The owner of a Cheshire dog retreat has been banned from keeping animals after footage emerged showing her mistreating customers' pets.
Amanda Le Bretton, 55, formerly of Ellesmere Port but now living overseas, admitted four offences of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal when she appeared at Chester Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, 29th March 2023.
Causing unnecessary suffering to an animal is an offence under section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. For offences committed on or after 29th June 2021, it has a maximum penalty of 5 years' custody on conviction on indictment; 26 weeks' custody and/or an unlimited fine on summary conviction.
Le Bretton, a former charity fundraiser, previously ran the Home from Home Dog Retreat in Ellesmere Port, but the business ceased trading last summer when Cheshire West and Chester Council revoked its licence to operate.
The council took the decision after after several videos were published showing Le Bretton hitting different dogs. One piece of footage showed her kicking a dog; another showed her manhandling a chihuahua by the scruff of its neck.
The incriminating videos were collated by Le Bretton's former husband Stephen, who published them online, using his middle name of Peter, when he discovered she was getting remarried. It would appear that the couple had a particularly acrimonious separation, with Le Bretton accusing her husband of alcoholism and abusive behaviour.
Circumstances conspired and the warring couple were forced to live together during lockdown. Mr Le Bretton took the opportunity to install covert cameras in the property, unbeknown to his increasingly estranged wife.
Ian Moore, prosecuting on behalf of the council, said: "During the time of the offences she held a licence issued by local authority Cheshire West Council permitting her to look after dogs for clients who went on holiday otherwise known as home boarding or temporary dog care.
"On May 31 Cheshire West Council received an email containing secure camera videos. The footage contained dogs in care of the defendant.
"They were emailed from a person purporting to be called Peter. Numerous attempts were made by the council to contact Peter with a view to a statement being taken. Peter failed to respond.
"An investigation began and the local authority took the opinion of a vet about the conduct of the defendant as shown in the video. The video was viewed by a vet from the Rose Cottage Centre in Runcorn for her opinion as to how the dogs were treated by the defendant."
Magistrates heard the vet's view that the dogs suffered anxiety and compromised mental welfare as a result of Le Bretton's actions. Dogs could be heard yelping in several of the clips, which the vet said demonstrated their pain and distress.
Stephen Ferns, mitigating, said that his client was very remorseful and took full responsibility for the offences. He said she was under considerable stress at the time, being trapped in an abusive relationship with a man who refused to divorce her. Coronavirus restrictions meant Le Bretton was unable to stay with her parents during lockdown, so she had no choice but to live with her estranged husband.
Mr Ferns added: "Mrs Le Bretton said that dogs are the best judge of character. Dogs would get remarkably excited when they arrived at her property even if they were just passing the dogs would get very animated. She was told this by the owners of the various animals.
"The owners repeatedly kept animals in her care. As a result, this behaviour was very much out of character."
Mr Ferns also told the court that the covert footage was recorded illegally and Le Bretton had received threats and abuse from animal lovers since the story broke.
Sentencing Mark Johns JP, Presiding Justice, said: "Animals have no voice, they rely on their owners or in this case on the person who is entrusted with their care to treat them with compassion and patience.
"In your favour, you are a person of good character and you have expressed much remorse and sorrow for your actions.
"But you must realise your reputation is shattered. Your reputation has gone. You realise you have no future in the care of animals."
Le Bretton was fined £3,000 (£750 for each offence).
She was also ordered to pay £1,235 towards prosecution costs and £190 surcharge.
An indefinite order was made disqualifying her from keeping, owning, dealing or transporting animals.
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