A 51-year-old woman has appeared in court accused of selling a sick puppy from an illegal pet shop and breeding centre at her home.
Julie Hutchings, of Beeches Road, Chelmsford, is on trial at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on charges of running a non-licensed breeding establishment and non-licensed pet shop in 2013.
Chelmsford City Council, which is prosecuting, says she kept at least five litters of puppies in one year with intent to sell, was dishing out business cards and was advertising the dogs on websites.
But Hutchings claims she was simply quarantining dogs from Moulsham Street shop Aquapets and was advertising dogs on their behalf.
On Monday, the council's prosecuting lawyer, Andrew Nicklin, said: "On that premises there is a business of breeding dogs for sale."
Mr Nicklin said the city council first stumbled across Hutchings when city public health protection officer Siobhan Sheridan spotted her unloading a crate of puppies at a microchipping event on Thursday, May 2, 2013 at Melbourne Park.
When asked if she was a breeder, Hutchings allegedly said no and "quickly packed away the dogs in the car", leaving after passing a man a business card.
Two weeks later, Hutchings again came to the attention of the city council when a woman claimed she sold her a £395 pedigree Yorkshire terrier with an ear mites infection and worms.
Alison Munday claims she spotted the dogs on a website advert and collected the pet from Hutchings' home on May 8, where the defendant allegedly admitted to having ten dogs at home at the time.
Three days later, Ms Munday e-mailed Hutchings complaining she was already having to pay a veterinary bill.
A second complaint from disgruntled customer Rosemary Wilson claimed she bought a Yorkshire terrier/bichon frise hybrid from Hutchings' home on Christmas Eve, where Hutchings explained she was a dog translator and "knows what they're thinking through their behaviour".
While under cross-examination, Hutchings told the court these were her only two dog sales within a 24-month period, and that the money paid off veterinary bills.
She also claimed that the majority of dogs at her home were owned by Moulsham Street shop Aquapets, and she was simply quarantining them and advertising dogs on its behalf.
Hutchings said: "They were advertised to generate interest and if anyone contacted me they were given the shop's details."
The trial was adjourned on Monday and is expected to conclude on Tuesday, February 17, when Aquapets owner Michele Pawsey also gives evidence.
The Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 states it is illegal to keep a business of breeding dogs with a view to being sold without a licence.
