Nicolas Grant St James of Carhampton has pleaded guilty to multiple animal welfare offences following an RSPCA investigation into the Golden Retriever Experience in Dunster.
Inspectors found more than 40 dogs crammed inside his home, with two already dead.
Dogs kept in terrible conditions
The animals were kept in overcrowded, dirty conditions with no bedding or access to fresh drinking water. Some suffered serious injuries, including one dog whose genitals were severed in a fight.
Visitors had paid to spend time with the dogs, but concerns were raised in May 2024 when complaints emerged about injuries and neglect.
District Judge Brereton described the setup as “woefully inadequate” and criticised Grant St James for showing “no remorse or victim empathy,” adding he was more concerned about financial losses than animal welfare.
10 year ban
The RSPCA confirmed that none of the dogs' basic needs were met under the Animal Welfare Act.
Grant St James was handed a 10-year ban from keeping dogs and a suspended prison sentence. The attraction’s licence has since been revoked.
