SCOURAND-BASED PUPPY FARM RUN BY SAMUEL RONALD HESSIN AND SAMUEL ARTHUR HESSIN SHUT DOWN AFTER HORRIFIC ABUSE CASE

In 2022, Samuel Ronald Hessin, born around 1976, and his son Samuel Arthur Hessin, born circa 2000, both of Balnamoon Farm, Crossroads, Keith AB55 6ND, were convicted for operating an illegal puppy farm where dozens of dogs suffered neglect and lived in deplorable conditions. The farm, located near Keith, was raided following complaints from the public, including one woman and her daughter who visited to view a puppy but declined to purchase due to its filthy appearance, then alerted authorities.

At the scene, nearly 60 dogs were seized during a joint operation involving the Scottish SPCA, Moray Council trading standards, and Police Scotland. With two pregnant dogs among them, the charity cared for a total of 78 dogs, many of which were suffering from diseases, infections, and injuries, prompting a charitable appeal for donations to support their ongoing care.

The animals were kept in squalid cages without adequate hydration, heat, or ventilation. Puppies lived in filthy environments, with some affected by E. coli, skin infections, and sores. Investigators later observed that one pregnant dog, who was pregnant with her third litter—a situation exceeding recommended breeding limits—died during labor, likely due to overbreeding. Many of the dogs showed signs of distress, wounds from fights, and poor health, including a two-year-old Staffie with a swollen neck and a large wound behind her ear.

The farm's operators, Samuel Sr and Jr, disguised their activities with fake names and multiple email addresses, advertising dogs as family pets or offspring, though they were imported from Northern Ireland. They listed over 100 dogs for sale on websites like Gumtree and Freeads, falsely claiming the animals were healthy, in good conditions, and bred in the family home.

Samuel Hessin Sr claimed to an SSPCA investigator that he believed he was meeting the animals' needs by providing food, water, and shelter, but acknowledged and admitted to cruelty charges, which included exposing puppies to unsanitary conditions, inadequate ventilation, and insufficient warmth and exercise. Notably, he admitted to selling or advertising more than 100 dogs without a license from December 2018 to September 2019, and possessing 56 dogs for sale on September 9, 2019.

Samuel Hessin Jr also pleaded guilty to charges of misleading trading practices and causing unnecessary suffering. Between June and September 2019, he failed to provide proper care for 56 dogs and 12 puppies, many suffering from diseases such as mange, and requiring surgical treatment for conditions like infected eyes and fractured teeth. He had used multiple aliases and email addresses to list over 100 dogs for sale, misleading buyers into believing they were purchasing family pets.

Other family members, Donna Hessin and Rachel Hessin, faced initial charges, but pleas of not guilty were accepted, and they were not prosecuted further. Many of the rescued dogs have since been rehomed. An SSPCA inspector highlighted the severe conditions, noting that many dogs suffered from wounds, skin, eye, and respiratory diseases, and that the environment was rife with urine, faeces, and poor ventilation, facilitating the spread of disease.

Tragically, one pregnant dog, overbred with her third litter, died during birth. The charity emphasized the need for lifetime bans on those operating puppy farms, with SSPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn stating, “Securing a conviction is a great result, but we believe anyone convicted of running a puppy farm should get a life ban on owning animals. Individuals prepared to put profit before welfare to an extent that dogs get seriously ill should not be allowed to keep animals.”

As for sentencing, Samuel Hessin Sr received 300 hours of unpaid work and an 18-month supervision order, along with a 10-year ban on owning dogs. The court also imposed a lifetime ban on keeping farm animals after findings of the deaths of over 100 calves at Balnamoon Farm in 2021. The farm was found to be in a terrible state, with dead calves strewn around and many suffering from pneumonia, ringworm, and neglect, with a significant shortage of feed and proper bedding. Hessin, 50, admitted to causing unnecessary suffering and failing to dispose of carcasses, with the court ordering he undertake community service and a 12-month curfew. The farm is now run by his son, and Hessin was warned against any future involvement with animals.

This case, dubbed Operation Delphin, underscores the ongoing fight against illegal puppy breeding and animal cruelty, highlighting authorities’ commitment to dismantling such exploitative operations and ensuring animal welfare.