By Hayley Robinson

A Dog breeder from Teynham has been banned from keeping animals for life after she was found guilty of animal cruelty.

Sittingbourne Magistrates’ heard how RSPCA officers were confronted with more than 70 dogs of various breeds some with untreated medical conditions and living in squalid kennels, when they visited Melanie King’s business at Whents Farm, on Lower Road, Teynham, on February 26 last year.

A female border terrier’s teeth had to be removed by a vet because she was suffering with serious dental problems caused by an abscess in her mouth and a red Chow Chow female dog was put to sleep because she was effectively blinded in both eyes by a condition called entropion - a condition where the eyelid folds inwards causing the eyelashes to constantly rub against the cornea.

Many of the dogs were found at the premises living on soiled and damp bedding.

The 55-year-old was convicted of six charges under the animal welfare act - three of them were for causing unnecessary suffering to animals and the remainder were for offences relating to the conditions the animals were living in. She was acquitted of three counts of failing to provide dogs with adequate nutrition.

King was sentenced to 140 days in custody, suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work and must pay £250 in costs.

RSPCA inspector Ray Bailey said: "Melanie King was totally irresponsible. She had been given previous warnings, but failed to take action to safeguard the animals’ welfare. The conditions many of the dogs were kept in were squalid and truly appalling.

"We are delighted that the court has recognised the seriousness of the offences and banned her from keeping all animals for the rest of her life. We couldn’t have asked for anymore.

"Anyone who is thinking of buying a puppy should always ask plenty of questions and visit the breeder to see the puppies with their mother in the place where they were born. Buying puppies from irresponsible breeders is simply fuelling the market."

King was previously sentenced to a lifetime ban on breeding dogs after she admitted 24 offences under Section 1 of the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973, following a case taken by Swale Borough Council.

She had been operating on temporary breeding licence after concerns had been raised about conditions at her establishment. However, she had failed to deal with the hygiene issues reported by the council officers when the warrant was executed in February, 2009.

Whents Farm now has new owners and no present connections with Melanie King.