Wood Green pet shop owner evades jail term (From Haringey Independent)

Wood Green pet shop owner evades jail term

4:49pm Wednesday 1st September 2010 in

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A PET shop owner accused of keeping mangy feral cats without even a proper licence has been prosecuted and deemed "not fit" to sell animals.

Husseyin Salih, who owned Animal Kingdom, in Wood Green Shopping City, was stripped of his licence in January following a string of complaints over the welfare of the animals he was keeping.

A parrot on display in the shop window prompted several complaints from shoppers who were distressed by the sight of the tropical bird ripping feathers from his breast until it was bald.

He was repeatedly asked to remove the parrot when it became clear he was not being looked after.

Five customers who bought kittens from Mr Salih found they had brought animals that were suffering from mange, diarrhoea and weepy eyes.

A request for an extension to his licence was refused after Haringey Council ruled he was not a fit and proper candidate under the Pet Animal Act 1951 and asked to remove all animals from his shop.

But Salih ignored the order and continued to sell animals with no licence at all but did refer the decision to Haringey Magistrates Court who dismissed his appeal.

He was prosecuted by the council and given a 12-month conditional discharge, suspended for 12 months, which means he does not have to serve any time in prison.

Councillor Nilgun Canver, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: "Anyone who persistently breaks the licence will be prosecuted by the council and this is an example of the action we will take.

"I would urge traders to abide by the law. If they are in any doubt about their licence they can get in touch with licensing team for advice."