PUPPY BREEDING: Carmarthenshire still Wales’ biggest hot spot — but investigations fall as RSPCA urges new law review

Carmarthenshire remains the biggest hot spot in Wales for dog breeding investigations, new figures show — even as the county’s own numbers fell.

The data, gathered by RSPCA Cymru through Freedom of Information requests, shows councils across Wales carried out 210 breeding-related investigations in 2025, up from 144 the year before.

That is a 46% rise across the nation in a single year.

Carmarthenshire recorded 46 of those investigations — more than any other Welsh council.

But the county’s figure was down from 59 in 2024, and its prosecutions fell from 12 to just three.

Councils are responsible for licensing dog breeding businesses and checking they meet welfare conditions, as well as for tackling illegal breeding.

An investigation does not necessarily mean wrongdoing, as councils look into complaints from the public that may not be upheld.

The charity has long described Carmarthenshire as one of the UK’s hot spots for dog breeding activity.

Neighbouring councils on patch also reported activity, with Neath Port Talbot’s investigations more than doubling from eight to 18, and Swansea recording 25.

Ceredigion matched Carmarthenshire’s wider profile with 39 investigations, level with the previous year.

Across Wales, prosecutions actually fell despite the rise in investigations — down from 19 in 2024 to seven last year.

Billie-Jade Thomas, senior public affairs manager for RSPCA Cymru, said it was encouraging to see councils investigating complaints from the public.

She said the drop in prosecutions could point to improvement, as many councils now take an advice-led approach and some 2025 cases would still be working through the courts.

“However, we always fear there are many underground sellers undertaking irresponsible breeding practices and providing poor care behind closed doors,” she said.

The figures follow a major review of dog breeding licensing in Carmarthenshire, which the council’s Cabinet backed last year.

That review recommended working more closely with local vets, improving public awareness, and exploring a compulsory scoring system for licensed breeders.

It also made recommendations at a national level, including a review of the current law, a centralised microchipping database and a national scoring system for breeders.

The RSPCA is now urging the new Welsh Government to act on those national recommendations and commit to reviewing the country’s dog breeding laws.

Current rules, introduced in 2015, require anyone keeping three or more breeding bitches or breeding three or more litters a year and selling them to hold a council licence.

The charity argues the scale of breeding in Wales, and the age of the legislation, mean the rules now need revisiting.

In its election manifesto, Plaid Cymru — now leading the Welsh Government — pledged to promote responsible pet ownership and breeding and to publish a new Animal Health and Welfare Plan.

Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, Carmarthenshire’s cabinet member with responsibility for Trading Standards, said the council remained committed to tackling illegal dog breeding.

He said the authority worked with local vets, licensed breeders and the public to raise awareness, “always placing animal welfare at the forefront of our actions.”

He added that the council was “open and willing to engage with any national review of dog breeding regulations should the Welsh Government decide to advance that recommendation.”

Anyone concerned about a breach of licensing rules can contact their local council, while dog welfare concerns can be reported to the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.

Author

Kit Peters

Kit Peters is a journalist and the editor of Swansea Bay News, covering Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire since 2020.