Kennel in Brunava back in spotlight over puppy sales after more than 100 dogs were seized

The animal breeding facility “Lieldeviņzare” in Brunava Parish, where the Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) seized more than 100 dogs in 2024 due to poor welfare conditions, has once again drawn public attention. Residents have reported that dog breeding and puppy sales have resumed in the area, and advertisements have appeared online. The PVD explains that current legislation does not prevent the owner from continuing this activity.

“Bauskas Dzīve” received information last week that dogs are again being bred at the property and that several puppies are being offered on the classifieds portal ss.lv without pedigree documents, including animals resembling Schipperkes and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers. Locals asked how this could happen after earlier violations.

Mairita Riekstiņa, head of the PVD Veterinary Object Supervision Department, reminded that the administrative penalty imposed on the kennel’s owner Daiga Maceša took effect on 1 May 2024. Although the owner previously said she would appeal the decision, no court proceedings have taken place. The service stresses that an administrative fine does not mean a ban on keeping or breeding animals. The article of the Animal Protection Law under which the person was punished does not provide an additional penalty prohibiting animal ownership, and no other regulations allow such a ban solely because animal welfare requirements were violated in the past.

This year, after receiving a complaint, the PVD carried out an inspection at “Lieldeviņzare”. It found several regulatory violations: non-compliance with feed quality and storage requirements, shortcomings in animal registration, and breeding that had not been declared in the Rural Support Service database. The service also confirmed it was aware of online advertisements linked to the mentioned phone number, but noted that this fact alone does not justify prohibiting the person from keeping or transferring dogs if legal requirements are met.

Maceša has a registered animal keeping place. According to the PVD, anyone wishing to breed and sell dogs must comply with the Animal Protection Law, the Veterinary Medicine Law and Cabinet of Ministers regulations on the welfare and protection of domestic animals and on the transfer of domestic animals. A prohibition on keeping animals for up to two years is only foreseen for people punished for cruelty to animals; an administrative penalty for welfare violations does not have this consequence. The PVD says it will continue to monitor the site and apply administrative measures if new violations are found.

Previously, “Bauskas Dzīve” reported that dogs seized from the kennel were later sold for €4 each and that the owner was fined €700.