CONVICTED (2025) | puppy farm dealer Julie Taylor, born 8 July 1983, of 27 David Dale Avenue, Stewarton, Kilmarnock KA3 3AX – sold dogs riddled with disease from her council house.

Scottish SPCA investigators raided the home Julie Taylor shares with partner Jim Cooper (not prosecuted) and found 16 petrified dogs of different breeds in a filthy toilet covered in dog waste. It is believed the puppies were transported to Scotland from puppy farms in Ireland.

The charity was alerted by an off-duty police officer whose cockapoo puppy, Marley, had to be euthanised three days after being bought from Taylor. The tiny pup was suffering from deadly parvovirus and was too unwell to be saved.

Taylor sold puppies on websites like Pets4Homes , telling potential customers that they were the offspring of her family’s pet. She also allowed other unscrupulous puppy sellers to use her home as a ‘front’ for their illicit business.

Taylor’s sales methods were described by an SSPCA inspector as “straight out of the handbook for puppy farm shop fronts”.

Believing she was buying a puppy from a woman called ‘Jackie’, Marley’s owner went to the property in Stewarton to view the dog. Alarm bells started ringing after she noticed a foul odour at the property but she went ahead with the sale, transferring £800 to Taylor’s bank account.

Sadly, the “frail” puppy started coughing up traces of blood after being taken to a home. He was taken to a vet who diagnosed parvo virus.

The buyer went straight to Stewarton to confront ‘Jackie’ but came face to face with Julie Taylor.

The buyer said: “I was really upset but I was also angry and I was determined to stop the same thing happening to other families.

“I went straight from the vet to Stewarton along with a friend and by the time I got there another couple had turned up at the door to buy another dog. I advised them to clear out because my dog had been diagnosed with parvo.”

Claiming that ‘Jackie’ was her sister, Taylor agreed to refund the £800 and agreed to pay the vet’s bill of £1200.

The buyer said: “I didn’t say what I did for a living but I told her to go ahead and call whoever she liked, as I was doing everything I was entitled to – including calling the SSPCA.”

Another buyer responded to an online advert in December 2023 on the site ‘Pets4Home’, which listed King Charles Cavalier Spaniel puppies for sale. The advert claimed the puppies were microchipped and vet checked.

A Scottish SPCA inspector reported: “The buyer met Taylor, who handed over the puppy described as the last available.

“The witness immediately noted that the animal emitted a strong odour, appeared lethargic and frightened, and had a visibly distended stomach.

“When questioned, Taylor was unable to provide clear answers about the puppy’s age or details about its mother.

“Within a day of purchase, the puppy’s health deteriorated rapidly. A veterinary examination revealed the puppy was significantly younger than claimed – approximately eight-weeks-old rather than 10 – and suffering from a respiratory infection.

“The puppy had not been microchipped and showed signs of poor care consistent with having come from a puppy farm.

“The puppy was prescribed antibiotics and probiotics, but her condition worsened. Further veterinary treatment identified potential lung and ear infections, as well as internal parasites.

“Vets noted that the animal’s suffering could have been avoided with proper health protocols and concluded the conditions were consistent with those found in illegal puppy farms.”

Summoned to court, Taylor admitted neglecting 16 puppies of varying breeds, and selling them without a licence and at her home between July 2023 and March 2024.

While responsible for the 16 puppies, she failed to take steps to ensure the needs of the animals were met from December 19, 2023 to March 27, 2024 at her home and elsewhere.

She failed to keep the puppies in good bodily condition and also separated them from their mothers.

She also failed to provide them with suitable and hygienic living conditions, failed to provide a suitable and hygienic feeding environment, and failed to provide suitable hygienic bedding areas.

Taylor also admitted failing to provide adequate enrichment to encourage them to display normal behaviours and failing to ensure that they were provided vet treatment or adequate protection against disease.

Not guilty pleas were accepted regarding 20 further allegations.

Taylor’s lawyer Graeme Cunningham conceded that his client was the front of an “abhorrent” puppy farm operation, where dogs were mistreated before being sold on for large amounts of cash.

He added that Taylor had found herself in debt to criminals who masterminded the operation and was repaying the majority of her sordid profits to them.

He said: “This is a puppy farm in a council estate in Stewarton. It is a trade that the vast majority of decent people would think to be abhorrent.”

The lawyer admitted that Taylor had been overwhelmed by the pups and was unable to care for them – despite having two dogs of her own that were allowed to sleep in her own bed.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Morag Fraser said she would show mercy to Taylor for her good previous record but passed the most serious alternative available to her.

She said: “I have to think of animal protection. The condition of these dogs was awful and they must have suffered a great deal.”

Taylor is now to face a Proceeds of Crime investigation and could have thousands of pounds clawed back.

Speaking after the sentencing hearing, an SSPCA inspector said the case highlights the “distressing consequences” of the illegal puppy trade.

They added: “Puppies raised in unlicensed, unregulated environments often suffer serious illness or even death due to early separation from their mothers, lack of proper care, and exposure to parasites.

“We receive frequent complaints from buyers whose new puppies are seriously ill shortly after purchase. Many sellers use online platforms while posing as private individuals to avoid scrutiny.

“The financial and emotional burden placed on unsuspecting buyers is huge, and there can also be serious health risks to humans from infections such as roundworms.

“We are satisfied with the sentencing outcome, as this individual played a significant role in the illegal and unethical puppy trade. The sentence sends a clear message to others engaged in this type of activity.

“The scale of suffering in cases like this is unacceptable and avoidable. Stronger deterrents are needed to combat the illegal puppy trade and protect both animals and the public.”

Sentencing | 18-month community order with 240 hours of unpaid work; five-month tagging order. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years.