JULIE WARD PUPPY DEALER FROM LEIGHTON BUZZARD CONVICTED OF ANIMAL CRUELTY IN LEIGHTON BUZZARD

Julie Michelle Ward, born on April 11, 1983, has been at the center of a disturbing animal cruelty case that has garnered significant attention in the Leighton Buzzard area. Previously residing at 26 Douglas Road in Leigh, Greater Manchester, Ward now lives at the Greenacres travellers site on Slapton Road, Little Billington, within the Leighton Buzzard region. Her involvement in illegal puppy trading and subsequent cruelty charges have led to a conviction that underscores the ongoing issues surrounding unregulated pet sales in the area.

In September 2016, Ward was convicted alongside her husband, Martin Ward, and her brother-in-law, Patrick Oliver Ward, for their roles in a puppy farm that was found to be operating under deplorable conditions. The authorities uncovered a dead pet at one of their properties, which was used as part of their puppy-selling operation. Despite the seriousness of the case, none of the individuals involved appeared for their sentencing hearing, prompting the issuance of arrest warrants for all three.

The investigation revealed that the Wards were engaged in the illegal sale of puppies from addresses on Douglas Road and Windermere Road in Leigh, Wigan. The RSPCA launched a detailed inquiry after receiving complaints from eight different customers who reported receiving sickly puppies that quickly fell ill after arriving at their homes. Several of these animals succumbed to their illnesses, with four dying suddenly or being so unwell that veterinarians had no choice but to euthanize them to prevent further suffering.

Further details of the case emerged from the investigation, which uncovered troubling practices dating back to April 2015. During that month, Ward sold a puppy that was too young to be separated from its mother, violating animal welfare standards. In November 2015, she failed to treat a Malti-Poo for an ear mite infestation, and in February 2016, she neglected to provide a black and white puppy with necessary treatment for parvovirus. These acts of neglect contributed to the suffering and death of several puppies sold through her operation.

Inspector Pippa Boyd, who led the case, explained the scope of the illegal activity. She stated, “We believe Ward, along with two other individuals previously dealt with by the courts, was importing puppies and then selling them from two addresses in Leigh. When we executed warrants at these properties in February 2016, we found numerous dogs and various pieces of evidence supporting our suspicions.”

At one of the properties on Windermere Road, authorities discovered multiple phones labeled with different dog breeds, indicating a commercial operation. At the other location on Douglas Road, they found three dogs, including one with an untreated broken pelvis, and the body of a deceased Jack Russell terrier left in a kennel, highlighting the neglect and poor conditions under which the animals were kept.

Julie Ward was ultimately sentenced to 18 weeks in jail, along with a £150 victim surcharge. Additionally, she was disqualified from owning or keeping any animals for a period of ten years, a measure aimed at preventing her from engaging in similar activities in the future. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing issues related to illegal puppy farming and animal cruelty in the Leighton Buzzard area and beyond.