A COURT has been shown ‘disgusting and filthy’ video footage of 30 poodles that were being kept in severely substandard conditions on a farm near Haverfordwest.

The dogs were being kept by Alison Denise Silk, at her home on Rath Farm, Camrose, and were:

• Matted in faeces;
• Malnourished;
• Forced to sleep on urine-soaked rugs;
• Deprived of water and
• Suffered severe dental problems.

“Each of these 30 poodles were being kept in appalling conditions,” District Judge Mark Layton said when passing judgement on Alison Silk at Haverfordwest Magistrates court this week.

“They were kept in absolutely filthy conditions, their teeth were in a severe dental state, their eyelids were matted and so was their fur. These dogs were suffering, and had been suffering for six months.”

The court was told that an RSPCA officer and a Pembrokeshire County Council dog warden visited Rath Farm on September 4, 2023..

“Alison Silk allowed them to enter her property and the officers immediately noticed a smell of faeces and urine,” explained solicitor Fenn Richards, who was prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA.

“A large number of dogs were found in the kitchen, and all were heavily matted. More were found in cages in the conservatory, which was hot, and there were large amounts of faeces which had been trodden into the floor and their bedding was soiled.”

The officers discovered more poodles in two runs situated in the garden.

Eight dogs were found in the first run and five in the second however Ms Richards stated that they were not being kept for commercial purposes. The cages and garden were also heavily covered in faeces and the cages were without food and water.

“The animals were being kept in an environment where there was no adequate nutrition, no drinking water, no proper veterinary treatment and no parasitic treatment,” continued Ms Richards.

“They couldn’t live in normal conditions because of the large number of dogs that was living both inside and outside the property.”

Ms Richards said that of the 30 poodles recovered from Rath Farm, 23 were deemed to have suffered as a result of inadequate nutrition and prolonged neglect and five had severe dental disease requiring tooth extractions.

Each of the dogs were subsequently removed from the property and are now being cared for by the RSPCA. Following a question by District Judge Mark Layton, Ms Richards confirmed that all dogs have survived.

Video footage and photographs were shown to District Judge Mark Layton which displayed the filthy conditions inside the property. The RSPCA officer could be heard saying, ‘This is pretty disgusting.”

Some of the water bowls displayed green or yellowing water and the flooring was thickly covered in dog faeces. Some of the matted and malnourished poodles were seen moving towards the officers, barking loudly.

As Alison Silk, 67, watched the videos, she was seen wiping her eyes.

She pleaded guilty to three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and an additional charge of not taking steps to ensure the needs of her 30 poodles were met. She was legally unrepresented in court.

“I don’t have a solicitor because I’ve done wrong,” she said in mitigation. “I’ll take any punishment because I know I’ve let my dogs down badly.

“I’ve been breeding and training dogs since I was 16 and I’ve had a dog at my side since I was 12.

“But in the months leading up to the RSPCA visit, I lost several family members, including my older brother who brought me up, and it all got too much.”
Alison Silk went on to say that at the time of the offence she was suffering from leg ulcers, a broken collar bone, broken ribs and muscle trauma to her shoulder after falling off a ladder.

“I let my dogs down and I’m really sorry,” she continued. “Living without them is my punishment and I would never, ever have put them through what I did if I had been well.

“Being without a dog is going to be really hard.”

Alison Silk was sentenced to 26 weeks in custody suspended for 12 months.

She was ordered to pay £10,300 in costs to the RSPCA and a £134 court surcharge. She was disqualified from keeping, dealing and transporting animals for ten years.