Independent review into handling of Douglas Hall Kennels licence handling

Pendle Council granted Douglas Hall Kennels in Spenbrook Road, Newchurch-in-Pendle, a licence to sell animals as pets, breed dogs, and keep or train animals for exhibition, in January.

But after more than 30 complaints to the local authority about the decision to renew the licence, amid animal welfare concerns, it has agreed to carry out an independent review.

It comes as the breeder is awaiting the outcome of a retrospective planning application to allow puppy petting and sales at its site.

Corporate director at Pendle Council, Philip Mousdale, said: "We have had over thirty complaints in respect of the Douglas Hall Kennels.

"The complaints raise a range of points and require individual and often quite detailed replies.

"We aim to reply to complaints within 15 working days.

"However the volume of complaints on this matter means that it will not be possible to reply to all within that period. We will however do so as soon as possible.

"There are clearly genuine concerns expressed but at the same time there are a number of unfounded allegations and comments.

"The ethical argument against selling dogs, or puppy farms, which is a major theme of the recent comments and complaints, is not a matter a licensing authority can consider.

"However in view of the recent introduction of the new more complex regulations, we’re arranging to have an independent review of the handling of the application."

A report to go before Barrowford and Western Parishes on Thursday recommends the approval of the change of use of dog breeding kennels to a mixed use of dog breeding, dog sales and dog petting and an extension to the car park.

It said: “The lawful use of the site is dog breeding, which can include an ancillary element of sales of the puppies bred on site.

"However, the operation of the site predominantly involves the sale of puppies bred elsewhere, this is an unauthorised retail use.

"The operation also attracts visitors solely to pet the puppies, this is at a level that constitutes a material change of use.

"This application is for the retrospective change of use of the site to include retail sale of dogs and dog petting. The proposed development also includes the extension of the existing car park.”

The application has been subject to objections about noise and animal welfare and Goldshaw Parish Council said: "It should be noted that the premises are located within the Forest of Bowland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Residents complained about the annoying current noise levels from dogs barking, disturbing the tranquillity of a quiet rural area.

"It is believed that by increasing the size of the kennels and the commencement of dog breeding within the close proximity of dwellings, it will significantly increase the noise emanating from the kennels, providing an unacceptable level of noise disturbance."

As well as this, several objections have been raised about puppy welfare by animal rights campaigners, including concerns in relation to puppy sales, petting and the existing operation of the business, as well as worries that the proposed use is contrary to licensing regulations.

Campaigners have also objected on the grounds that the site does not have adequate space to allow for such an increase in dogs.

The kennels has been targeted by animal rights campaigners in the past. In 2017, the Lancashire Telegraph reported how owners, Eric and William Lancaster had been accused of selling dogs born on a 'puppy farm'.

Following the accusations, they hit back at critics saying they were unfounded and licensed businesses like theirs helped to keep the industry regulated, and upon inspection, the kennels was in fact found to meet the standards in the Government's legislative guidance for selling and breeding dogs.

Last week, insurance firm Petplan, the company which provides the kennels with a breeders' insurance scheme to sell to customers purchasing dogs from them, terminated their agreement with the Pendle kennels.

A spokesperson from Petplan said: "As the leading pet insurance provider in the UK, Petplan champions the responsible breeding and selling of pets.

"All breeders who issue Petplan insurance are required to comply with the Petplan Breeder Charter which aims to provide an ethical, efficient and friendly service in accordance with good industry practice.

"We constantly review breeders on our scheme to ensure they are abiding by our charter and can confirm that we have removed Douglas Hall Kennels authorisation to issue Petplan insurance."

William Lancaster said the campaign groups targeting his business had gone a step too far.

He said: "I don't know what these people want from us. We are a family-run business, and since all these allegations have begun, we've received death threats from people trying to close our business down.

"These accusations have been taken out of context; we are fully licensed breeders who are passionate about animals and animal welfare.

"We've spoken to the council this week and have put new procedures in place in relation to staff supervision of the dogs, and customer handling of puppies.

"Each puppy pen will have its own set of rules and if you read the guidance notes for keeping puppies properly, you'll see that we do abide by the guidelines.

"In terms of the Petplan insurance, yes, we will no longer be offering this but we will have something else in place.

"We have always offered vet checks, microchipping and worming for all our dogs and we offer a rehoming scheme if any of our dogs come back to us should the owners not be able to care for them anymore.

"I'm well aware of the situation with puppy smuggling but that's not us. There were 800,000 puppies sold last year in the UK, and the large vet groups and charities know that a quarter of these are being brought in from Europe illegally and are being sold in car parks and the like across the country. How can we be the same as that? We are the legal alternative to that.

"The RSPCA has been out to inspect us numerous times and have never found any issues. We just want this to stop so we can continue to care for the dogs in the best way we know how."

The planning application is due to be decided on Thursday.