TWO men have been fined more than �9,000 in the council's first welfare prosecution after puppies were found abandoned, living in their faeces.
Brother-in-laws Umar Shaid Hamid Choudhry and Arshad Khaliq, of Martin Road, Slough, pleaded not guilty to two offences under section 9 and section 32 (2) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
They were found guilty at Reading Magistates' Court on Tuesday last week after failing to provide seven puppies in their care with a suitable environment and failing to protect them from pain, suffering injury and disease in June, last year.
Following the three-day trial, Choudhry was banned from keeping dogs for five years and fined �7,200 with a �15 victim surcharge.
Arshad Khaliq was banned from keeping dogs for three years, fined �2,400 and ordered to pay a �15 victim surcharge.
The charges came after council officers found seven, three-month-old American Bulldog/Staffy cross puppies in a semi-derelict house in Upton Court Road.
The puppies were found in 'squalid' conditions where they were made to live, eat and sleep in their own excrement, with no access to water, on concrete floors. One of the puppies had to be put down with the remaining six taken into the possession of Slough Borough Council.
Ian Blake, prosecuting officer for Slough Borough Council, said: "Finding the puppies in such a squalid state was heartbreaking and only discovered because neighbours complained.
"We are extremely pleased with the result and hope it sends a clear message to anyone who owns, or is thinking of owning a pet, to make sure they understand the needs of the animal and to meet these." All six dogs have since been found a new home.
Commissioner for community and leisure, Cllr Shafiq Chaudhry, said: "It is a sorry state of affairs when people treat another living creature with such contempt." To report any animal welfare concerns, call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.
