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A dog breeding business being run from a property owned by Tyson Fury is again under investigation over claims animals are being kept in concerning conditions there, MailOnline can reveal.
Animal welfare officers are probing the business after witnesses reported that a number of dogs escaped onto the road from the house in Lancaster owned by boxing champion Fury.
It was reported that a passer-by shepherded the animals back to safety in the garden and reported filthy conditions and ‘howling’ coming from a stable block behind the house.
The latest investigation into the dog breeders at the house – bought for £250,000 by Fury three years ago – come just six months after a businesswoman living in the house, Emily Sutcliffe, 26, had her breeding licence revoked following a raid by council officials and police which found dogs and puppies in the dark stable block without food, water or light.
Animal welfare officers are probing a dog breeding business after witnesses reported that a number of dogs escaped onto the road from the house in Lancaster owned by boxing champion, Tyson Fury (pictured above). There is no suggestion that the boxer has any involvement in the business
The latest investigation comes just six months after a businesswoman living in the house, Emily Sutcliffe, 26, (above) had her breeding licence revoked following a raid by council officials and police
In last week’s incident at the property owned by Fury, members of the public say they lifted the dogs back over the fence to relative safety and tried to barricade the fence the best they could, according to a report by local website Donkeyjunk.com.
Witnesses said at least 12 dogs were running wild in a dirty yard, covered in faeces and showing severe signs of poor care.
Dogs could be heard ‘howling in distress’ from a ‘vile-smelling’ shed at the bottom of the garden.
One witness told campaigners at an animal protection website: ‘The state of the place was awful. The smell, the dogs were so happy to see people but they were covered in their own waste. No water, no food, their beds were covered in waste. Awful that this is allowed to happen.’
Another said: ‘They are always escaping. All they want is some food and some love, none of which they get there.’
Some witnesses provided their contact info to a dog warden who attended and were promised a call-back but at time of writing the local website report said they were still waiting.
One woman wrote on Facebook: ‘The wardens already knew. I gave them so much evidence she was still dealing pups despite having a previous ban but they didn’t give a f***.’ Lancaster City Council today confirmed that last week’s incident at the property is now being investigated.
A spokesperson today told MailOnline: ‘Lancaster City Council Dog Wardens and Animal Licensing Assistants, along with the police, last week responded to a report that a number of dogs had escaped from a premises on Coastal Road and were posing a danger to motorists as well to themselves.
‘The owner of the dogs was made aware of the incident and returned home as soon as she was informed.
‘In line with our normal investigation procedure, officers visited the domestic premises earlier this week to follow up the incident with the resident and the witnesses who stopped to help recover the animals.
‘These investigations are still ongoing so we unable to provide further details at this time.’
Pictured: A sickly-looking puppy from Red Rose Kennels which later died
Fury, who lives nearby in Morecambe, has been photographed promoting another of Ms Sutcliffe’s firms, a pet shop and dog grooming business in Lancaster called Pets R Us
Two-time World Heavyweight Champion Fury, 34, owns the property in Hest Bank, Lancaster, through his company Tyson Fury Ltd, of which he is the sole director and shareholder, recording net assets of £52million, according to Companies House.
Land Registry records show that Tyson Fury Ltd became the owner of the property in November 2019, paying £247,000 for the semi-detached house and land at the back of it.
There is no suggestion that the boxer has any involvement in the dog breeding business being conducted at the property he owns, and is unclear whether is aware of the concerns raised about animal welfare.
According to Companies House records, both Sutcliffe and her business partner Jack Reay – whose breeding licence was also revoked last year following a linked raid – are directors of Pets R Us & Fertility Clinic, Morecambe Ltd.
Fury, who lives nearby in Morecambe, has been photographed promoting Pets R Us. In the photo, Fury is holding his Rottweiler, which he is reported to have bought last summer as a guard dog, paying up to £20,000 for the animal.
In other photos on Jack Reay’s Facebook page, he can be seen socialising in a group of men with Fury.
Dog wardens from Lancaster City Council were called to the semi-detached property after a tip-off from a member of the public in June 2022, over the welfare of 25 dogs at the house.
A total of 16 adult dogs and 9 puppies were found in dingy stable blocks last summer, many of them covered in their own excrement.
The officials said in a report to local councillors that the dogs had been left untended for ‘a considerable period’. There was ‘an imminent threat to the welfare of many of the dogs’ according to the council’s report last June.
The dogs in one of the two stable blocks had ‘no light, no water, no food and heavily soiled bedding’, according to the report.
In the second were puppies, with ‘no mum, no water, no food’ and also filthy bedding.
The report said it was clear that no-one had been to the premises in at least four hours and when contacted on the phone, Sutcliffe – believed to have been out of the country – said someone else was supposed to be looking after the dogs for her.
According to Companies House records, both Sutcliffe and her business partner Jack Reay (pictured above) – whose breeding licence was also revoked last year following a linked raid – are directors of Pets R Us & Fertility Clinic, Morecambe Ltd
A damning report laid bare the failures that saw 16 adult dogs and 9 puppies found in dingy stable blocks last summer, many of them covered in their own excrement. When contacted on the phone Sutcliffe (above) – believed to have been out of the country – said someone else was supposed to be looking after the dogs for her
The officers found 11 ‘easily identifiable’ breaches of animal licence conditions and recommended that her licence be immediately revoked.
The report added: ‘She [Sutcliffe] has been informed she will be asked to attend a formal interview under caution, and this will be her opportunity to answer specific questions and explain what happened.’
The raid on the property at Hest Bank was linked with another visit to breeding premises called Red Rose Kennels at nearby Overton, run by Sutcliffe’s business partner Jack Reay, 29.
According to the report following the raid at Red Rose, one of the puppies was suffering from overheating and later died.
The report stated: ‘Following veterinary examination one puppy was found to have an infected umbilical hernia, requiring veterinary treatment. One pup was hyperthermic and later died.
‘Two breeding bitches had vaginal infections. One breeding bitch was found to be underweight. All dogs were found to be dirty, with dry faecal matter and malodourous smell.’
However, following the raids on Reay and Sutcliffe’s premises, most of the dogs were returned to them.
A Lancaster City Council spokesperson said at the time: ‘Responding to concerns raised by a member of the public, earlier this month the council’s animal licencing service visited two sites, one in Overton and another in Hest Bank, and based on the circumstances at the time action was taken to remove a number of adult dogs and puppies to safeguard their welfare.
‘Some of the dogs were taken for veterinary assessment before being transferred to a local kennels to allow time to carry out an investigation.
‘Based on the findings at the time, the licence to breed dogs was revoked for both operators. There is a right of appeal against the revocation.
‘The council has been in discussions with the owners of the dogs, and reviewing legal options available to safeguard the future welfare of the dogs. Working with the owners, and having been satisfied that the facilities on site are now suitable, it has been agreed to return the majority of the dogs.
‘The council’s animal licensing team will continue to monitor the condition and welfare of the dogs by unannounced visits and has requested confirmation of the intentions for rehoming and long term care of the animals.’
MailOnline contacted Mr Fury’s agent for comment. Sutcliffe was unavailable.
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