Barrie Reid (38) of Killynoogan Road, Kesh appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with operating a dog breeding establishment without a licence.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council received a complaint from a member of the public and carried out an investigation. 

The Council attended the site in May 2018, and they counted 52 dogs in several pens. 

The presence of nine litters of pups indicated that this was a large scale breeding establishment with 16 pens present, with a further 14 pens containing dogs and pups. 

Reid was questioned about the establishment and was informed that a licence was required but there was none on record. 

The court heard that there was no welfare issue with the care or condition of the dogs that were on site. 

Defence solicitor Tommy Owens explained that the dogs were well cared for as Reid had spent thousands of pounds investing in the facilities adding that all the dogs were in ‘very good condition.’

Mr Owen added that the only issue was the licence as Reid had been instructed to rehouse the animals, which he done, and only kept one pet dog and nine working dogs.

Mr Owens said that it was his client’s intention to apply for a licence but he could not until this matter was disposed off. 

District Judge Michael Ranaghan said it was ‘encouraging’ that there was no welfare issues, and the dogs were well cared for and looked after but added a licence is required by law and important for regulation. 

Giving Reid credit for his early guilty plea, Judge Ranaghan fined him £300, and ordered him to pay court costs of £44 and legal costs of £50.