WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT A court heard 38 dogs were found at a three-bedroom house in Cardiff with conditions so filthy police officers and local authority workers were left vomiting
WARNING: Distressing images are included in this article.
A puppy farm housing nearly 40 dogs in appalling conditions was uncovered at a three-bedroom semi-detached property. The state of the home, which was smeared with excrement and urine, caused police officers and council workers to be physically sick.
Turan Kiran, 48, was residing in the filthy house alongside 38 dogs who were suffering from various health problems after the property had become saturated with urine and faeces. Cetin Kiral, 34, was responsible for one of the animals, which was registered to him, and suffered with health issues due to being covered in faeces and urine.
A trial at Cardiff Crown Court previously heard police were called to the house in Cardiff on March 19, 2023, after they received a call from someone who claimed they could “smell a dead body” coming from the property.
However, when officers arrived, they could hear extensive barking and a pungent stench of excrement wafting from within, reports Wales Online.
Officers attempted to push open the door at the house in Glyndwr Road, Ely, but someone inside yanked it closed. The door was then allowed to open and the person inside was Kiran, who informed the officers he had a “couple of dogs inside”.
However, when the officers entered the property, they had to retreat because of the overwhelming reek of dog excrement and urine, which made them feel nauseous.
Kiran claimed there were 20 dogs in the house, and admitted he did not have a dog breeding licence. In the living room, officers discovered 15 young dogs, predominantly French bulldogs, crammed together in confined quarters.
Prosecutor Lee Reynolds described how dog faeces was smeared up the walls, whilst Kiran’s bed was also covered in the substance. The barrister added: “The putrid conditions made officers want to feel sick. They reported having burning eyes because of the urine which was all over the floor.”
The dogs’ paws were burning due to the amount of urine covering the floors throughout the property, and they appeared to struggle breathing because of the pungent smell or urine, and had issues with their eyes.
Mr Reynolds added: “(Kiran) was living in the hell that must have been 34 Glyndwr Road. We say he was nothing more than the caretaker, if this was a drug case he would have been the gardener. Living in that property must have been hell, not just the dogs more importantly, but Turan.”
Other areas of the house had been left in appalling conditions, with clothing damp with urine and an armchair torn to shreds. A fridge freezer in the living room contained a pack of fish. The property’s walls were damaged with scratch marks.
Seven additional dogs were found in the kitchen, whilst a fridge freezer was discovered to contain four dead puppies, alongside dog food and meat.
In the front bedroom, officers discovered more puppies, aged between three and six months, with three appearing to have problems with their eyes. The floor was drenched in urine and it seemed the puppies had been kept there for a considerable period.
Officers were worried about an animal behind a closed door, and when they forced it open, several dogs rushed out. Two dogs cowering in the corner appeared unwell, with one having lumps over their eyes.
Mr Reynolds said a total of 38 dogs were discovered at the property and Kiran was arrested.
Council workers attended the neighbouring house, with some becoming physically sick due to the overwhelming stench. A veterinary surgeon also reported feeling nauseous. One of the dogs was pregnant and went into labour whilst officers were present.
Mr Reynolds described the overall conditions as “extremely poor” and an “unfit environment”. He said: “That’s not in doubt in this case. It wasn’t fit for animals or human habitation. Seventeen dogs were suffering and experiencing pain.”
Kiran admitted to 17 counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, whilst Kiral pleaded guilty to one count of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Describing Kiral’s alleged involvement, Mr Reynolds said: “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.”
The court heard seven of the dogs were microchipped, five of which were registered to Kiral. One of the dogs was discovered with a wound to his nose, partly healed and ulcerated. The animal also had an infection in his ear, his fur was matted with dog faeces and his feet were painful from standing in urine.
Mitigating at a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday, David Rees said his client Kiran lived in squalid conditions and gained nothing from the enterprise. He said the defendant was “completely overwhelmed” by the number of dogs in the property and did not have the wherewithal to deal with the issues the animals had.
William Bebb, for Kiral, said his client did not seek to educate himself in terms of dog breeding and had shown a “lack of inconsequential thinking”. He said the defendant no longer wishes to participate in dog breeding again.
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 was sentenced to 18 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. He was ordered to carry out a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 150 hours unpaid work.
Kiral was sentenced to nine weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. He was ordered to carry out a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 120 hours unpaid work. Kiral was also ordered to repay £27,000, the sum he profited from the operation, along with £20,000 in court costs.
