We vividly remember receiving the call for help from Shared Regulatory Services (SRS) at around 8 a.m. on 19 March 2023. Police had been called to a residential property in Ely, Cardiff after a member of the public reported what they believed to be the smell of a dead body. Tragically, the smell was caused by almost 40 dogs being kept in the most appalling conditions, with the property being used as an illegal puppy farm.

Five of our staff immediately gathered their PPE and headed out to support the police and local authority officers on the ground. What greeted us was nothing short of a horror show. Thirty eight dogs and puppies were crammed inside, and the entire property was covered in urine and faeces. Four dead puppies were found in a freezer. With each room we entered, the number of dogs kept increasing. The stench and burning in our eyes were overwhelming, and we repeatedly had to step outside just to catch our breath.

The dogs, predominantly French Bulldogs, were suffering from a myriad of health issues as a result of being deliberately bred for extreme characteristics to maximise profit. These extreme features included excessive facial folds and tight corkscrew tails, which had already caused painful infections that will now need to be closely monitored for the rest of the dogs’ lives. Many arrived with untreated ear infections and sore, inflamed skin.

Several of the dogs had cherry eye, a condition where the tear gland prolapses and requires surgery to correct. If left untreated, this can lead to chronic dry eye, which is extremely painful.

The majority of the dogs also required Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) surgery. Their nostrils were dangerously narrowed and excessive tissue needed to be removed from their soft palate to allow them to breathe more easily.

Among the many dogs we rescued was Lucas, who also suffered from entropion in both eyes. This painful condition, where the eyelashes turn inward and rub against the eye’s surface, required surgical correction.

We rescued every single dog from the puppy farm that day. We would like to pay tribute to our incredible team, who worked late into the night processing the dogs, juggling kennel spaces, settling them in, and ensuring those most in need received urgent veterinary treatment. The next phase began almost immediately - finding foster homes and starting their long road to recovery.

At the time, we were unable to speak publicly about where the dogs had come from due to the ongoing court case. Despite this, our wonderful supporters rallied around us and helped cover the enormous veterinary costs incurred as a result of this rescue. Francois, pictured below, was just one of those dogs. Thanks to your support, he was able to undergo surgery to remove painful skin folds and begin a brighter, healthier future.

Yesterday, Turan Kiran and Cetin Kiral were sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to protected animals. They received suspended sentences, with varying hours of rehabilitation activity and unpaid work. In addition, Kiral was ordered to pay £47,000. We strongly feel that these sentences do not reflect the profound suffering we witnessed, nor the huge efforts of the local authority in bringing this case to court. They do not act as a deterrent, nor do they deliver justice for the dogs. You can read more at the link in our bio.

However, we remain proud that once again we were able to support local authority enforcement work. Working alongside local authorities to close down puppy farms is both challenging and heartbreaking. We never know when a call will come, how many dogs will be involved, or the conditions we will face, but we never fail to do everything we can to help.

If you would like to be part of the story for dogs like Francois, please consider making a regular gift to support our lifesaving work. You can do so below: