LISA CANNING'S PUPPY FARM SCANDAL IN ABERTHAW AND WALES REVEALED

Lisa Canning, a notorious dog breeder and puppy farm operator from Aberthaw, has been convicted of multiple charges related to her illegal and unethical practices in the dog breeding industry. Born in August 1967, Canning resided at Railway Cottages in East Aberthaw, Barry, with the postal code CF62 3DA, where her illicit activities were initially based.

She managed a dog breeding enterprise known as 4 Small Paws and was the sole director of the company LJC Kennels. Prosecutors revealed that her business was originally situated at Railway Cottages but later moved to Mount Pleasant Farm, an address that was not licensed for such operations. Canning advertised a variety of dogs, including a crossbreed called a cockapoo, which she falsely claimed contained cocker spaniel genetics, despite it not being the case.

Between 2016 and 2017, Canning operated under the name 4 Small Paws, generating approximately £50,000 from the sale of numerous puppies. She admitted to four counts of fraud and one charge of engaging in unfair commercial practices. The court heard that Canning, although a licensed breeder, exceeded her permitted number of animals and supplied puppies to puppy farms located in west Wales, often misrepresenting their genetic backgrounds.

Her operations spanned from East Aberthaw to Castle-upon-Alun, where she sold dogs under false pretenses, claiming they had full vaccination records and medical histories. Many of these animals, including breeds such as cockapoos, cocker spaniels, chocolate Labradors, cavapoos, pugs, and Scottish terriers, were either bred in breach of her licensing conditions or sourced from unknown locations. She advertised her dogs extensively on platforms like Gumtree, with a total of 266 advertisements.

One notable case involved a customer who paid £650 for what was supposed to be a purebred cockapoo. A DNA test later revealed that the dog contained no cocker spaniel genetics. Similarly, another buyer who purchased a dog believed to be a Labrador discovered through a DNA test that the animal was a mix of 50% cocker spaniel, 37% Labrador, and 12% golden retriever, after paying £750.

Her business was described as chaotic, with authorities unable to determine the exact number of puppies she bred. However, estimates suggest she made around £50,000 from over 100 puppies sold. Several dogs, including a dog named Bailey, were rescued from her operations and placed in the care of Welsh welfare charity Hope Rescue. The rescue efforts aimed to save animals from her greed-driven practices.

During her court appearance, Canning claimed she was going through a difficult divorce and was struggling to cope. Nonetheless, Judge Thomas Crowther condemned her, stating that her business was essentially a front for puppy farms. The judge emphasized the emotional harm caused, especially to children, who are often vulnerable to such manipulative practices.

As part of her sentencing, Canning received a 30-week prison sentence, which was suspended for two years. She was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay costs and compensation totaling £50,000. Her breeding license was revoked in May 2017, and she is now permanently barred from legally holding a dog breeding license in Wales, effectively ending her ability to operate legally in the industry.