DUNDEE PUPPY DEALER GETS COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR ILLEGAL TRADE
Jamie Colquhoun, aged 26 from Dundee, was convicted on 23 November for selling puppies without a license and for selling animals in a public car park.The Scottish SPCA's investigation led to her conviction.
An undercover inspector stated that Colquhoun continued to sell dogs despite not holding the required license.
Several of the puppies she sold, including a malshee and a morkie, shortly became ill after going to their new homes.
Tests showed these dogs had infections such as parvovirus, ear infections, kennel cough, worms, and diarrhea.
Colquhoun’s focus appeared to be profit rather than animal welfare, illustrating how the illegal puppy trade is often low-risk and high-reward.
She bred some of the puppies herself and trafficked most from Ireland, traveling by rail and ferry from Holyhead to Dublin, often at night, to source them.
She then posted advertisements online, such as on Gumtree, to sell the dogs at inflated prices.
For her actions, she received a 250-hour unpaid community payback order but no prison sentence and was not prohibited from owning animals.
The investigator commented, “While we are disappointed she was not banned from keeping animals, we are glad she was prosecuted.
There is a call for harsher sentencing, including longer jail terms, to better address animal abuse cases in Scotland.” Operation Delphin, a coalition of organizations including the Scottish SPCA, RSPCA, DSPCA, ISPCA, and USPCA, supported by HMRC, Police Scotland, and Stena Line, continues its efforts to shut down this cruel industry.
Anyone with information about illegal puppy trade can contact the animal helpline at 03000 999 999, with confidentiality assured.
