Kennels saga

A six-year saga surrounding dog breeding kennels in mid Norfolk took a new twist when the owner handed over another 90 labradors to the RSPCA.

Christina Cade agreed to give the dogs away after the organisation contacted

her following a tip-off from a concerned caller.

It comes about four years after Miss Cade, of Woodgate Lane, Swanton Morley, gave 180 labradors to the RSPCA - which prompted a huge influx of calls for re-homing them.

The RSPCA has not yet issued an appeal for re-homing the dogs given over on Monday.

Miss Cade did not want to comment, but neighbours gave a statement on her behalf.

In it they said: “Miss Christina Cade has been gravely ill, so under these extreme circumstances, and with great sadness, she has decided to voluntarily to give up the love of her life, her dogs - with the exception of a few of her much loved old girls.

“Miss Cade trusts that although the circumstances that have brought about this action are unfortunate in the extreme, those people of Swanton Morley who have tried so hard to have her kennels closed over many years will feel some sense of satisfaction.”

Sophie Wilkinson, spokesman for the RSPCA, said: “We can confirm we have moved 90 labradors from a mid-Norfolk property.

“The dogs are currently at a Cambridgeshire RSPCA centre where they are being checked by vets.

“We were contacted by someone concerned about the situation. When we contacted the owner and they agreed to hand them over.

“At this point in time we are not concerned about welfare issues or looking at a prosecution. We're not appealing for them to be re-homed yet. Anyone interested should keep checking our website.”

The development is the latest episode in a long-running story, which also included a planning row about new kennels on the site.

Miss Cade used to run a gun dog breeding business from the property, but was forced to reduce the number of dogs on her premises.

In 2005, she was convicted of 11 offences relating to breeding, disqualified from dog breeding for 12 months and given a two year conditional discharge.

In August 2006, Miss Cade was

ordered to pay more than £4,000 after running a dog breeding business without a licence.

She had 127 labrador type dogs and 59 puppies in kennels on land at

her home and was in the process of reapplying for one from Breckland Council.

But at no time has she been prosecuted for or convicted of any offence involving cruelty to, neglect of, or ill treatment of her dogs.

Early on Monday morning, RSPCA officials arrived in vans to collect

90 dogs.