Oaveed Rahman, 26, was sentenced to five years in prison at Basildon Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to cruelty against 21 dogs and a cat, and 11 counts of fraud by false representation. The court heard that police discovered 37 dead dogs at his property in Crays Hill, Billericay, Essex, in May last year, with four more found later when a shed was demolished.
Veterinary surgeon Amy Cooper, who attended the scene, described the smell of rotting flesh as she approached the site. She saw masses of bodies riddled with maggots and rats around the kennels. Judge Richard Conley called Rahman's actions 'an act of betrayal of epic proportions', saying he convinced pet owners to entrust their animals into his care, only to subject them to 'prolonged barbaric mistreatment, cruelty and neglect'.
The court heard that 21 dogs were found alive but kept in pens or confined spaces, with faeces inside the cages and many severely underweight without access to food. Three of the surviving dogs were so unwell they had to be put down, and one poodle later went blind. Rahman operated under the name Save A Paw, claiming to be a charity, but his application for charitable status had been refused.
Victims described their trauma in impact statements read to the court. Emma Thompson, whose dog Lennon was found dead, said she felt 'extremely traumatised', while Tina Davis, who entrusted her dog Chad to Rahman, said she questioned if she would ever forgive herself. After sentencing, a victim shouted at Rahman via video link, telling him to 'rot in there'.
