An abandoned jeep rests at the entrance of a quiet property along Clabby Road, nestled between the villages of Clabby and Fivemiletown in Northern Ireland.

Beside it, tall fences and watchful security cameras stand guard, leading the way down a long, shadowed lane that winds into a forest, eventually revealing a farmhouse surrounded by sheds. 

Yet, what lies hidden behind is far from ordinary.

Here, sprawling sheds dominate the landscape, forming a complex believed to house around 900 breeding bitches, spanning across three licensed breeding establishments.

It houses the UK Dog Breeding Academy, operated by David and Jonathan Hamilton, once known as Furnish Kennels; Douglas Hall Kennels, run by Eric Lancaster; and Kelly’s Kennels, managed by William and Kelly Feeney.

As of 2022, Mr Lancaster, who owns Douglas Hall Kennels based in Newchurch-in-Pendle, holds a licence for 250 breeding bitches, granted by the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.

Meanwhile, by April 2023, David Hamilton received a licence for 250 bitches and 100 dogs at this very address. William and Kelly Feeney, as of March 2023, have permission for 300 bitches.

Stretching as far as the eye can see are nearly 80 kennels and runs. On closer inspection, small white dogs can be seen sitting in the early September sunshine or moving around in their pens.

This location has found itself in the media spotlight before.

In 2015, the Hamiltons were featured in a BBC Scotland documentary, The Dog Factory, which exposed secretly filmed footage from their breeding operation.

The scenes were described as “barbaric” by a senior Scottish government vet.

After the programme aired, a devastating fire claimed the lives of seven dogs and six puppies, an event the Hamiltons claimed was directly linked to the documentary.

They told our sister paper The Impartial Reporter at the time: “We’ve received all sorts of threats — people saying they’ll kill us, harm our children; I’ve never faced anything like this.”

During the interview, Mr. Hamilton stated his business’s reputation was “ruined,” and he vowed to take the programme-makers to “the highest court in the land".

He defended his operation, asserting that it adhered to dog breeding legislation, adding that the council’s environmental health officers had thoroughly inspected the facility, likely in response to the documentary, and “found no issues.”

Criticism, however, continued to mount, with an online campaign calling for the closure of the Hamiltons’ puppy farm gaining nearly 10,000 supporters.

Earlier this year, the site became the subject of controversy once more, as thousands of people responded to a planning consultation seeking approval for additional kennels and exercise runs.

It was feared that the extension would enable the facility to house over 1,000 dogs.

More than 1,900 objections were lodged following the 2022 application, with local animal sanctuary Bright Eyes vocally opposing the plans.

The sanctuary referred to the site as a “puppy farm” and, in a statement to The Impartial Reporter, said: “We at Bright Eyes Animal Sanctuary do not approve of puppy farming.

"We believe that puppies and dogs need socialisation for their behavioural and social development.”