scene as horrific: “There was a strong smell of feces and urine as I walked through the front door. Inside the front room, there was a small dog crate with a spaniel named Millie, with four young pups all covered in urine. There was feces all over the crate which was wet with urine. There was no bedding and a dead pup in the corner of the crate. In the kitchen, which had feces all over and was extremely dirty, there were two more crates on top of one another, which were also extremely dirty. The dogs’ fur was matted with feces and urine. In the conservatory area, there was also excrement all over the floor and up the walls.”

Following the investigation, Carl Price faced court proceedings where he admitted to two animal welfare offences. The court sentenced him to a 12-month community order, which includes 15 days of rehabilitation activities. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £114 and costs amounting to £186. Importantly, Price was banned from keeping any animals for a period of three years, a restriction that will last until October 2026.

This case highlights the ongoing issues of backyard breeding and animal neglect in the Wednesbury area, raising awareness about the importance of animal welfare and the need for stricter enforcement of laws protecting vulnerable animals.