News
Five year ban for man with lice riddled puppies
MAGISTRATES at Haverfordwest Law Court have imposed a five year ban from keeping animals on a 27-year-old man who sold puppies that were riddled with lice.
Timothy Dean Lovell, of The Hills Caravan Park of Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and failing to ensure that the needs of an animal were kept.
John Tarrant, who was prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said: “On November 22, 2016 Katherine Press responded to Gumtree advert for a Springer Spaniel.
“The seller was a person named Timmy, and contact was to be made by text, and she had done so. She attended and spoke to a person called Michelle, and was taken to a shed at the rear of the property.
“She chose a puppy that she called Bella – no papers were provided, and she was told that everything had been done at the vets. She put puppy in a vest to travel, and thought she saw what looked like sawdust on its coat, but it appeared to be moving.
“She immediately contacted her vets, who described her as quiet and bordering on depressed, with an infestation of biting lice. The vet said that it was the worst infestation he had witnessed since becoming a vet, and it was likey the puppy had been suffering sicne birth, which would have been 2-5 weeks.”
The court heard that Ms Press said the puppy was suffering with malnutrition, and had a heart condition. She wrapped the puppy in a dressing gown before going to bed, and in the morning the dressing gown was covered in ‘hundreds of dead lice’.
Bella’s condition ‘quickly resolved itself’.
Mr Tarrant said: “She phoned [Lovell] to say she wasn’t happy with the condition of Bella. He seemed shocked at the condition of the puppy, and offered to swap it with another one – she refused that.
“He made contact with the vets, and agreed to return £100 into her bank account.”
The court also heard that in January this year, Ms Becky Rates was looking for a puppy for her mother, and she too found an advert on Gumtree’s website. She paid a £100 deposit and drove to Lovell’s address.
Mr Tarrant said: “[Lovell] waved them down and she was handed a box with a puppy inside. She noticed immediately what she thought was a skin condition, however £250 in cash was given.
“During the journey back home she noticed the puppy’s skin was dry with flakes, fleas with scabs on its skin. Lovell said he had been given wormer by the RSPCA, but box puppy had came in smelt dirty.
“She was immediately concerned about the safety of the puppy. The puppy had been scratching itself near the ears.”
The court heard that when the puppy was re-examined in 2017, it had made a ‘remarkabe transformation’, and had a shiny coat, no pot belly, a bright demeanour, and a 59% increase in body weight.
Mr Tarrant said that Lovell claimed he had gone to Pets At Home and bought flea and wormer, stating he didn’t think anything was particularly wrong. He said: “They were accidental litters, and denied it was to make money.”
In Lovell’s defence, Jane Thomas told the court that he did not deliberately set out to hurt the animals, and wasn’t prepared for family dog to have so many puppies, and he ‘didn’t really know how to care for them’.
In addition to being banned from keeping animals, he was also made subject to a 12 month community order, with the requirement of completing 150 hours of unpaid work.
Keith Hogben, RSPCA inspector, said: “Sadly, this man chose to make a quick buck from ill pups – flogging these two defenceless creatures when they urgently needed his support.
“The man chose cash over compassion, but thankfully both pups have recovered from the ordeal, and are now doing well in loving new homes.
“Owning animals is a privilege, and this case shows the RSPCA will not stand-by when people treat breeding pets as a cash bonus without necessary regard for the welfare of the animals involved.”
Crime
Police appeal for information after several tractors stolen
POLICE officers in Pembrokeshire investigating a theft from several tractors, which happened overnight between April 17-18, 2024.
The tractors had been in a field near to Loch Turfin, Haverfordwest.
Included in the stolen items were vehicle keys, tools and waterproof clothing.
A spokesperson said “Police are now appealing for anyone with information that could help them with their investigation to contact PC 772 Boyt either through a direct message on social media, online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected] or by calling 101.
