Crime Solicitors

Birmingham City Council has prosecuted the owner of an unlicensed pet shop, after she admitted selling animals from her home in Erdington, Birmingham.

On 17 September 2015, Surrey Trading Standards were contacted when a couple bought a German shepherd puppy from Jadwiga Ewa Grum, 37, of Johnson Road in Erdington – Grum had advertised on the Pets4Home website.

The puppy was seized and quarantined, after it was found to be imported at too young an age – puppies must be 15 weeks old before they can be brought into the UK.

Officers visited Grum’s home on 25 September 2015 and asked to see all the puppies and associated paperwork, including pedigree certificates and pet passports. Trading Standards found four puppies in the garden at the house and another four were in a van belonging to Grum’s partner.

Pet passports were produced for all eight puppies, but pedigree certificates were not presented. However, it was evident the puppies found on the Johnson Road premises had been imported from Poland – but Grum maintained that she was not selling the puppies over the Internet.

Less than a week later, officers discovered Grum’s advert was still on the Pets4Homes website with the same contact details, so arrangements were made to view the puppies on 1 October 2015.

Posing as customers, two officers visited Grum’s home in Johnson Road to see the puppies. When they asked to see the pedigree certificates, these could not be produced.

On 3 November 2015, Grum was interviewed under caution, but continued to deny any trading activity.

Birmingham City Council brought the case against Grum after its animal welfare team received a complaint from colleagues at Surrey Trading Standards.

At Birmingham Magistrates’ Court, Grum pleaded guilty to one offence under the Pet Animals Act 1951 involving keeping the premises as a pet shop without a licence.

She received a 12-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £500 towards costs, plus a £15 victim surcharge.

After sentencing, Chair of Birmingham City Council’s Licensing and Public Protection Committee, Councillor Barbara Dring, said:

“This case highlights why it is vital for people to check where they are buying pets from, that the sellers are licensed – and can provide all the relevant paperwork, including pedigree certificates.

“The importation and sale of puppies and dogs is a particular cause for concern and buyers must take additional care.

“Anyone who is in the business of trading and selling animals as pets must have a licence under the Pet Animals Act 1951 – no such licence had been issued to Grum’s premises in Johnson Road, Erdington.”

Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors

Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors can advise at any stage of a consumer protection offence, including charges relating to misrepresentation, trading from unlicensed premises, fraud, selling counterfeit goods, importing or selling illicit tobacco and alcohol, selling restricted goods to under-18s, mislabelling, weights and measures offences, and breaches of food hygiene or health and safety regulations.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and in most major cities – and Duncan Lewis can advise at the start of an investigation into consumer protection offences and before charges are brought.

For expert legal advice on consumer protection offences, call Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors on 0333 772 0409.

For 24/7 help at a police station, call the Duncan Lewis Solicitors 24-Hour Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607.