A court has ordered a woman to pay Pembrokeshire County Council more than £99,000 in costs following an operation to remove 26 dogs from a property in Puncheston.
Following serious concerns for their health and welfare, Council officers seized 20 adult dogs and six puppies from a property known as Penlan Oleu, Puncheston, after exercising powers under Section 18 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The enforcement action on December 2nd last year followed a detailed investigation into suspected illegal dog breeding activity at the address, owned by Ms Rachel Roberts.
A warrant was initially obtained on November 25th 2025, allowing officers to enter the premises and assess the conditions in which the animals were being kept.
During the investigation, a veterinarian, working alongside Animal Health and Welfare Inspectors, identified significant animal health and welfare concerns.
These included poor environmental conditions and a failure to adequately monitor, manage or provide for the dogs’ health and welfare needs.
As a result, a further warrant was granted on December 2nd, enabling officers to seize and take possession of the dogs to prevent further unnecessary suffering.
The animals were removed from the property and placed into appropriate care while legal proceedings progressed.
On May 1st 2026, at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court, an order was granted for all 26 dogs to be permanently signed over to Pembrokeshire County Council, with the aim of rehoming.
The dogs are six dachshunds, four cocker spaniels, two poodles, two chihuahua X Jack Russell, two lurchers, one Jack Russell, one chihuahua, one collie, one spaniel.
The six puppies are dachshund X chihuahua.
The court ordered Ms Roberts to pay the full costs incurred by the local authority, totalling £99,463.35, within 28 days.
The costs incurred include officer investigation time, legal fees, prolonged kennelling and veterinary fees.
In delivering the decision, magistrates said that the animals would have continued to suffer unnecessarily had the local authority not intervened, highlighting the poor environmental conditions and the lack of adequate care provided.
Pembrokeshire County Council takes animal welfare extremely seriously and will not hesitate to take robust enforcement action where necessary to prevent suffering and safeguard the wellbeing of animals across the county.
