IAN THOMAS OF CANTERBURY SHAMES ANIMAL WELFARE WITH PUPPY DUMP IN FOX'S CROSS ROAD

Ian Thomas, a man with a troubling history in dog breeding, found himself once again at the center of a disturbing incident that has shocked the local community in Canterbury. The case unfolded after the discovery of five deceased puppies, believed to be cockapoos, abandoned along a rural stretch of Fox’s Cross Road in Seasalter. The lifeless bodies of these tiny animals were scattered across the country lane, prompting immediate concern and investigation from local authorities.

Thomas, born in December 1975, and a father of five, appeared before Canterbury magistrates to face charges related to this distressing event. He was identified as the owner of the puppies and was questioned about how their bodies ended up discarded in such a manner. During the court proceedings, Thomas claimed that the puppies had been contained within two black sacks, which had accidentally fallen off the back of his trailer. This explanation was met with skepticism, especially considering the personal documents linking the puppies directly to Thomas’s dog breeding enterprise, Doodlepets Ltd, which has since been dissolved.

The documents found within the sacks confirmed that the puppies were part of Thomas’s breeding operations, which was licensed to produce cockerpoos, schnoodles, and other crossbreeds from a facility located on Pilgrims Lane in Whitstable. The business, which also traded under the names Cleverpets and Schnoodlepets, had been operating for years, with a license to breed from 30 breeding bitches. The discovery of the puppies’ bodies, destined for household waste, raised serious questions about the ethics and legality of Thomas’s practices.

Prosecutor Peter Kee, representing Canterbury City Council, detailed the events that led to the investigation. He explained that a woman driving along Fox’s Cross Road had spotted the black sacks containing the puppies’ bodies. At first, she was unsure whether the animals were still alive, but she quickly contacted her daughter, who then alerted the RSPCA. When the animal welfare organization arrived at the scene, they documented the graphic images of the puppies, which were presented as evidence in court.

Following the discovery, Canterbury City Council launched a formal investigation into Thomas’s activities. Although Thomas admitted ownership of the bags, he insisted that he had no intention of dumping the puppies in the lane back in July 2017. He claimed that his plan was to dispose of the animals at a household waste center, despite the fact that his license required him to have an industrial waste agreement in place for such disposal. His explanation was that the incident was an accident, and he expressed remorse for the distress caused to those who found the puppies.

During the court proceedings, Thomas, who had been operating his dog breeding business at Seacross Grange, Pilgrims Lane, Whitstable for over a decade, defended himself by stating that dog breeding is not an exact science and that sometimes things go wrong without clear explanation. He acknowledged that it was his responsibility to prevent the escape of waste, including dead animals, and admitted that the disposal of the puppies was an oversight. He emphasized that nobody in their right mind would intentionally dump dead puppies, especially with their identification details, half a mile from their home.

Thomas’s background includes a career as an IT recruitment consultant, but he shifted into dog breeding, establishing Doodlepets Ltd. He was known to sell puppies at prices reaching up to £2,500 each. His partner, Angela Manning, was the sole director of Doodlepets Ltd, but the case against her was dropped on the day of the hearing. Despite his conviction for failing to properly dispose of industrial waste, Canterbury City Council refused to grant Thomas a new commercial dog breeding license in February 2018, and in April of the same year, a court injunction was issued to prevent him from breeding or selling cockapoo puppies within the Canterbury district.

Following the legal proceedings, social media and review sites were flooded with comments from former customers and animal welfare advocates. Many reviews painted a grim picture of Thomas’s breeding practices, with one particularly scathing review on TrustPilot criticizing the transparency and ethics of his business. The reviewer accused Thomas of charging exorbitant fees, refusing refunds, and providing poor customer service, all while allegedly keeping dogs in substandard conditions.

Alarmingly, in August 2020, reports surfaced indicating that Ian Thomas had resumed his dog breeding activities. A Facebook post claimed that he was actively involved in breeding again, despite the previous legal restrictions and public outrage. As of August 2020, Thomas was reported to be residing at Amage Road, Wye, Ashford, with the postcode TN25 5DF, suggesting that he continues to operate in the dog breeding industry under different circumstances.

In summary, Ian Thomas’s case highlights ongoing concerns about illegal and unethical dog breeding practices, animal welfare violations, and the importance of strict regulation and enforcement to prevent such tragedies from recurring in Canterbury and beyond.