A Conservative councillor ran an illegal puppy breeding farm and allegedly passed off a deaf cross-breed dog as a healthy American XL Bully pup, a court heard.

Quedgeley resident Alastair Chambers, 41, bred and sold dogs from his farm in Gloucester, and when police raided his home officers found more than 25 dogs in tunnels and kennels.

Gloucestershire Magistrates’ Court heard Chambers, who is a Gloucester City Council and Gloucestershire County Council councillor, has admitted two Animal Welfare Act offences of breeding and selling dogs without a licence.

Mark Jackson, prosecuting, told the court that in July 2020 Gloucester City Council received a report from a member of the public alleging unlicensed dog breeding and puppy sales.

The council wrote to Chambers and the police executed a search warrant finding 25 to 30 dogs inside three “poly tunnel” style structures.

Chambers was later warned by the council he must not operate as a dog breeder until he had a licence, the court heard.

Chambers, of Manor Way, Quedgeley, is standing trial accused of three fraud charges relating to the sale of a puppy called Casper to Shrece Share.

It is alleged Chambers sold the animal after placing an online advert offering for sale an American Bully XL puppy.

He allegedly told her it had been vaccinated and also gave her a vaccination card from a local vet.

The court heard that in May 2020 Ms Share’s boyfriend transferred £2,450 into Chambers’ bank account.

Mr Jackson said vaccination document purported to be from The Caldicott/Kingsway Veterinary Clinic and the dog had been vaccinated on a Sunday when the practice was closed.

The buyer later discovered the puppy was deaf and DNA tests showed it was in fact 75% Staffordshire Bull Terrier, 12.5% Akita and 12.5% Alaskan Malamute.


Giving evidence, Chambers accused the city council of being a “crooked council” for only pursuing a case against him and not others he had named – suggesting no-one was prosecuted for smuggling puppies into the country from Poland.

 

At the conclusion of the evidence, the judge said he would give his verdict on the three charges on June 30.