**Dog Breeder in Newport Orchestrated Illegal Ear Cropping in ‘Grotesque’ Cruelty Case**
A Newport dog breeder has been condemned for orchestrating the cropping of puppies’ ears in what a judge described as acts of “barbaric cruelty”, driven by financial motives. Moheiz Adam, aged 38, arranged for the illegal mutilation of American Bulldog puppies to artificially inflate their value, while also forging documents to disguise the origin of the mutilation.
The revelations emerged following an undercover investigation conducted by journalists from the BBC’s investigative programme, *The Hidden World of Designer Dog Breeding*. Disguised as potential buyers, reporters exposed Adam’s willingness to provide animals with cropped ears—an act illegal in the UK. Adam insisted the procedure could be attributed to overseas practices in order to create a pretext of legality.
At a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court, prosecutor Lee Reynolds reported that Adam stood to gain tens of thousands of pounds from each litter. He boldly claimed that a single puppy could command a price as high as £13,000 and suggested that the cropping procedure was a routine part of his operation. Adam reportedly told the undercover reporter: “All of my dogs have been done by him,” implying a regular arrangement with an individual who cropped the dogs’ ears.
The authorities were first alerted after Newport Council officers carried out an inspection at Adam’s residence on Cromwell Road. Investigators, concerned about animal welfare, found American Bulldogs—including one that had recently undergone ear cropping—and a pregnant French Bulldog. The animals were discovered in what were described as “poor conditions”, prompting their seizure.
Alongside the distressed animals, officials found seven forged canine passports. These false documents were designed to convince future buyers that the dogs’ ears had been cropped before entering the country, in an attempt to exploit a legal loophole. Contracts and sales paperwork uncovered at the property further evidenced the scale of Adam’s breeding and trading enterprise.
In court, it was revealed that Adam had a history of offending, including previous convictions for drug possession, burglary, and weapons offences. Nonetheless, his latest crimes brought new scrutiny, particularly due to their impact on vulnerable animals. Adam ultimately pleaded guilty to fraud and causing unnecessary suffering to animals.
During mitigation, defence representative David Pinnell argued that his client was attempting to reform and move on from his past behaviour. However, Judge Eugene Egan delivered a damning assessment, stating: “You selfishly prioritised your financial interests over and above the welfare of the dogs in this case. You engaged in barbaric acts of cruelty… You lined your pockets in a grotesque, cruel, and wholly needless way.”
The sentence handed down to Adam included an 80-week prison term suspended for two years. He was also banned from keeping animals for 15 years, required to undertake 240 hours of unpaid work, and subjected to a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement. Additionally, Adam was ordered to pay £2,000 in court costs.
This high-profile case highlights ongoing concerns about the unregulated dog breeding industry in the UK. Animal welfare advocates continue to call for tougher enforcement and education to prevent cases such as this, where profit is placed above the wellbeing of animals. The court’s sentencing also serves as a warning that such acts of cruelty and deception will not be tolerated, and those responsible will be brought to justice.