CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeder Zoe Louise Small, born 21 April 1992, of Tamerton Avenue, St Budeaux, Plymouth PL5 1TW – starved a pregnant dog and kept her in horrendous conditions. Small, a make-up artist trading under the name Make-up by Zoe Small, admitted two animal welfare offences in relation to springer spaniel Bella, following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA. Shockingly, South and West Devon Magistrates’ Court ordered the destruction of Bella and her puppies supposedly on the grounds that they had endured enough suffering, but this was later overturned following an appeal from the RSPCA solicitor. All dogs will now be rehomed. Small, who runs a dog breeding business with husband Daniel Small, specialising in French bulldogs, admitted failing to adequately explore and address the causes of Bella’s weight loss. She also failed to ensure that Bella’s needs were met in that the dog was not provided with a suitable environment that was dry. Zoe and Daniel Small Following Small’s conviction, the RSPCA released distressing pictures showing the living conditions the heavily pregnant dog was kept in. RSPCA Inspector Jim Farr, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, was contacted by vets after Bella was admitted to the surgery in the evening, before an emergency caesarean. The vet, who was concerned that Bella was very thin and lethargic, said she was suffering from prolonged malnutrition and that her needs as a pregnant dog were not being met. As a result the RSPCA launched an investigation and Inspector Farr, who visited the run-down stables where Bella was being kept at Blackdown Meadows, near Kingsbridge, with police and a vet, described what he found. He said: “We made our way to the stable block which comprises four individual stables. The immediate area to some of the entrances of the stables was flooded. There was also an assortment of discarded items, a large number of tools including a small motorbike. “The second stable from the left was where the information I had received was where Bella was being housed up until her removal the day before. “The interior was very damp. The floor had an inch or two of sodden earth and other matter which was possibly old shavings. “The floor also had a scattering of faeces. In one corner was a small triangular sectioned area which offered some cloth bedding which was damp. “This sectioned off area would have been too small if Bella had had her pups within it. The rest of the stable offered no dry area if she had given birth on the floor. “There was an empty bowl but no water to be seen. A scattering of dog food was on the floor by the stable door which appeared to have just thrown in on the sodden floor. The stable itself was approximately 12ft x 12ft with the bedding area being 4ft x 3ft x 2ft 6insdeep approximately.” Sentencing | 200 hours of unpaid work; 20 rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days; costs of £250 and £114 to fund victim services. Banned from keeping a dog for eight years (expires July 2031). ITV News Kingsbridge Today DevonLive Additional Information The following social media screenshots demonstrate that Zoe and Daniel Small were prolific backyard breeders.
