ROCHDALE DOG BREEDERS ROBERT ALLEN AND DARREN COTTRELL SENTENCED FOR CRUELTY IN HORRIFIC CONDITIONS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Rochdale, two local men, Robert Allen and Darren Cottrell, faced justice for their involvement in the neglect and mistreatment of dogs and puppies kept in deplorable conditions. The incident came to light when police officers visited Allen’s residence on Peel Street in Rochdale in October 2015, initially to arrest him on unrelated charges. During this visit, officers were met with a scene of utter filth and neglect that would leave even seasoned officers appalled.

Police reports describe the interior of Allen’s home as overwhelmingly foul, with a strong stench of excrement filling the air. The officers observed dog excrement scattered across the premises, and the environment was described as the worst they had encountered in their 12 years of service. In a back bedroom, they discovered four small bulldog puppies in a state of severe malnutrition, with no access to food or clean water. The puppies appeared emaciated and were living amidst a stench so overpowering that it made the officers’ eyes water. The conditions of the puppies’ living space were described as squalid, with black plastic sheeting covering the floor and feces covering the area.

Further examination revealed that the puppies had not received proper vaccinations, and two of them were found to be carrying an infectious canine disease, highlighting the neglect and lack of proper care. The discovery of these puppies was a stark indication of the neglectful attitude of the men involved, who appeared to have prioritized profit over animal welfare.

Rob Allen, born on February 4, 1985, and residing on Halifax Road, Rochdale, was subsequently charged and convicted for keeping the puppies in such atrocious conditions. He was sentenced to four weeks in jail. His co-accused, Darren Cottrell, born on November 18, 1977, of Wild House Lane, Milnrow, Rochdale, was also found guilty. Cottrell had been questioned by the RSPCA in April 2015 after reports concerning the welfare of some puppies. During police interviews, Cottrell admitted that he owned the bulldogs jointly with Allen but denied breeding any other dogs. He expressed remorse, stating that he cared deeply for the animals and was ashamed of the situation.

Defense lawyer Bill Rawstron argued that Cottrell was unaware of the full extent of the conditions and had tried unsuccessfully to contact Allen for several days. Despite this, both men pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching the Animal Welfare Act. Cottrell received a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, along with 150 hours of unpaid work and a fine of £680. He was also banned from keeping animals for life. Allen, on the other hand, was sentenced to four weeks in prison and similarly banned from keeping dogs for life.

Inspector Catherine Byrnes of the RSPCA, who was involved in rescuing the dogs, expressed her satisfaction with the court’s decision. She emphasized the appalling conditions the animals endured, describing the scene as “disgusting” and noting the overpowering smell upon entering the premises. She pointed out that the dogs had been living in conditions that showed a blatant disregard for their welfare, with the second bedroom being covered in feces and black plastic sheeting. Byrnes condemned Allen and Cottrell for viewing the animals merely as commodities for easy profit and praised the court for imposing lifelong bans on both men, ensuring they could no longer exploit animals for personal gain.