Crufts winner banned from owning dogs for a decade after dozens found starving in her squalid home

A former Crufts winner has been banned from owning dogs for a decade after 77 emaciated and seriously ill dogs – including 20 puppies – were discovered living in squalor in his home.

Animal welfare teams were left “horrified” by conditions at Lynda Cooper’s Pontypool home after responding to a complaint about suspected illegal breeding in 2024. Pictures show the neglected state in which dozens of dogs lived, with many being “significantly underweight” and suffering from ear and tooth infections.

At a hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on June 19, he pleaded guilty to 11 animal welfare offences, including causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet the welfare needs of animals in his care, and to breeding dogs without a licence. Cooper was given a 12-month suspended prison sentence, ordered to pay £10,000 in prosecution costs and not allowed to own a dog for ten years.

The 74-year-old won six awards at Crufts in 2016 with his Bracco Italiano hunting dog. Speaking at the time, he reportedly said: “I love my gun dogs and do shows with them every weekend, there is no prize money and I do it purely for fun. Crufts was a great event this year and I’ll be doing it until I leave.”

Animal welfare inspectors first visited his home in August 2024 after rehoming charity Hope Rescue received a surrender request from Cooper, who surrendered 23 dogs, including three mothers and 20 puppies.

But officers were “immediately concerned” by the conditions they saw in dogs living in filth and became aware that other dogs were also living on the property.

Animal Licensing Wales (ALW) and Torfaen Council returned with their Licensing and Trading Standards teams and removed a further 54 dogs from the premises. Officers described their situation as “devastating”, saying dozens of people suffered severe malnutrition, ear infections and dental problems. Six of the elderly dogs were put to sleep after the rescue efforts due to the severity of their illness.

Sara Rosser, Hope Rescue’s head of operations, said Cooper’s case was “one of the most challenging and distressing cases” the charity’s team had ever encountered.

“The dogs were in a devastating state when they arrived – they were extremely underweight, many suffered from advanced dental disease and chronic ear infections,” he said. “The older dogs had lost muscle mass and mobility and were so physically exhausted that they could not reach food before the younger dogs. Many, especially the younger dogs, were very nervous and lacked life experience, so they needed additional support and rehabilitation.”

Daniel Morelli, head of public protection and environment at Torfaen Council, said Cooper’s actions had caused “serious and unnecessary suffering to a significant number of animals”.

He added: “We will not hesitate to take action where animal welfare has been neglected and we thank our partner agencies and Hope Rescue for the important role they played in the investigation and the subsequent care and protection of affected dogs and puppies.”

comes later Independent It has been announced that 2026 Crufts Best in Show winner Lee Cox was previously found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog in his care.

Mr Cox was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a black cocker spaniel called Adam after a three-day trial at Sedgemoor Magistrates’ Court in Somerset in September 2001.