A DOG owner who was caught trying to sell 10 illegal puppies on the social networking web- site, Facebook, has been allowed to save two of his dogs from destruc- tion.

Daniel Lomas was yester- day ordered to put eight of the pitbull-type dogs down at Bolton Magistrates Court.

But one of the puppies, and their mother, can live — but strict conditions were imposed.

Outside Bolton Magis- trates’ Court, Mr Lomas, of Dorset Street, The Haulgh, said: “It’s been a horrible experience but I’m delight- ed it’s all over.

“It’s horrible some of them must die, but at least we saved two. That’s more than I hoped for.”

The court heard how Mr Lomas bought a pitbull- type dog in May 2010, when she was six-weeks-old.

He named her Cheeno and kept her at the house he lived at with his mother, Megan Lomas.

Cheeno became pregnant and gave birth to 10 pup- pies in July.

Bolton police saw the dogs for sale, at £400 each, on Facebook and confiscat- ed them.

One of them has since died.

Mr Lomas admitted charges of keeping, breed- ing and selling dogs con- trary to the Dangerous Dogs Act and was given an 18-month conditional dis- charge.

Inspector Phil Spurgeon, of Bolton Police, told the court: “Cheeno has been raised in a loving, family environment and is a good-natured pet. We have seen in other cases that puppies disappear and sometimes go into unsuitable environ- ments, like households with children, and we have no way of knowing where they have gone.

“Putting puppies down now might seem harsh, but the alternative is facing a problem 10-fold in future.” Chairman of the bench, Valeria Whittle, said: “We regret we have to order the destruction of the puppies. “We feel you have learned a valuable lesson. We will allow Cheeno and one other puppy to stay with you if you agree to condi- tions.”

The two dogs must now be insured, neutured and tattooed and in the future can only go outside with an adult and when wearing a muzzle.

Mr Lomas, who is aged 18, added: “I chose to save Marley because she was the first one Cheeno gave birth to.”