“Quote reference: 24*355571”
Community
Pembrokeshire firefighters help deliver fire engines to Ukraine
FIRE services from across the United Kingdom have rallied together to donate vital firefighting equipment to Ukraine, amidst ongoing conflicts that have seen local fire stations and firefighters come under direct attack.
The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) was at the forefront of this international goodwill effort, donating three fire appliances and dispatching nine of their personnel to ensure safe delivery.
The initiative, coordinated by Fire Aid UK, involved a total of 11 UK fire services. Over a grueling 5.5-day journey that spanned several countries—starting from Kent Fire and Rescue Service and moving through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and into Poland—33 fire appliances were transported to a location just 20 miles from the Ukraine border. They left Kent on April 23.
This convoy, laden with not just fire engines but also 3000 items of critical firefighting gear including cutting equipment, fire hoses, first aid kits, and generators, was a sight of resilience and humanitarian commitment. Watch Manager Rob MakePeace, a Business Fire Safety Officer, and Watch Manager Keith Jenkins, who is retired but still oversees part-time personnel at Haverfordwest, played pivotal roles in the operation from Pembrokeshire.
Speaking on the experience, Keith Jenkins expressed the profound impact of the mission, “It was a fantastic experience to be involved in. The convoy itself was an amazing sight, but the people we met, places we stayed and the reason we were delivering the appliances was something we will remember for a long time.”
The donation comes at a critical time for Ukraine, where daily attacks have not only jeopardized the lives of local firefighters but have also devastated much of the essential infrastructure needed to fight fires effectively. The additional appliances and equipment from the UK are expected to significantly bolster the capabilities of the Ukrainian fire departments, providing them with the necessary tools to save lives and protect property under dire circumstances.
This act of generosity and the strenuous efforts by the UK firefighters underscore a deep commitment to aiding those in peril, transcending borders and showcasing the best of international cooperation and humanitarian assistance.
News
Protest outside Stephen Crabb’s office over Rwanda deportations
SUPPORTERS of West Wales Stand Up to Racism group will attend a protest outside the office of Stephen Crabb MP in Market Street at 6pm on Tuesday evening (May 7).
The protest is to highlight the inhumane scheme to send refugees to Rwanda.
Since the Rwanda Bill was finally passed last week, refugees have already been identified, detained and are being prepared to be flown to Rwanda to have their asylum claims processed there.
Rushi Sunak has said “To detain people while we prepare to remove them, we’ve increased detention spaces to 2,200.
“To quickly process claims, we’ve got 200 trained, dedicated caseworkers ready and waiting. To deal with any legal cases quickly and decisively, the judiciary has made available 25 courtrooms and identified 150 judges who could provide over 5,000 sitting days.”
The protestors are asking: why is all this money being spent when these vulnerable people could have their asylum claims dealt with in the UK?
If the Prime Minister hoped his Rwanda plan would help get more votes for the Conservative Party in the recent elections, it would appear he was mistaken.
A new report from the Refugee Council warns that the UK Government’s flagship Illegal Migration Act and Rwanda Plan will lead to another catastrophic “system meltdown”, trapping over 100,000 people in permanent limbo while costing taxpayers billions.
West Wales Stand Up to Racism has campaigned against the Government’s plan to send refugees to Rwanda from the time this scheme was first suggested.
Supporters have previously met with Simon Hart MP and attempted to deliver a giant postcard to his office.
The group has taken part in the online Hands in Protest project organised by Artisan Avenue, Tenby which allowed everyone to express on line how they felt about Rwanda by submitting drawings of their own hands. The collective Hands In Protest gives a powerful message that the Rwanda plan should be stopped.
The organisers said: “Supporters will be once more taking the giant postcard on Tuesday, to protest about the Rwanda scheme. We will have small post cards for supporters to write messages to Stephen Crabb, telling him how strongly we feel about this.
“All over the UK, anti-racists are picketing Home Office buildings to show their opposition to the Rwanda scheme and are trying to prevent arrests and giving support to the refugees being arrested and detained.
“West Wales Stand Up to Racism supporters want to make their voices heard too.”
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