EBONY AND MIKE MEMBURY BUSTED IN DORCHESTER FOR ILLEGAL PET BREEDING AND SALES

Ebony Membury, born on May 20, 1999, and her father, Michael Membury, born on July 23, 1966, both residents of Windsor Road in Dorchester, have been convicted in 2024 for engaging in unlicensed breeding and the illegal sale of puppies and kittens. The duo’s activities, which spanned several years, involved the breeding, advertising, and selling of dogs and cats for profit without the necessary licenses, leading to a series of investigations and legal actions.

Starting in 2019, Ebony and Michael Membury began purchasing puppies from breeders across the UK, only to sell them later at a profit. Their operations expanded in 2021 when they started breeding dogs at their family home on Windsor Road. They also sourced kittens from a relative’s farm, which they then advertised online for sale. Despite their efforts to legitimize their activities, their practices remained illegal and unregulated.

In July 2020, Ebony Membury made an attempt to obtain a license by contacting Dorset Council. However, she failed to submit the correct paperwork and did not pay the required fee. She was warned about the potential legal consequences of continuing to breed and sell pets without proper licensing. Despite her assurances to the council that her intentions were lawful, both she and her father persisted in their illegal activities, breeding and selling dogs and cats without authorization.

By July 2023, concerns about their operations had grown. A couple responded to an online advertisement for a puppy and visited the Membury premises. They were appalled by the conditions they observed, which included puppies kept in cramped, unsanitary spaces. The couple reported seeing dogs in distress, howling and barking in a cupboard under the stairs, and three cats, two of which were confined in a cage. The visitors left without making a purchase and promptly contacted Dorset Council to report their findings.

Following this complaint, authorities took decisive action. In August 2023, officers from Dorset Council, accompanied by Dorset Police, a veterinary surgeon, and an RSPCA inspector, executed a search warrant at the Membury residence. The inspection uncovered multiple violations and evidence of illegal pet breeding and sales.

During the raid, authorities discovered two litters of puppies, specifically cockapoos and dachshunds, along with ten other dogs of various breeds kept in extremely confined conditions within a cupboard under the stairs. One dog was found wearing an anti-bark vibrating collar that had caused injury to her neck. The garden was littered with dog excrement, and a rabbit hutch in a deplorable state housed animals in poor conditions. They also found documents related to pet sales, including details of dogs’ names, breeding notes, customer information, deposits, pedigree papers, and vaccination records. Large sums of cash, believed to be proceeds from the illegal activity, were also seized.

Authorities issued an Immediate Improvement Notice, requiring the defendants to take steps to meet the animals’ welfare needs. Fortunately, the defendants complied with these directives, and no further welfare offences were prosecuted in court. It was estimated that the puppies were being sold for up to £2,000 each, highlighting the scale of the illegal enterprise.

Financial analysis of the Membury’s bank accounts revealed substantial income generated from their unlawful activities. Michael Membury received payments totaling approximately £68,333, while Ebony Membury’s account reflected around £45,575 from the sale of pets. During police interviews, Michael denied any involvement in breeding or selling puppies and kittens, despite the significant sums deposited into his bank account. Ebony admitted to sourcing puppies from breeders and selling them for profit, as well as breeding and selling puppies and kittens herself. She denied her father’s involvement, although she could not satisfactorily explain the large transfers of money between them.

Both defendants pleaded guilty to offences under section 13 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in court. The sentencing included a four-month tagging order and curfew for Michael Membury, who was also fined £120 for money laundering and ordered to forfeit £2,330 plus interest. Ebony Membury received a 21-month community order with 150 hours of community service. Additionally, both were ordered to pay court costs totaling £8,898 and a victim surcharge of £114 each. They were disqualified from dealing in cats and dogs for five years, with the ban set to expire in December 2029.

This case underscores the ongoing efforts by Dorset authorities to combat illegal pet breeding and protect animal welfare in the Dorchester area.