A senior politician was among those who raised concerns about a licenced breeding establishment in Co. Fermanagh, The Impartial Reporter has learned.

Mike Nesbitt, the current Ulster Unionist party leader and Health Minister raised questions in March 2024 on a licenced breeding establishment in Fermanagh, new documents obtained by The Impartial Reporter reveal.

The Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) also voiced concerns in emails released through a Freedom of Information request to Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC).

Mr. Nesbitt asked Andrew Muir, the Minister for Environment, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs an Assembly question on the matter.

In his question, he asked: “What animal welfare inspections have been carried out at the puppy farm in Fivemiletown to ensure basic needs are being met, as outlined by the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare?”

DAERA sent the question to Alison McCullagh, Chief Executive of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council on April 8, 2024.

In a letter to Ms. McCullagh, a DAERA staff member stated: “As district Councils are responsible for inspections relating to The Welfare of Animals (Dog Breeding Establishments and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs do not hold these details, the Minister has advised Mr. Nesbitt on 27 March 2024, that he passed the query to Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and asked that you respond to him directly on this matter.”

The documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act also reveal the concerns (USPCA) had regarding the establishment on the Clabby Road.

In a letter to Ms. McCullagh requesting a meeting on June 29, 2023, a USPCA staff member said they would “value a conversation specifically about dog breeding licenses”.

The letter continued: “We have received several concerns from members of the public about the dog breeding licences at 83 Clabby Road Fivemiletown, owned by the Hamiltons who are concerned about the welfare of the dogs at this breeding establishment.

“We have also received reports about an English dog breeder William and Kelly Fenney who have been allegedly granted a dog breeding license by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council."

A follow-up letter sent from Nora Smith, Chief Executive of the USPCA to the Council Chief again addressed the issue of the licenced breeding establishment in Fivemiletown.

The letter stated: “Returning to our primary motivation for the meeting, concerns about the Hamilton establishment, as an animal welfare charity, we are strongly opposed to all forms of legal and illegal puppy farming.

“Calling it a licensed breeding establishment that runs on similar scales to factories and farms, does not dimmish our concerns."

Ms. Smith expressed the USPCA’s concern surrounding minimum welfare standards: “It is our view that breeding on this industrial scale calls into question the provision of minimum welfare standards and whether the dogs and pups are being kept in conditions that meet the five freedoms as outlined in the Animal Welfare Act (2011). It also raises concerns about the minimum standards required by the 2013 Dog Breeding Establishments’ regulations with regard [to] behaviour, socialisation and enrichment.

“While the establishment may have had written programmes with regard [to] socialisation and enrichment, the ability to deliver the programmes given the scale of the operation requires a sizable skilled staff team.

The letter addressed some of the points in the meeting including surrounding inspections. 

Ms. Smith stated: “At the meeting, you both indicated there are two inspections carried out a year. One announced and one unannounced. Given the scale of the Hamilton operation, a minimum of four a year is more appropriate.

“Is this something the Council would consider given the scale of the Hamilton operation?” she asked.

The USPCA Chief queried if someone from the USPCA could attend the inspection: “We would also ask that at the next unannounced inspection, a USPCA Officer is able to attend as an observer. I appreciate this is highly unusual however, it may help to provide our charity with assurances that at least the minimum standards of care are being met.”