CHARLES SWAN: STIRLING PUPPY FARMER AND ANIMAL ABUSER SENTENCED IN SCOTLAND

Charles Swan, a notorious puppy farmer and serial animal abuser from Stirling, has been convicted for his involvement in the illegal and inhumane treatment of numerous dogs. Born in May 1945, Swan previously operated from Princess Street, Stirling FK8 1HQ, where he kept a disturbing number of neglected animals in deplorable conditions. His illegal breeding enterprise was characterized by severe neglect, with scores of dogs and puppies living in filth, deprived of basic necessities such as proper food, clean water, and veterinary care.

Investigations revealed that Swan was running an unlicensed pet shop, a violation of the Pet Animals Act (1951), and was responsible for causing unnecessary suffering to 57 animals. The animals were housed in makeshift enclosures, including shipping containers and prefab cabins, which were found to be filthy and infested. The conditions at his premises, Darnbogue Farm in Dunmore, Falkirk FK2 8RY, came under scrutiny after the Scottish SPCA executed a warrant in August 2011 following numerous complaints from concerned members of the public.

Many of the dogs, which included breeds such as Labradoodles, Rottweilers, and chocolate Labradors, were found in a state of neglect. Inspectors discovered animals suffering from infestations of mites, worms, and other parasites, with some so weak and dehydrated that they could not feed properly. Several puppies, aged between six and ten weeks, were also found in the squalid conditions, including breeds like Jack Russell, Cavalier King Charles, Bichon Frise, and Scotties. The inspectors uncovered a heartbreaking sight: the decomposing body of a Labrador partly eaten by other dogs, and a Rottweiler bitch with both ears torn off and an open wound across her head.

During the inspection, Swan allowed the authorities into his compound, which was described as a 'makeshift' setup primarily consisting of shipping containers and portacabins. The smell of stale dog feces was overwhelming. The facility housed 18 kennels with a total of 57 dogs of various breeds and ages, including seven Rottweilers, two Border Terriers, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a Border Collie, and a Labrador. Many of these animals were suffering from skin conditions and lice, having been left in their own filth without access to clean water or adequate food.

One particularly disturbing find was a dog with injuries consistent with dog fighting, which Swan dismissed by saying, “You don’t want to see this one.” The injuries, including torn ears and open wounds, pointed to severe abuse and neglect. The authorities also found a dog with a head wound that had become infected and infested with maggots, highlighting the extent of the cruelty inflicted upon these animals.

In March 2013, Swan, who was then a director of Scotstock Ltd (later Netherinch Ltd), pleaded guilty at Falkirk Sheriff Court to multiple charges. These included selling dogs without a license, keeping animals in filthy and inadequate conditions, and causing them unnecessary suffering by neglecting veterinary needs, food, and water. As a result, Swan was sentenced to eight months in jail and received a ten-year ban from owning or having contact with animals. His daughter, Robyn Swan, born October 1991, who owns a dog walking business called Pawsitive Canine Services Ltd, also faced charges but was found not guilty, with her plea accepted by the court.

It was not Swan’s first encounter with the law regarding animal cruelty. In 2006, authorities shut down another unlicensed kennels operation run from Woodside Farm, Touch, near Stirling, where over 30 dogs, including Old English Sheepdogs, St Bernards, Rottweilers, and Bullmastiffs, were found living in cramped, filthy cages. The conditions there were described by a veterinarian as the worst he had ever seen, with rat droppings, larvae-infested food, decaying offal, and animals lying in their own mess. The dogs were taken into local authority care, but Swan contested the court’s decision to sell or rehome them.

Following the 2011 case, SSPCA inspector Leanne McPake expressed her satisfaction with the sentencing, emphasizing the cruelty inflicted upon the animals. She highlighted the case of Lizzie, a Rottweiler with a severe head injury from suspected dog fighting, which was left untreated and became infected. Despite extensive veterinary care, Lizzie succumbed to her illness in September 2012. McPake described the case as one of the most harrowing she had ever dealt with, noting the profound impact on everyone involved. She also praised the efforts to rehome the dogs and provide them with the lives they deserved.

Charles Swan’s criminal activities have left a trail of suffering and neglect, culminating in his imprisonment and a decade-long ban from owning animals. His case underscores the importance of strict enforcement of animal welfare laws and the ongoing fight against illegal puppy farming and animal cruelty in Stirling and beyond.