Tonight I have spoken at my local planning meeting against an extension in planning permission to increase the breeding capacity of a local and questionable breeder of German Shepherds. Although ostensibly the committee said they could not take account of the welfare issues, the application was rejected and I believe in part because of the input we had. Now I need to ensure that this breeder does not have more than 38 dogs at any one time on the premises, and no more than 7 litters per year. Any suggestions how we ensure this is true, and how we can determine whether the health of dogs bred there is acceptable (the two I know have terrible hip problems). The Kennel Club (heaven forgive me!) don't seem that interested.

Are you a private person, or county council member, residents Association member, or what? In future actions you may need to make this clear. You need to have a good working knowledge of The Breeding Of Dogs Act, which the KC should provide you with. If not, the local council should be able to.
You can watch the Breed records to see how many litters are being registered, which does not mean those are the only litters bred. As a business he will have to supply the tax people with returns, so check how many bitches his dogs stud that are not his (stud fees). You have no power of entry onto his premises, so cannot check the welfare of his animals unless you are invited in. Constantly reporting him to the Police (noise?) or the RSPCA will not bode well for you if these reports are illfounded. Unfourtunatly, with regard to hips, eyes etc, all tests are volentary, and the KC will register pups from parents with bad results, so it is not illegal to breed these puppies. Spreading roumers about the health and quality of his stock will cause court problems for you.
If you live close enough, keep an informed diary over 12 mths of all you see and hear from there--barking, how often dogs are taken for walks, volume of traffic and reg numbers of cars (puppy or stud clients) clippings from papers etc advertising puppies(or studs), the KC breed records, and compile a folder. Should problems occur with this person, this is good evidence of a typical year in business.
This is all I can think of at present.

If you are going to keep any sort of records whether writtem oral or visual(photographs etc) you need to ensure you do not breach anyone's rights under the Human Rights Act
Even Police, Local Authorities & Government Organizations have to get permission to watch & record people's activities even of known offenders
The police do not deal with noise that is now dealt with by the Environmental Health office of the Local Authority.
Be very careful if you make repeated complaints. A rescue I help with has(totally unfounded)complaints made re noise even after a rebuild of their kennels. When the complaints continued after the rebuild the rescues solicitor made counter complaints to the court & a harassment case against the Local Authority & the complaintant was upheld
I don't agree with anyone over breeding especially GSD's are I love the breed dearly. So please don't think I condone this person doing so, but everyone has rights & keeping tabs on someone day & night is fraught with danger
Please be very careful

I take your point. But, I wonder if a Neighbourhood Watch could be set up, this is run with the help and advice of the local police, and residents record vehicular movement etc and keep records........you would have professional advice to guide you, and could watch movement in and around the area.
Someone has to watch over breeding establishments, which I think comes under enviromental health. And breed records and adverts in papers are there for all to see........ :)

Dear Caitlin,well done for trying to stand aginst this person,its very hard to ensure that people dont breed too many litters when the K C registration scheme is so open to fraud,plus people putting bitches on breeding terms etc which is how some people get round the amount of letter they breed,the KC who have the power to stop it will not do so because too much money is at stake,we have a large puppy supermarket not far a way the equivalent to TOYS Are Us and people can go in and buy almost any breed they are in clean surroundings but are mostly bred in puppy farms,people can pay by credit card so If they Pop in to look they usually end up buying a puppy which they have not planned for,I am a rescue co ordinator and have lost count of the times I have taken in puppies who have been bought this way sometimes costing £400.00 and hardly resmbling a labrador all with KC papers,I once went myself and saw two litter of blacl Lab pups in the same pen,I asked how they would know which was which and was told my the manager people who come in here just want a pet they dont know what a pedigree is.
Whilst the Kc have such a flawed system and there are greedy puppy farmers we dont stand a chance of fairness to dogs in this country. I wish you luck in your quest

Unfortunately if the Council give the breeder and Extensive Breeding Licence, he can have as many dogs as he wishes and there is nothing you can do about it. He must comply with the new Government legislation on the Breeding of Dogs act, and his premises must be passed as suitable by the Environmental Health department each year. The Kennel Club will do nothing to help unless a breeder is prosecuted and found guilty of certain irregularities.
Until two years ago a <breeder> was churning out many different breeds at the <breeding kennels>. They were not kennels to speak of, only old caravans, cars, wooden boxes, rabbit hutches, bits of tin put together etc. It looked more like a breakers yard than somewhere animals would be obliged to live. There must have been at least 200 dogs on site. And a lot of very sick ones. It took the local council, Environmental Health dept, RSPCA and myself almost two years of constant hassling to get something done. The person was taken to court and prosecuted. The KC finally stopped registering the <breeders> puppies. I can't even begin to describe the place or what the owners practices were, it would take too long and probably give you nightmares.

Out of interest, may I ask what 'sentence' was passed on them ? :-) Leigh