Council Appeals for Responsible Pet Purchasing After Carrick Residents Convicted for Unlicensed Breeding

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has issued an appeal to the public to act responsibly when purchasing pets. This comes after the conviction of a man and woman from Carrickfergus for operating an unlicensed breeding establishment.

James Tracey, 43, and Angelica Evangelista, 51, formerly of Broadlands Gardens, Carrickfergus, were sentenced at Laganside Magistrates Court. Evangelista pleaded guilty to five counts of running an unlicensed breeding establishment, while Tracey was convicted in his absence.

The charges were brought by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council under The Welfare of Animals (Dog Breeding Establishment and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2013. The proceedings followed an investigation initiated in June 2022 after reports of puppies being sold from the Broadlands Gardens property. An enforcement officer discovered 16 unlicensed dogs at the premises, including three eight-week-old and four seven-month-old blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppies, along with several female dogs.

Enforcement officers linked the property to a Facebook page, ‘A & J Dream Puppies,’ which had advertised and sold at least five litters within a year, violating the 2013 regulations.

On July 2, the District Judge issued sentences for both individuals. Evangelista received a 12-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £23 in summons fees and £250 in legal costs. Tracey was fined £1,000 for five offences and was also required to pay £23 in summons fees and £250 in legal costs.