Fake Rehoming Centre Owner Jailed for Starving Dogs to Death in Barbaric Case
Oaveed Rahman, a 26-year-old man from Essex, has been sentenced to five years in prison for a horrific case of animal cruelty and fraud, after he left dozens of dogs and a cat to starve to death at a fake rehoming centre. The court heard that Rahman took nearly £5,000 from victims, promising to care for their pets, but instead subjected the animals to barbaric neglect, with carcasses found piled up like rubbish.
Gruesome Discovery at Save A Paw Centre
On May 13 last year, police and a veterinary surgeon, Amy Cooper, visited Rahman's property in Crays Hill, Billericay, Essex, which he operated under the name Save A Paw. Ms Cooper reported that she could smell rotting flesh from 40 metres away, and upon inspection, found masses of dog bodies riddled with maggots, with rats infesting the kennels. Remains were discovered in bins and scattered throughout the site, described by the sentencing judge as being piled up "like rubbish".
Some 21 dogs were found alive, kept in pens or confined to small spaces with no access to food, despite open bags of food being present on the property. Faeces covered the pens and cages, and many dogs were severely underweight. Ms Cooper stated in court that the scene was "the most horrific thing I have ever seen", noting that the animals were all suffering immensely.
Victims' Heartbreak and Financial Loss
Rahman's fraud involved convincing pet owners to entrust their beloved animals to his care, with victims paying surrender fees and donations totalling around £4,800. He falsely claimed the money would be used for rehoming, building a new kennel block, or training dogs, and even presented Save A Paw as a charity, despite an application for charitable status having been refused.
In emotional victim impact statements read to Basildon Crown Court, owners described their trauma. Emma Thompson, who paid £500 to rehome her dog Lennon due to aggression issues during her pregnancy, said she often thinks about how confused and scared he must have felt, smelling the death of other dogs. Lennon was found dead during the first police raid.
Tina Davis, another victim, rehomed her dog Chad after a fight with her other pet, stating she tortures herself wondering how much he suffered and if he thought she didn't love him. Chad remains missing. Victims sobbed in court as details emerged, with one shouting at Rahman via video link after sentencing.
Sentencing and Legal Consequences
Judge Richard Conley sentenced Rahman to five years' imprisonment, calling his actions "an act of betrayal of epic proportions that has devastated many lives". The sentence includes 38 months for animal cruelty, running consecutively to 22-month terms for 11 counts of fraud by false representation, which run concurrently. Rahman also received a three-month concurrent sentence for owning a banned XL bully dog.
Additionally, he was banned from owning dogs and cats for life, with the possibility to apply for the ban to be lifted after 15 years. A deprivation order was issued, allowing the dogs found at his property to be taken away, and costs will be determined later. Police found 37 dead dogs initially, with four more discovered when a shed was demolished on a subsequent visit.
Aftermath and Animal Welfare
Of the 21 dogs rescued, three were so unwell they had to be euthanised, and one poodle later went blind. Superintendent Leigh Norris of Essex Police noted that the full extent of Rahman's offending may never be known. The case highlights severe animal welfare issues and the dangers of fraudulent rehoming operations, with Rahman using a Facebook page with good reviews to lure victims.
This barbaric case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of verifying animal care services and the devastating impact of such cruelty on both pets and their owners.
