Two men fined and banned from owning dogs after unlicensed animal fertility clinic run from shed near Edinburgh

Two men were fined and barred from owning dogs after authorities uncovered an unlicensed animal fertility operation run from a shed at a Gorebridge home near Edinburgh. Alexander Myers operated the dog breeding and fertility activities from Paul Robertson’s property, despite neither man holding a breeder’s licence and the site not being registered as a veterinary practice. Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard that Myers performed a range of procedures on dogs, including artificial insemination, blood tests to monitor ovulation and microchipping, as part of the operation.

Police Scotland attended the property on an unrelated matter and alerted the Scottish SPCA, which then inspected the site. An inspector described an overwhelming stench of faeces and urine in dark, poorly ventilated kennels and shed areas coated in faeces. In total, 32 dogs were located at the residence, with three kept indoors as pets and the remainder housed in unsanitary kennels. Further examinations found that many of the animals suffered from ocular, skin, musculoskeletal and respiratory problems as a result of neglect and poor welfare.

In one particularly distressing case, a female French Bulldog named Miss Piggy collapsed, shivering and with fresh wounds to her ears and face. Despite urgent veterinary efforts, her condition deteriorated and she was euthanised to prevent further suffering. Miss Piggy’s death formed a central part of the charges related to neglect in the case; the court noted she had suffered for several weeks before she died. Robertson was understood to have been behind an intensive breeding programme that produced problematic, hairless French Bulldog puppies described by vets as “Frankenstein” variants, a point highlighted by reporting from the Daily Record. A further five dogs were euthanised due to poor health.

At the September 16 hearing, both defendants pleaded guilty to neglect in Miss Piggy’s case, which led to her suffering for at least four weeks before her death. They pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the other dogs. The court did not convict them on those counts. Robertson was fined £270, while Myers received 180 hours of community payback, a £90 fine and a three-year ban on owning dogs.

The Scottish SPCA said it respected the court’s decision but voiced disappointment that the sentencing was not stronger. The charity noted that cases like this illustrate the risks posed by unregulated fertility clinics operating from homes and called for formal Regulation of fertility clinics, with inspections conducted only by registered veterinary surgeons. It reaffirmed its stance that the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 is outdated and inadequate for safeguarding animal welfare, and urged anyone considering breeding pets to consult a vet and report concerns about fertility clinics to its helpline.

The SSPCA also noted increasing instances of people operating fertility clinics from their homes, which they cautioned can place animals at serious risk. They warned that in some cases animals are injured after blood is drawn by unqualified individuals and stressed the need for comprehensive oversight of breeding and fertility testing activities. In light of the case, observers urged policymakers to pursue a complete overhaul of the current framework governing veterinary practice and animal breeding to ensure consistent welfare standards across the country.