Yorkshire dog breeder connected to illegal importing and mutilation of puppies to appeal decision to revoke licence

A dog breeder has appealed after Sheffield Council revoked her licence following allegations relating to the illegal import and mutilation of puppies.
The committee revoked her licence to breed dogs earlier this month following allegations the business was linked to illegally importing and mutilating three puppies. (File picture)The committee revoked her licence to breed dogs earlier this month following allegations the business was linked to illegally importing and mutilating three puppies. (File picture)
The committee revoked her licence to breed dogs earlier this month following allegations the business was linked to illegally importing and mutilating three puppies. (File picture)

Carmen Pintea, owner of Barbarian Corso Kennels, is due to have an appeal hearing at the council’s licensing sub-committee next week.

The committee revoked her licence to breed dogs earlier this month following allegations the business was linked to illegally importing and mutilating three puppies.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Its reasons for revoking the licence included that it was putting animals at risk, the welfare of animals outside of the kennel setting was a concern and it could not find any conditions to amend the licence.

In an email sent to the council to plead for reconsideration Ms Pintea said she does not import dogs to sell, is the only breeder of cane corso in the UK who represents the UK in world dog shows, all dogs are a part of the family which is evidenced in references from owners, during the inspection there was no concern raised regarding the quality of life or care the dogs receive, she did not have any say on the puppies in question, she has always strived to do things right and by the book, it had never happened before and will never happen again.

She added: “I would like to plead with the members of the committee to take all this information into consideration, as well as the references from my owners. Not one breeder in this country or abroad for that matter has this level of training, time and passion invested into their dogs and their programme.

"Could my mistake please be considered as a one off mistake (which it was and not even mine) and I can assure you nothing of this sorts will ever happen again.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

An investigation was carried out by the council’s environmental protection service following a complaint about a puppy advertisement by Barbarian Corso Kennels.

The council said investigations revealed the puppy was imported with two others from Romania. All puppies were cropped and docked, meaning their ears were surgically shortened and their tails removed. This process is prohibited in the UK and Romania but allowed in Serbia.

The owners initially claimed the dogs were operated on in Serbia prior to being imported because they had been in an accident, but Claudiu Belceanu, Ms Pintea’s partner, later admitted he arranged the operations to alter the dogs’ appearance.

On 27 January, Mr Belceanu pleaded guilty to arranging the cropping and docking of the puppies, and illegally importing the dogs, and was sentenced to 100 hours community service. He was disqualified from transporting animals and from arranging for the transport of animals for 12 months. He was ordered to pay £800 towards the council’s costs and a victim surcharge of £90.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At the same hearing, Ms Pintea pleaded guilty to failing to notify the secretary of state of the import, and was fined £120, and was also ordered to pay £800 towards the council’s costs with a surcharge of £32.

The licensing sub-committee meeting will take place on Monday, March 22 from 2pm