CRUEL AND ABHORRENT

Off duty Kilmarnock cop helps bring down callous puppy farmer

- MARK MCGIVERN

An off-duty cop brought down a puppy farm operation after a tiny dog she bought for her children died just three days later.

Elaine McArthur was among 20 people who bought puppies from Julie Taylor, who was selling dogs riddled with disease from her council house in Stewarton

After enduring a three-day nightmare over a Christmas weekend, Elaine's cockapoo pup Marley fought for life then died of deadly parvo virus.

Distraught mum Elaine turned the tables on Taylor by calling in SSPCA investigators, who raided the trader's home and shut the operation down.

Taylor, 41, was caught red-handed with 16 terrified dogs, of various breeds, being held in a filthy toilet and covered in dog waste.

Taylor admitted cruelty and operating without a licence, which saw her banned from keeping dogs for 10 years at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Tuesday, June 17.

Police constable Elaine, from Kilmarnock, told how she was buying the pup for her 11-year-old twins Jack and Amy two days before Christmas in 2023.

All three had fallen in love with the pup on sight. But after taking the pup home he fell ill with parvo virus and a vet had to put him to sleep three days later.

Elaine said: "The experience was very traumatic for all of us and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. It was a real ordeal for the family and it was all about these people making easy money.

"Amy was really badly affected by it all. She didn't want another dog because she was really broken hearted."