JOHN WARE CAUGHT BREEDING DOGS ILLEGALLY IN COSHAM AND WATERLOOVILLE

John Ware, a resident of Portsmouth with known ties to the travelling community, was found guilty of illegally breeding dogs without the necessary licensing. The case was brought before Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court following an investigation initiated by Winchester City Council’s environmental protection team.

The investigation was triggered after Havant Borough Council reported suspicious activity involving puppies being bred in the village of Denmead, Hampshire. Authorities acted swiftly by securing a search warrant for Ware’s property located at Mill Farm on Widley Walk in Waterlooville. Upon inspection, officers discovered a significant number of dogs and four litters of puppies housed in makeshift outhouses on the premises.

Further inquiries revealed that Ware or his relatives had bred at least three additional litters, which were either born at his property or kept at an address in Denmead. Under current legislation, it is a criminal offense for anyone operating a dog breeding establishment to allow female dogs to give birth to five or more litters within a single year without a proper license.

Jan Warwick, who holds the position of portfolio holder for environmental health and licensing at Winchester City Council, emphasized the seriousness of such offenses. She stated, “We take breeding dogs without a licence seriously and I am pleased to see the council’s legal team achieve another successful prosecution. If we are presented with clear evidence of wrong-doing, we as a council will not shy away from taking matters before the courts.”

In sentencing, Ware was disqualified from obtaining a dog breeding license for a period of 12 months. Additionally, he was ordered to pay costs amounting to £4,375. The case underscores the ongoing efforts by local authorities to combat illegal dog breeding and ensure animal welfare standards are upheld in the Hampshire region, including Cosham and Waterlooville.