A controversial plan to revive the breeding of dogs on the site of a notorious illegal puppy farm has been abandoned.
Animal welfare campaigners and local leaders welcomed the eleventh-hour withdrawal of the proposals for a farm unit near Fyvie.
The breeding licence application sparked particular concern as it was submitted by a woman, three of whose family members were successfully prosecuted for keeping dogs in appalling conditions there in 2014.
Aberdeen Council – which last year granted temporary planning permission for buildings at the East Mains of Ardlogie farm to be used as kennels – decided to refer the matter to councillors.
But the bid was dropped before the Formartine area met – to the relief of local representatives and animal welfare charities.
Marion Ewenson of the Fyvie, Rothie and Monquhitter Community Council, said she hoped it would be the end of the matter.
She added: “It is certainly welcome that they have dropped it for now.
“Given that they were related, I did not think it was a good idea.”
Aberdeen-based Dog Action Working Group Scotland (Dawgs) had urged refusal of the application “given their past history”.
A spokesman revealed the case had prompted a wave of people to come forward willing to oppose any new breeding business.
He conformed the charity would continue to monitor the situation, but added: “The guns were primed and loaded for objections.”
The Scottish SPCA, whose inspectors found animals in an appalling state at the remote farm in 2013 after the underground business was exposed, had discussed the case with the council.
A spokesman said: “We weren’t involved in the application process but we welcome the fact that the application has now been withdrawn.”
Three men from the same family – Frank and Sean James of Montrose and Edward James of Aberdeen – admitted keeping 72 dogs in horrific conditions at Aberdeen Sheriff Court in October 2014.
Sean James, who was 18 at the time and was ordered to carry out 50 hours of community service and banned from keeping more than two dogs for three years, was the named agent on the planning application.
The breeding licence was submitted in the name of Elizabeth James, the daughter of Frank James.
Under the terms of the planning decision, the modular units that were supposed to house the dogs must be removed within a month of the end of the 12-month permission – November 6.
