Shropshire Council has welcomed the outcome into an RSCPA-led investigation it supported into Marcia Hollins-Jones, who was banned from dealing in dogs for 10 years this week.

The council provided information and evidence to help secure a conviction on January 21 at Telford Magistrates’ Court, where Mrs Hollins-Jones pleaded guilty to four counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals in her care.

She was sentenced to a three-year disqualification from keeping dogs (suspended for 28 days), a 10-year disqualification on dealing in dogs.

Frances Darling, trading standards and licensing operations manager, said Mrs Hollins-Jones had not been licensed by the council for some time.

She added: “It is important that the public know that, while Mrs Hollins-Jones has previously held licences to breed dogs under the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973, she does not hold a current dog breeding licence with Shropshire Council.

"Throughout the duration of the licences previously held by Mrs Hollins-Jones, her premises was subject to the necessary council inspections as required by the Act, and unannounced inspections.

"The outcome of these inspections was satisfactory under the terms set out in the Act. Officers have for some time recognised that the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 did not reflect the animal welfare standards that are expected today, and, therefore, continuously tried to work with Mrs Hollins-Jones to improve standards at the premises above those minimum requirements of the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973.”

Joyce Barrow, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for communities, waste and regulatory services, said: "I want to reassure the community that, had Mrs Hollins-Jones made an application for dog breeding under these new regulations, it is highly unlikely that that she would have been successful without making significant improvements to the way in which she operated her dog breeding business.”