Oaveed Rahman jailed for 5 years after running fraudulent animal rescue operation
Police discovered 41 dead dogs and 21 surviving animals in poor conditions
Over 200 people from 20 counties have contacted police about missing pets
The rescue center operator deceived owners while subjecting animals to extreme squalor
📖 Full Retelling
Oaveed Rahman, the operator of Save A Paw animal rescue center, was jailed for five years at Basildon Crown Court on Friday after Essex Police discovered a mass graveyard of 41 dead dogs during a raid on the facility in Crays Hill, near Billericay in Essex on May 13, 2025. The disturbing find came after police received multiple tips about poor conditions at the rescue center, which had been marketed as a place of hope for abandoned dogs. Supt Leigh Norris, an Essex Police officer with 30 years of experience, described the scene as animal abuse on an unprecedented scale, noting that even seasoned officers were deeply affected by the 'absolutely awful, squalid, very unhygienic conditions' they encountered. During a follow-up search on June 4, officers discovered four more deceased dogs after dismantling an outbuilding, some buried underground, bringing the total to 41 confirmed dead animals. The surviving 21 dogs have been removed for rehabilitation and potential rehoming by the RSPCA and other animal charities. The rescue center operator had already pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and 11 offences of fraud by false representation, having deceived numerous pet owners who paid him fees believing their animals would be properly cared for and rehomed. Over 200 people from approximately 20 counties across the UK have contacted Essex Police, desperate for information about their missing pets, while Basildon Council has launched its own inquiry into what the authority knew about Save A Paw prior to the raid. Despite thorough searches, police acknowledge they may never fully know the true scale of suffering at the facility, with thousands of pieces of evidence reviewed but only a 'very small number' of connections made to owners through microchips and other documentation.
In the system of courts of England and Wales, the Crown Court deals with serious criminal charges and with less serious charges where the accused has elected trial at the Crown Court instead of trial at a magistrates' court. The Crown Court also hears appeals against conviction and sentence from mag...
Essex Police is a territorial police force responsible for policing the county of Essex, in the East of England. Essex Police is responsible for a population of over 1.8 million people and an area of 1,420 square miles (3,700 km2).
The chief constable is Ben-Julian Harrington, who took up the appoin...
The raid uncovered a mass grave of 41 dead dogs and 21 severely ill animals, exposing severe animal cruelty. The case highlights gaps in oversight of animal rescue centres and the need for stricter regulation. Public trust in pet rescue organisations has been shaken.
Context & Background
Police raid revealed 41 dead dogs and 21 injured ones
Owner jailed for five years for cruelty and fraud
Basildon Council launched inquiry into prior knowledge
What Happens Next
Investigations continue to identify owners of the deceased dogs and to ensure all remains are properly recovered. Authorities are reviewing licensing procedures for rescue centres to prevent future abuse. The RSPCA and charities are working to rehome the 20 surviving dogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Save A Paw?
The centre was found to have a mass grave of 41 dead dogs and 21 severely ill animals, leading to the owner being jailed.
How many dogs were found alive?
Twenty dogs were rescued and are being rehomed by charities.
What actions are being taken?
Police are conducting a full excavation, Basildon Council is reviewing oversight, and the RSPCA is rehoming survivors.
Who was jailed?
Oaveed Rahman, 26-year-old owner.
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Original Source
The animal rescue centre that became a mass graveyard of dogs 1 hour ago Share Save Lewis Adams and Stuart Woodward , Essex Share Save Warning: This article contains distressing content Save A Paw was meant to be a place of hope for the dogs sent there by their owners. But when police raided the animal rescue centre in Crays Hill, near Billericay in Essex, they discovered a mass graveyard. Officers found 41 dead dogs and 21 that were still alive but in a dire condition. Supt Leigh Norris, an Essex Police officer of 30 years, says what he saw in Hope Road was animal abuse on an unprecedented scale. Oaveed Rahman, who lived on site and ran Save A Paw, was jailed for five years at Basildon Crown Court on Friday. The 26-year-old had already pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and 11 offences of fraud by false representation. "It was an absolutely awful, squalid, very unhygienic scene," Norris remembers of his visit to Save A Paw. "They were terrible conditions for people and animals to be around." Neighbours and passers-by had tipped police off about the conditions, with some reporting whining and crying coming from the dogs. Detectives gathered intelligence and on 13 May, they raided the property . It became immediately clear the dogs had been living in extreme squalor. Then the remains of 37 animals were found. Norris tells the BBC some of the attending officers still struggle with what they saw. "These were really quite difficult, challenging conditions to have to be working in and to try and gather evidence," the superintendent explains. His officers returned to the property on 4 June and found the remains of four more dogs after dismantling an outbuilding. Some were underground. "[The officers] remained there overnight while we awaited the dignified removal of the remains, because we felt that was absolutely the right thing to be doing," Norris adds. Shannon Jade travelled from her home in Bedfordshire to the Hope Road property on the day of the first raid. "It was ve...
