Student still in debt two years after buying dying pup from illegal pet trader
A Scots student is still in debt two years on from taking out a bank loan to save a dying pup's life after buying it from an illegal trader.
The animal lover was one of many victims of Julie Taylor, 41, who fronted a sales operation for a criminal gang running a puppy farm.
Like other dogs Taylor sold, schnauser pup Fawn died of parvovirus after a three-day battle for life. But even in that short time the new owner ran up more than £4000 in vet fees.
Taylor, of Stewarton, Ayshire, narrowly avoided jail for running a 'cruel' and 'abhorrent' trade in pups.
But the student victim still mourns the loss of her pup. She said: 'For less than a three-day visit, Fawn's treatment racked up nearly £4000 debt in vet bills.
'It was a £650 asking price for a sick puppy I loved and barely got to see and £100 in deep cleaning fees so other dogs were safe to enter my house.'
She added: 'Not only did Julie Taylor kill that poor, innocent girl – she put me in heaps of debt that continues to grow due to interest rates.'
The Record told last week how Taylor kept tiny pups in a filthy toilet that was covered in faeces, leading to the spread of diseases like giardia and deadly parvo.
Several pups are known to have died, including one bought by police officer Elaine McArthur, whose evidence led to the SSPCA busting Taylor.
The student said Taylor had taken her cash and presented Fawn as the offspring of a family pet.
The victim said she bought the pup after seeing an ad on website Pets4homes. She added: 'About 24 hours later Fawn stopped eating and had diarrhoea.' The pup didn't eat or drink for two days but was violently sick.
The victim said: 'She died in my arms in a cold kennel attached to wires and tubes soiled in her own diarrhoea scared and in pain.'
She said: 'As soon as I saw the Record's story I knew it was Julie Taylor who sold me the pup, even though she used another girl's name on the Pets4Homes account.'
Taylor was banned from keeping animals for 10 years and given a community payback order after pleading guilty to fronting the commercial end of a puppy farm.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Scots ‘hairdresser from hell' jailed for horrific domestic abuse against multiple women for second time in a decade
The brute changed his name after being jailed ten years ago for abusing three other women. BULLY BARBER JAILED Scots 'hairdresser from hell' jailed for horrific domestic abuse against multiple women for second time in a decade A BOYFRIEND-from-hell hairdresser has been jailed after being found guilty of a catalogue of horrific domestic abuse against multiple women - for the second time in 10 years. During a campaign of abuse spanning from 2017 to 2024, William Hill, 44, bombarded ex-girlfriends with menacing calls and texts, held one captive in his flat, tried to strangle another and threatened to kill her. Advertisement 3 William Hill, who was formerly known as James Simpson, owns Scottish Barbers in Dundee Credit: Facebook 3 The bully subjected his victims to horrifying abuse against multiple women Credit: Facebook 3 He was jailed at Perth Sheriff Court for 28 months and non-harassment orders against all of his victims Credit: Mark Ferguson The sicko also mocked another about the death of her stillborn child - telling her that her 'DNA was s***'. The brute, whose birth name was James Simpson, changed his name after being jailed ten years ago for abusing three other women. During a trial in May, Perth Sheriff Court heard he demanded his girlfriends cease contact with other men and even tried to prevent one from speaking to the joiner who was working on her home. The dad, of Forfar, and who owns Scottish Barbers in Dundee, denied any wrongdoing whatsoever, even claiming he was the victim of a controlling girlfriend. Advertisement The in-denial bully came up with excuse after excuse for the abusive messages he sent to his former partners, including one stating: 'I will kill anyone you're with, I swear.' One victim recalled to the court how Hill would be 'foaming at the mouth' when he got really angry. Hill claimed one of his girlfriends was 'manipulative and obsessive,' claiming she had forced him to put a tracking app on his phone so she knew where he was - when the reality was that he would try to call and text her constantly whenever she was not with him. The court heard that around the anniversary of the death of the woman's stillborn child, Hill told her 'her DNA was s***', and in another message commenting on her children saying: 'One dead…One that hates you and scared of you….Hahaha munter.' Advertisement During the trial, when asked if he regretted sending this message, callous Hill said: 'No, because it's a fact.' After the relationship ended, Hill bombarded her with menacing and abusive calls, even threatening to 'bomb' her new boyfriend's parents' home, and claimed he was watching the new boyfriend's home - at one point sending his ex a photo of her new partner's work van parked outside his home - while continuing to hurl insults, calling her a 'fat slag' and a 'b****' Man, 39, dies in hospital after 'major incident' in Scots town as cops lock down street & arrest suspect The court heard how Hill persistently called a previous girlfriend during their relationship in 2017 - and argued so much with her, she became sleep deprived. She was ordered to stop contact with men and delete her social media posts. On one occasion, he held the woman prisoner at his then-Dundee home, refusing to let her leave, blocking her exit and hiding the key. Advertisement Hill assaulted the woman and chased her into the female toilets of the Dundee's Deja Vu nightclub and repeatedly banged on cubicle doors. Hill attacked a fourth woman at an address in Kirriemuir, in February 2024, pushing her against a cupboard before seizing her by the throat and compressing her neck. Jurors found him guilty of three counts of threatening or abusive behaviour, three assaults, a charge of abduction, stalking by engaging in a course of conduct that caused fear or alarm and two charges of engaging in an abusive course of behaviour. The abuse took place in Dundee, Kirriemuir and Kemnay, Aberdeenshire. Sheriff William Wood told him only a custodial sentence would be appropriate due to his previous criminal record, the nature of these offences, the number of women affected and the period of time it went on for. Advertisement He added: 'It is hoped that you will now wake up and smell the coffee and realise this is not a way in which you should conduct personal relationships. There is some hope that you will go on and have a normal relationship.' Hill was also subject to a supervision release order for 12 months and non-harassment orders against all four women.
