A couple are mourning the loss of their seven-month-old Beagle puppy that they bought from a licensed breeding establishment registered in County Fermanagh.

Brandon Branigan and his partner Ellie were heartbroken at the weekend when they had to put Arlo to sleep.

They had purchased the dog on August 18 from Kelly’s Kennels in Croft near Warrington. William and Kelly Fenney, the directors of Kelly’s Kennels Limited, have their licensed breeding establishment registered to Clabby Road, Fivemiletown, while their business address remains in the village of Croft.

Mr. Branigan’s vet informed him that his dog was born with congenital kidney disease and underdeveloped kidneys and there was nothing that could be done for the seven-month-old dog.

Describing how his dog took ill two weeks ago, Mr. Branigan said: “Arlo started being sick a lot.

"We went to the vets and they said his temperature was okay at the time, it didn't seem to be an allergic reaction. And then two days after that, we rushed him back in because he was being sick a lot. We did a check, we did his bloods and ultrasound, and they believed there were foreign bodies in his stomach.”

They then found there were no foreign bodies in his stomach explained Mr. Brannigan.

He continued: “He'd got inflamed intestines. He had blood on his stomach lining, and he had a very damaged stomach lining and came out of hospital with gastroenteritis.

“The vet also described to us, after the further bloods and ultrasound that he basically had got congenital kidney disease and this is something he was born with and with undeveloped kidneys.”

When they purchased the dog, the couple did all they could to ensure he “had the best life possible”.

“We had his checks done at the vets, we signed up to the puppy club, we did everything we could.

“We realied in the first few weeks, that he was riddled with separation anxiety and you couldn't leave him for a second. He wasn’t that fussed about being picked up, it was like he had been handled a lot.

“The first weekend, his ears were full of mites and he had an ear irritation, we had to get that cleaned up and get him tested”, Mr. Brannigan said.

On the day that the couple purchased the dog, they were celebrating their third anniversary. They were familiar with Kelly’s Kennels as Ellie had visited the establishment as a child to see the puppies.

Describing his visit, Mr. Branigan said: “When we purchased him, we got told it was 16 weeks old, being four months. He was priced a bit cheaper because it was classed as an older pup. He did ask to see the mother but they said we couldn't at this time.

“By the time we got home, after all the excitement of buying a dog and having a new family member, we got home and worked out, he was actually 20 or 21 weeks, so actually five months old.

“He did ask to see the mother but they said we couldn't at this time."

Mr. Branigan believes that if Arlo had a health disorder from birth, it should have been picked up prior to the sale.

“With the facilities, I seen in Northern Ireland, then they should have the scans, they should have ultrasounds. They should pick up on the genetic side of things when the puppy is born.”

Mr. Branigan is speaking out about his loss as he fears another family could lose their much-loved companion.

He said: “What I am worried about is I don’t want some seven-year-old girl who has got Arlo’s brother or sister from the same litter to have gone through the same pain as us or a family who could not afford the same insurance as us.

“I have vet bills of up to £6,000. He had blood work, he had ultrasounds, I have every bit of evidence from my vets.

“I know coming up to Christmas now, all these families will want these dogs to give to the children, and then come January, February, or March, I don't want any of these go for the same problems and pain.”

Remembering his companion, Mr. Branigan said: “He was my everything to me. I spent every second I could with him. I got up at five o'clock in the morning to walk him. I have not been to the gym in three months because I spent every second I could with him.

“We had a big massive loving bubble between us all and it had been taken away from us.”

Many of the dogs bred in Fivemiletown end up in England. It is not known yet if Arlo was one of them. 

Kelly's Kennels was approached for a comment but did not reply yesterday afternoon.