EMILY MATTHEWS CONVICTED IN BELPER FOR UNLICENSED DOG BREEDING AND PET PROFITEERING

Emily Jade Matthews, born in October 1997 and residing at The Bent, Jacksons Lane, Heage, Belper DE56 2AA, was convicted in 2022 for engaging in unlicensed dog breeding and pet profiteering. Matthews, who is pictured with her fiancé and co-director of Brook Working Dogs, Chad Brooks, was involved in advertising puppies for sale at high prices despite not possessing the required licences.

As co-director of Brook Working Dogs Ltd trading as Dog Training B.W.D., Matthews posted advertisements for puppies of various breeds on the Pets 4 Homes website over a period of 12 months, from August 2020 to August 2021. Although qualified to breed and train dogs, she was not licensed to sell them. Her online advertisements were made on behalf of herself and associated third parties, even though she was not paid for these postings.

At a court hearing held on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, Matthews changed her plea from not guilty to guilty on a single charge of carrying out activity without a licence under the Animal Welfare Act. Prosecutor Annabel Lenton explained that Matthews, while working for Brook Working Dogs and licensed for activities like scanning, microchipping, and breeding, posted multiple advertisements for puppies, including border collies and blue whippets, for sale, citing the receipt of money for these transactions.

Following public complaints, authorities acted on these advertisements. On September 11, 2020, a member of the public contacted Amber Valley Borough Council, prompting a letter sent to Matthews on September 28, 2020, informing her of the licensing requirements for advertising or selling puppies. However, no response was received.

Further complaints were made on April 19, 2021, after advertisements for self-bred fox red Labrador puppies and border collies appeared, with these animals valued at approximately £10,800 collectively. Lenton stated, “She did receive money for both litters. Further adverts were then found for a German Shepherd and a part-trained sheepdog, which was for sale for £6,000.” Despite a subsequent guidance letter from the council on April 1, 2021, Matthews failed to respond.

Additional advertisements appeared for German Shepherd puppies not owned by Matthews and for Labrador puppies valued at £4,200, advertised on June 8, 2021. An RSPCA inspection of the Brook Working Dogs site found multiple puppies on sale both on their website and on Pets 4 Homes, all being advertised by Matthews. Importantly, no animal welfare issues were identified at the site, and no charges related to mistreatment were brought.

Defense lawyer John Last argued that Matthews was unaware she needed a licence and claimed her advertisements for friends and associates were “out of kindness.” He emphasized that “dogs are her whole life” and noted her role working with German shepherds on a national and international level. Last added, “She was not told she needed to be licensed in the council’s letters, which she ignored. She explained that she did not receive payment for her administrative role, which involved assisting others with puppy sales. She did not do it for money, but because her entire life revolves around dogs.”

District Judge Jonathan Taaffe stated, “I do have to say I believe Matthews knew exactly what she was doing and deliberately ignored correspondence from the council, continuing these activities.” He also noted the absence of animal welfare concerns and focused the sentence on the unlicensed activity itself.

Matthews was fined £1,000, ordered to pay £1,267 in costs, and a £100 victim surcharge. Although the prosecution requested a disqualification order from keeping or working with dogs, Judge Taaffe did not impose such a ban, citing the lack of animal welfare issues.

This case highlights ongoing efforts to regulate dog breeding practices and protect animal welfare in Derbyshire.