Farm dog breeding 'unnecessary', objectors say

Dog breeding kennels at a farm are "unnecessary, inappropriate, and contrary to wider animal welfare concerns", objectors to a retrospective planning application have said.

The kennels were already built at Summerer Farm on Weeton Road, close to Weeton Barracks in Poulton, Lancashire.

Dairy farmer Jack Fryar is seeking permission from Fylde Council for two buildings with 18 kennels.

He said the animals were working dogs, rather than pets, and the scheme was subject to rigorous rules, including Kennel Club stipulations.

Planning consultants, in support of the application, said noise levels would remain within acceptable limits and would not exceed background levels, while Lancashire County Council highways officers have raised no objections.

But objector and professional dog walker Darren Mason, from Blackpool, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "Another breeding operation is the last thing we need around here."

Mason, 47, who is about to register a formal objection, added the "proposal is unnecessary, inappropriate, and contrary to wider animal welfare concerns.

"Animal rescue charities and dog welfare organisations are struggling with increasing numbers of abandoned, surrendered, and neglected dogs."

He added further dog breeding activity would be "disconnected" from reality and risked adding more pressure to an overstretched system.

Wendy Mulele, who runs local rescue charity, Homeward Bound, added: "Companion animals are not like livestock, they need to be raised in a family setting rather than breeding kennels.

"This application concerns me a great deal."

However, Fryar said many people did not understand the set-up which entailed breeding labradors and cocker spaniels.

He said: "We work on a dairy farm and have always had working dogs but we wanted to sell just a few of them so we applied to the council for a licence, trying to do everything correctly and above board.

"These dogs are properly bred, with really strict guidelines, and they are gun dogs, involved in outdoor sports, not everyday pets.

"The kennels are huge, state-of the-art and well-maintained. A council official said they were the best she had ever seen.

"There has been a big reaction to our plans on social media, but people outside farming don't understand what is entailed."

Planning documents said work started in April 2025 and included building two kennel buildings, a concrete yard, drainage and associated infrastructure.

These would allow expanded dog breeding to generate additional income as part of the diversification of the long-established 500-acre dairy farm.

The new kennels would see breeding increase from one or two litters to about six litters a year, with puppies remaining on site for eight weeks before being sold.

Each kennel block would house about 12 to 15 dogs, with breeding mainly taking place in the summer.

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