A large-scale operation led to the discovery of a clandestine farm in the Var, southern France, where hundreds of animals were living in conditions described as incompatible with their needs. The blitz, conducted by the gendarmerie with the support of the Direction départementale de la protection des populations and the SPA, allowed 823 animals to be saved, including dogs, rabbits, birds and other pets.
The intervention took place at dawn in the wooded area of Flassans-sur-Issole, a few kilometers from Brignoles, after numerous reports received from veterinarians, buyers and associations. The suspicions concerned the sale of puppies with behavioral disorders, a detail that pushed investigators to delve deeper into the activity of the alleged breeding farm.
Puppies sold online and extreme hygienic conditions
According to what emerged, the heart of the business was online sales through Le Bon Coin, with particular attention to border collies, a highly sought-after breed. The animals were raised in an overcrowded and under-fed environment, in facilities described as unhealthy, full of excrement and lacking natural light and ventilation.
During the operation, 237 dogs, 268 rabbits, 267 pigeons, 5 goats, 2 pigs, 9 guinea fowl, 12 chickens and 19 parakeets were found. Such a quantity as to require complex logistics for securing and subsequent distribution to animal protection associations scattered throughout France.
Investigations into hidden profits and possible criminal offences
The checks also revealed undeclared financial flows of more than €200,000 between 2020 and 2026, fueled by the sale of animals. An element that strengthened the hypothesis of a structured and continuous activity, despite the absence of any official authorization. The investigation opened by the Draguignan parquet concerns illegal exercise of the activity, abandonment of animals and serious mistreatment. The suspected couple, heard in a free hearing, could now face legal proceedings.
For the associations involved, this is one of the most impressive operations of recent years. The recovery of over eight hundred animals required coordination between law enforcement, veterinary services and reception facilities, highlighting the dimension of a clandestine activity which, for years, remained hidden among the vegetation and silence of the forest.
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