Puppy farm pair sentenced after 38 dogs found in filth

Two men have been sentenced after 38 dogs were discovered living in appalling conditions at a Cardiff house that left police officers physically sick.

Turan Kiran, 48, and Cetin Kiral, 34, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court following the discovery at a property in Glyndwr Road, Ely, on 19th March 2023.

Officers were initially called to the semi-detached house after someone reported they could “smell a dead body” coming from the property. When police arrived, they heard extensive barking and detected a powerful smell of faeces. Kiran initially claimed he had just a “couple of dogs inside”, but later admitted there were actually 20 animals in the house.

The reality was even worse – 38 dogs were found crammed into the three-bedroom property. The living room alone contained 15 young dogs, mainly French bulldogs, living in extremely close quarters. Dog faeces was smeared up the walls, and even Kiran’s own bed was covered in the substance.

Prosecutor Lee Reynolds told the court the putrid conditions made officers want to be sick, with many reporting burning eyes from the urine covering the floors. The dogs’ paws were being burnt by the amount of urine they were standing in, and several appeared to struggle breathing due to the pungent smell.

“(Kiran) was living in the hell that must have been 34 Glyndwr Road,” Mr Reynolds said. “Living in that property must have been hell, not just the dogs more importantly, but Turan.”

Seven more dogs were discovered in the kitchen, where a horrific find awaited – a fridge freezer containing four dead puppies alongside dog food and meat. Upstairs, nine puppies just weeks old were curled up in a plastic container, separated from their mother who was kept in a cage below them.

Local authority workers who attended the scene were so overwhelmed by the stench that some were physically sick. One dog was even found to be pregnant and began giving birth whilst officers were present.

In total, 17 dogs were found to be suffering and experiencing pain. The prosecutor described the overall conditions as “extremely poor” and an “unfit environment”, adding: “It wasn’t fit for animals or human habitation.”

Kiran pleaded guilty to 17 counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, whilst Kiral admitted one count relating to a dog registered to him that was covered in faeces and urine, with a wound to his nose and an ear infection.

The court heard that seven dogs were microchipped, with five registered to Kiral. Mr Reynolds suggested those at the top of the enterprise had distanced themselves from the property, saying: “These were expensive valuable dogs and prized assets. Those at the top of the enterprise had to distance themselves from the house and they didn’t want to sleep in the dog poo.”

David Rees, defending Kiran, said his client lived in squalid conditions himself and gained nothing from the enterprise. He had been “completely overwhelmed” by the number of dogs and lacked the ability to deal with their health issues.

William Bebb, representing Kiral, said his client had shown a “lack of inconsequential thinking” and no longer wished to participate in dog breeding.

Sentencing, Judge Shomon Khan said: “Neither of you were in the business of trying to harm these dogs, you were not deliberately cruel, but that’s exactly what happened because of the state of the affairs at those premises.”

Kiran received 18 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, along with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 150 hours unpaid work.

Kiral was handed nine weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 120 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay back £27,000 – the amount he benefited from the enterprise – plus £20,000 in court costs.