Dog Owner Demands Excavation at Rescue Centre Where 41 Pets Died
A dog owner who fears his pet is buried at a fraudulent rescue centre where dozens of animals perished in squalid conditions has called for police to conduct a full excavation of the site. Daryll Olde made the demand after conman Oaveed Rahman, 26, was jailed for leaving 41 dogs and one cat to starve to death without access to water.
Horrific Discovery at Save A Paw Facility
Police raided the home in Crays Hill, Essex, last May and discovered the remains along with 20 dogs that were still alive. Three of those survivors were later euthanised due to the severe neglect they had endured. The facility, operating under the name Save A Paw, was run by Rahman from his residence, where he offered to house, train, or rehome pets for a fee.
Now Mr Olde, who worries his dog may be among the deceased, asserts there could be hundreds more pets concealed at the site on Hope Road. Essex Police stated the dire condition of the compound made it impossible to provide answers for each affected person. However, detectives involved in a UK-wide investigation to identify the owners of the dead dogs told the BBC that the animals were found in various states of decomposition.
Heartbreaking Decisions and Unanswered Questions
Mr Olde made the very difficult decision to surrender his Tibetan mastiff, Tiny, to Save A Paw in December 2024 after her behaviour deteriorated and he feared she might harm his children. When the 40-year-old from Maidstone, Kent, dropped Tiny off, he was surprised to see Rahman having a patio laid during winter.
"I am a strong believer that if they dig up that patio there will be hundreds of dogs under there, 100%," said Olde. "Because of how many dogs died there, there has to be more. If we were dealing with humans, the whole house would've been torn down."
Caroline Park, from Northumberland, also sent two dogs – Deebo and Demon – to Save A Paw that December due to a change in family circumstances. She now knows Deebo is alive and was re-homed without her permission, but remains in the dark about Demon's fate.
"If that had been a murder scene where they'd found human remains, they would've dug the entire garden up looking for more evidence," the 54-year-old told the BBC. "It's one of those things where I'm not sure if I want to know or not. But if I don't then I'll always be wondering, 'Did he make it out or is he buried in the garden somewhere?'"
Legal Consequences and Police Response
Rahman admitted to animal cruelty, fraud, and owning a banned XL Bully. He was sentenced to five years in prison at Basildon Crown Court on Friday and received a lifetime ban from keeping dogs and cats. Judge Richard Conley remarked: "The gravity of offending is so great... I can barely conceive of a more serious offence of this type."
Essex Police emphasised they were thorough in responding to what they described as a deeply upsetting scene. A spokeswoman explained: "We know we have not been able to find answers for every single person, and very sadly the conditions at the address meant that was not possible."
Superintendent Leigh Norris, who oversaw the operation, added: "As a dog owner and lover myself, this was an incredibly troubling investigation. The loss that previous owners feel is not lost on me." Inspector Steve Parry of Essex Police echoed these sentiments, noting the scenes encountered by officers were deeply upsetting for all who attended.
Ongoing Investigation and Emotional Toll
Supt Norris further stated: "We may never truly know the extent of his offending. The remains of a number of animals were unfortunately unidentifiable. We would dearly love to have been able to update every previous owner who made a report to us, but this was not possible. The loss which previous owners feel is not lost on us."
An RSPCA spokesman commented: "This has been an extremely upsetting case for everyone involved, particularly those who entrusted dogs into the care of Save A Paw." The investigation continues as authorities work to identify more of the deceased animals and provide closure to their owners.
