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7:36am Thursday 25th October 2007
The owners of a puppy farm raided by the RSPCA last week have hit back at allegations of neglect.
Police and RSPCA inspectors stormed the Oak Tree Farm pet shop and kennels in Stanton Lane, Kington St Michael, on October 17, following claims of squalid and cramped conditions.
The owner refused to give her name to the Gazette. However, in July, Sally Griggs put in a restrospective application to North Wiltshire District Council for a change of use to use the residential gypsy site to breed and kennel dogs.
In March this year she applied to the district council for a breeder's licence and for a pet shop. A council officer inspected the site and suggested certain improvements to buildings which were carried out. The site was then inspected again by the council and a vet, and the licence was granted.
The owner this week spoke of her heartache at seeing some of her dogs taken away and the battle she faces to clear her name.
She said: "This has been an absolute nightmare. I love every single puppy here and would never let them come to any harm.
"The 23 dogs the RSPCA have taken away have all been split up and taken to Bath or Bristol - it's heartbreaking to see litters and families broken up.
"They took a mother and her runt puppy from a litter of Cocabichons but left the rest of the puppies who still needed her milk. They've been pining for their mother ever since.
"I begged the RSPCA officers to take a few more dogs to make sure brothers and sisters were kept together.
"They checked over every single other dog we had and gave them clean bills of health. The only crime we were guilty of is having a few more animals than we should have, but that is because I can't bear to see dogs turned away."
An RSPCA spokesman said it was acting on reports from previous customers who were concerned about conditions at the farm, and who claimed the dogs they had bought subsequently needed veterinary treatment.
Sarah Stackman, of Lysley Close, Pewsham, bought her five-month-old cocker spaniel, Marley, from the farm in July.
She said: "Ever since we got Marley we knew something was not quite right and, after getting him checked out, the vet revealed he had kennel cough, mange and an ear infection.
"The vet has told us that the boils under his skin causing the mange could only have been picked up at the kennels.
"I have had to pay out £200 so far in vet bills and he is still ill but battling on."
Mrs Stackman said she has left messages with the farm but is yet to receive a response.
Cathy Angel, who lives in Chippenham, but did not want to give her full address, bought Charlie, a four-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, from the farm in July. She said she has had a large vet's bill for an operation to remove the dog's rotten teeth.
But the pet shop owner said all dogs were sold with a warranty which meant they could be returned within 72 hours. She also highlighted the farm's success in selling an average of 20 puppies every week.
She said: "People don't like the ideas of puppy farms but we get hundreds of calls every week." People always want puppies.
"We are now waiting to hear whether the dogs will come back to us or whether they will be re-homed."
RSPCA investigations are continuing.
Have you had problems with a dog from Oak Tree Farm? Tell us below
jb, says...
11:14am Thu 25 Oct 07
Tracey, Wilts says...
11:26am Thu 25 Oct 07
Al, Chippers says...
11:34am Thu 25 Oct 07
jb, says...
12:21pm Thu 25 Oct 07
Tracey wrote:Yes Tracy, seems to me a certain idiot known for its abuse seems to be back under a different name?
I agree jb, but if you put a comment on the site that contains FACTUAL statements, they will remove it! Yet there are certain posters who just abuse and insult others and their comments stay put! Go figure!
Tracey, Wilts says...
1:02pm Thu 25 Oct 07
kathy27, calne says...
1:05pm Thu 25 Oct 07
jb, says...
1:31pm Thu 25 Oct 07
Marley, chippenham says...
1:36pm Thu 25 Oct 07
kathy27, calne says...
1:39pm Thu 25 Oct 07
jb wrote:Thats ok then, thought i'd upset someone.
Nothing to do with your story Kathy. Regular users will remember it, I`ll not mention its name in order to deny it the satisfaction. Suffice to say it was a nasty piece of work.
Trace, Corsham says...
2:11pm Thu 25 Oct 07
Oh yes jb - I have already come under his line of fire! I know it's him because he used insults that were very personal!
Tracey, Wilts says...
2:57pm Thu 25 Oct 07
jb, says...
3:01pm Thu 25 Oct 07
kathy27, calne says...
3:30pm Thu 25 Oct 07
moonraker1, chippenham says...
3:48pm Thu 25 Oct 07
kathy27, calne says...
4:28pm Thu 25 Oct 07
spooks, calne says...
5:22pm Thu 25 Oct 07
jb, says...
7:50pm Thu 25 Oct 07
but i think this conversation has gone to far now for the G&H to pull it now
jb, says...
7:52pm Thu 25 Oct 07
Lets not get to emotional, a dog is just an animal and should be treated no differently to rats, pigs, cats... dont forget in a lot of countries these dogs may well of ended up on someone plate.
Travis, Chippenham says...
8:26pm Thu 25 Oct 07
kathy27 wrote:your the sort of person who would want the fire brigade to help a horse out a ditch rather than a child out of a river
Thank god most people DONT think like you. I love and care for all 5 of my dogs, they are part of my family and would protect them as they would me.
kathy27, calne says...
9:10pm Thu 25 Oct 07
moonraker1, chippenham says...
