SIU Investigation – Puppy Farming in Kilmarnock

Julie Taylor, a puppy dealer from Kilmarnock, was convicted of animal welfare and licensing legislation offenses in June 2025, after an intense and diligent investigation by our SIU team. This is their story.

Initial concerns

We’re the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), a team within the Scottish SPCA who investigate crimes against animals. Puppy dealing and farming is rife across the UK and we’re the only organisation with powers to uncover these cases and seek justice.

This investigation began as many others do, with concerns brought to us by new puppy owners. Within days of purchase these puppies were falling seriously ill – a sign that they had come from a puppy farm.

One witness told us that they had responded to an online advert on the website “Pets4Home” which listed King Charles Cavalier Spaniel puppies for sale. The listing stated that the puppies were vet checked and microchipped.

When the witness met with Taylor, it was clear that something was wrong – the puppy smelled strongly and seemed frightened. The witness reported that the puppy also seemed lethargic and had a visibly distended stomach which was incredibly worrying.  The witness questioned Taylor about the condition of the puppy, yet she was unable to provide answers as to the puppy’s age or birth mother.

After a day, the witness noticed a rapid deterioration in their puppy’s health. After taking them to the vets they found that the puppy was significantly younger than initially claimed, had not been microchipped, and was suffering from a respiratory infection.

The infections, lack of socialisation, and missing microchip are all signs of this puppy having come from a puppy farm and are unfortunately things we see far too often. This puppy was prescribed antibiotics and probiotics by the vet, but as the days went on its health continued to worsen. After another vet visit, they found potential lung and ear infections and internal parasites. The vet found that this puppy’s suffering would have been preventable with proper care from birth, making it clear to us that they had been neglected.

We had other witnesses come forward with similar experiences, with some of their puppies passing away from viruses such as Parvo. The emotional and financial burden that Taylor inflicted on these unsuspecting families was despicable and we were determined to bring her to justice and rescue any other puppies in her care.

The investigation

We began digging deeper into Taylor’s suspicious activity and found her to be part of an underground world of puppy dealers. She was selling puppies from her home address without a pet-selling license, attempting to pass off that they were home bred. She even had a “show bitch” who she claimed was the mother of the puppies.

By tracing some of the microchips that were found in the puppies, we discovered that many of these were purchased and implanted in Ireland, confirming to us that these puppies were not bred by Taylor.

After gathering as much information as we could, we prepared to execute a search warrant.

Finding the puppies

We conducted a search of Taylor’s property and were horrified by what we found. Sixteen puppies, of different ages and breeds, crammed into one utility room. We opened the door, and the frightened puppies rushed out. The room was coated in fur and faeces – with no comfort, bedding or mental stimulation to be found.

As we moved around the rest of the property, we found one puppy cowering in a cupboard, whining and afraid. This puppy was visibly unwell and had been hidden in the cupboard due to its illness. These puppies were being used as a commodity with no concern for their health or wellbeing.

There was no mother found with the puppies, further evidencing that these puppies were bought somewhere else and then transported to Taylor’s house. They had been prematurely separated from their mother(s) and not provided with appropriate vet care or vaccinations. When puppies are found in such poor conditions, it not only poses risks to their health, but also to the health of humans.

Preparing for trial

After we found the puppies, we focused all our manpower on reviewing the evidence we had seized from Taylor’s home. During a thorough search of her phone, we found that she was selling puppies on a huge scale. In the words of our SIU lead: “She was making huge financial gains at the expense of the welfare of these dogs.”

We also found that she had given some buyers fake vaccination cards, further trying to legitimise her scam. We spent months obtaining witness statements, reviewing photos and communications from her phone, and putting together a case that would secure a conviction.

Serving justice

We prepared our evidence and handed it over to the procurator fiscal. Taylor pled guilty to offenses under animal welfare and licensing legislation on the 6^th of May 2025.

Her abuse and neglect of these defenceless puppies is a bleak insight into the depraved world of puppy trading and farming. The puppies that we rescued are yet another reminder of why we do what we do.