STV News
2 hours ago
- STV News
Dog walker kept over 20 animals in 'one of the worst homes ever seen' by SSPCA
An Aberdeenshire dog walker has been sentenced for keeping over 20 animals in one of the worst homes ever seen by the Scottish SPCA. Sarah Cummines, who pleaded guilty to neglect, was found to be keeping dogs, cats, and a ferret in 'squalid' conditions with no access to food or water. The dog walker and pet sitter was visited by inspectors after a complaint was made about potential neglect at her property. On arrival, nine adult dogs, nine puppies, four adult cats, five kittens, and a ferret were found living among piles of waste, excrement, and debris. The animals had no access to clean resting areas, food, or water, with the smell described as 'overwhelming' and the interior said to be 'truly appalling'. The floor of the property was completely obscured by a foot-high layer of rubbish, excrement, and discarded items. Cats were found living on top of kitchen cabinets among faeces, while the kitchen sink was described as full of rubbish. An SSPCA inspector reported: 'One small dog was seen climbing over piles of waste and jumping between appliances to avoid touching the floor. 'All the animals were frightened, and the cats were visibly nervous. This was no environment for any animal or human.' The investigation also found that the animals were navigating over old dog crates and hazardous items to reach basic spaces like the kitchen or doors. Evidence of chewed beds and distressed behaviours indicated prolonged suffering and stress. The inspector added: 'We were horrified not only by the condition of the animals but by the state of the entire home. The bedroom was one of the worst rooms we've encountered, and a box room was barricaded shut inside, a ferret had escaped its cage. 'These were among the worst living conditions for both animals and a human we have ever witnessed.' Despite being offered help and the opportunity to give up the animals voluntarily, Cummines refused. The animals were subsequently removed for their welfare. Cummines, of Aberdeenshire, appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court on June 23, where she pled guilty to failing to meet the basic welfare needs of dogs, cats, and a ferret in her care. Cummines admitted to multiple counts of animal neglect and given a disqualification order imposed for five years relating to dogs, cats and other household pets. She was given a community payback order with supervision for one year. A spokesperson for the Scottish SPCA added: 'We welcome the court's decision today. No animal should be forced to live in such filth and fear. This outcome sends a clear message that neglecting the welfare of animals will not be tolerated in Scotland.' The Scottish SPCA encourages anyone concerned about the welfare of an animal or if they suspect signs of animal neglect to contact their confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Scots crime gang' masterminded shipment of £26million worth of cocaine into Ireland
Cops believe the drugs haul was destined for the UK and European market and was transported to the suspects in a mother ship COASTAL CRACKDOWN 'Scots crime gang' masterminded shipment of £26million worth of cocaine into Ireland Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SCOTTISH crime gang masterminded the shipment of £26million worth of cocaine into Ireland, according to forces who smashed the plot. And investigators are probing whether the mob had "logistical support" from transnational crime gangs based in Ireland. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 They were arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle £26m worth of cocaine into Ireland Credit: Getty 4 A probe has been launched to find out if the mob had 'logistical support' from transnational crime gangs based in Ireland Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin 4 The Irish Navy were involved in the operation Credit: Andy Gibson - The Sun Dublin New details have emerged about the men accused of being involved in a cocaine plot to ship in a vast haul from South America to the UK. We told how they were snared off the coast of County Cork after gun cops swooped on Tuesday. Among four suspects taken into custody is a man, 40, from the Pollok area of Glasgow and a trawlerman, 39, from Keith, Moray. Another suspect is a businessman, 44, from Cornwall, England and a German national, 31, from Bavaria. A source told The Irish Sun: "These suspects are considered to be important cogs of this organised crime group. "The Scottish gang are heavily involved in transnational drug trafficking, but this smuggling route is now dismantled. The Scottish gang are heavily involved in transnational drug trafficking, but this smuggling route is now dismantled A source told The Irish Sun "Crime gangs are targeting fishermen and others who are corrupted by money and greed. "There is no doubt that these individuals were critical enablers for this criminal organisation." The four were lifted after a major op, which began with a surveillance investigation over the weekend. Two of the suspects were lifted as they left in a van with the huge haul of drugs. Detective Superintendent Paul Grainger on Scots gang convictions The other two tried to escape on a boat, but were caught by the Navy. Cops believe the drugs haul was destined for the UK and European market and was transported to the suspects in a mother ship. The suspects can be held for a week. We told how the seizure is the largest since the £135million nabbed on board the MV Matthew in September 2023, with eight of its crew set to be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court later this week. A joint task force led by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau - which included Revenue, the Irish Naval Service and local cops - had monitored a number of men and vehicles for over 24 hours in the run-up to the seizure. These suspects are considered to be important cogs of this organised crime group A source told The Irish Sun In recent weeks, senior Gardai in Cork have held briefings to discuss the threat posed by transnational drugs gangs over the summer months. Although Europe's traditional drug networks have previously used the summer to transport shipments of cocaine across the Atlantic, they have also arranged shipments in late autumn and spring. A source said: "The international gangs seem to be more brazen and their shipments are happening all year round now. "They have vessels that can be used in adverse weather conditions. "They also have access to RIBs that are faster than some of those used by the Irish Naval Service." West Cork Fine Gael Senator Noel O'Donovan said: "This is a significant detection - the biggest drug bust in Ireland this year.' A Gardai source added: "It was a hugely successful operation and should serve as a warning for international drug gangs targeting the Irish coastline."