8:12am Fri 26 Oct 07
Travis, Chippenham says...
9:18am Fri 26 Oct 07
kathy27 wrote:2 grandchildren at 27 kathy...impressive but then you are from calne.
You dont know me , so why make such a ridiculous comment. yes i love my dogs, however i love my 3 children and 2 grandchildren MORE, and they ALWAYS come first.
kathy27, calne says...
9:36am Fri 26 Oct 07
The Maxter, Chippenham says...
10:09am Fri 26 Oct 07
mary, cheshire says...
10:17am Fri 26 Oct 07
mary, cheshire says...
10:17am Fri 26 Oct 07
kathy27, calne says...
10:20am Fri 26 Oct 07
jb, says...
3:15pm Fri 26 Oct 07
Cocabichons ? is that a joke?
puppylover, cheshire says...
3:25pm Fri 26 Oct 07
jb wrote:No jb,I think you will find that is a cross between a cocker spaniel and a bichon and IS A SICK JOKE on the part of the breeder.Designer crosses they are called,just means they can ask more money for the pups than normal with no thought to the welfare or long term health of such a cross.
Cocabichons ? is that a joke?
No Mary, just a lack of proofreading its par for the course for the Getzworse and Herald
jb, says...
4:53pm Fri 26 Oct 07
Tracey, Wilts says...
7:06pm Fri 26 Oct 07
puppylover, cheshire says...
7:51pm Fri 26 Oct 07
jb wrote:Seems there is more than one place trying to make a quick buck out of misery then jb ?If you aren't part of the solution you must be part of the problem?
Thank you Mary, thats a new one for me,
Mind you, my dogs don`t seem fussy who they mate with.
kathy27, calne says...
8:45pm Fri 26 Oct 07
moonraker1, chippenham says...
7:56am Sat 27 Oct 07
moonraker1, chippenham says...
7:59am Sat 27 Oct 07
puppylover, cheshire says...
8:28am Sat 27 Oct 07
puppylover, cheshire says...
8:32am Sat 27 Oct 07
kathy27, calne says...
9:14am Sat 27 Oct 07
jb, says...
12:24pm Sat 27 Oct 07
puppylover, cheshire says...
12:46pm Sat 27 Oct 07
jb, says...
4:06pm Sat 27 Oct 07
puppylover, cheshire says...
5:15pm Sat 27 Oct 07
kathy27, calne says...
6:49pm Sat 27 Oct 07
jb, says...
8:01pm Sat 27 Oct 07
kathy27, calne says...
8:14pm Sat 27 Oct 07
kathy27, calne says...
8:16pm Sat 27 Oct 07
puppylover, cheshire says...
8:19pm Sat 27 Oct 07
puppylover, cheshire says...
8:22pm Sat 27 Oct 07
jb, says...
9:13pm Sat 27 Oct 07
puppylover, cheshire says...
9:48pm Sat 27 Oct 07
spooks, calne says...
11:38pm Sat 27 Oct 07
kathy27, calne says...
11:51pm Sat 27 Oct 07
puppylover wrote:Thanks spooks, but i knew the dog i took would have a better home with me, and like ive said so many times before here the farm was in a good clean conditin when i went, as for the dog i got, oak tree RESCUED the dog from another breeder that wasnt giving it the care it needed, so taking the dog from a bad situation and putting it into a good one. As for "puppylover" check who you have been talking to, because it hasnt been me, so please dont get on your soap box with me. ALL 5 of my dogs are loved and cared for.
kathy 27,I came here to comment on OAK TREE FARM nothing more,its you lot that keep trying to steer away from the subject in question.
franny86, calne says...
3:29pm Sun 28 Oct 07
kathy27, calne says...
4:18pm Sun 28 Oct 07
jb, says...
9:39pm Sun 28 Oct 07
kathy27, calne says...
10:08pm Sun 28 Oct 07
Tracey, Wilts says...
10:14am Mon 29 Oct 07
jb, says...
12:24pm Mon 29 Oct 07
moonraker1, chippenham says...
1:36pm Mon 29 Oct 07
jb, says...
8:19pm Mon 29 Oct 07
shelley, Tetbury says...
7:54pm Wed 14 Nov 07
rubyroo, portsmouth says...
8:21pm Sat 17 Nov 07
greentrees, chippenham says...
10:26am Mon 26 Nov 07
shez, andover says...
7:48pm Thu 10 Apr 08
megzffaf, wiltshire says...
4:36pm Thu 25 Sep 08
These Bichon Frise puppies are said to be pining for their mother and sister
Mike Stackman with Marley the cocker spaniel who was found to have kennel cough, mange and an ear infection after they bought him
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kathy27, calne says...
9:59am Thu 25 Oct 07
1. I was never asked for my address, and im NOT in chippenham
2.i also said its common for yorkies to have teeth problems.
3. i also said the yorkie was rescued by oak tree, from a breeder that wasnt taking care of it.
4. i also said the farmwas in a clean condition when i went.
5. all the dogs/puppies seemed happy, and the owners were helpful.
guess when you talk to a reporter they only print what they want, or think will make a good story.
i wont be making the same mistake twice.