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Updated 9.25pm
THE DSPCA SEIZED 116 puppies from two vehicles leaving Dublin Port for the UK last night.
None of the puppies had the required Pet Passport.
The DSPCA Veterinary team says the puppies, destined for the UK market, were aged 5-8 weeks and included a variety of small breeds.
This is the first case involving a large number of companion animals to be seized under the new Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 - which was passed into law on March 6 last year.
They were seized by the DSPCA Inspectors with the assistance of Customs and the gardaí and the charity has launched an investigation.
The DSPCA says an investigation into this matter is ongoing. Today it told the public to note that these adorable puppies are not yet available for adoption as the matter is still under investigation.
- Additional reporting by Michelle Hennessy.
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Please government…. Outlaw puppy farms.
And please, people, stop buying puppies from people who offer to meet you on the road. That’s a sure sign it’s a puppy farm and the conditions are disgusting. If you’re going to buy a puppy from an ad, rather than a shelter, make sure you see the pup with the bitch. That way you’ll know she’s treated properly and not just being used a breeder.
You need a licence for a dog but not for a child. Interesting world we live in
Sadly they are the lucky ones….. Where are their poor mothers ? Still stuck in dirty , filthy puppy farms where they are been used simply as ‘ profit making machines ‘ , been bred and bred until their nothing left in them. !!!!!!!
Name and shame these B@stards !!
Hope they find “forever” homes for them all and they aren’t put down.
Ironically they’d have found a good home if they were allowed on there way.
+1
Dozens of dogs are being legally shipped to the UK every week from pounds and shelters in Ireland, where they are finding good homes for them – these guys were just underage for pet passports – but at a very adoptable age! Let them go, there is nothing for them here, except perhaps months in purgatory waiting to be adopted…
Too young to be parted from their mother’s.Should be 12 weeks
Would they? How do you know they wouldn’t be the next generation of breeding machines? Plus they’re too young to be away from their mothers, lifetime of behavioral issues.
Looked top end pups and in immaculate condition. Valuable specimens I’d say.
Nothing but dogsbridge here.
It doesn’t make it right even if they had though..would have only been making those heartless criminals money. At least it’s highlighted the issue and there’s a better chance for the mothers of these pups to have a life free of cruelty now.
The poor little puppies.. :(
I hope the two drivers are heavily punished for this.
Rescued a puppy earlier last year & couldn’t recommend it more to anyone looking for a new family friend. You could be having the worst day you could imagine & the joy they give when you arrive home is just unreal…….
The disrespect people show to other life is disgusting & punished severely. They’ll probably just get a small ‘fine’. Ridiculous world we live in.
We got a rescue dog this year too Geoff. Couldn’t agree with you more. Plenty of dogs from rescue centres looking for homes. Forget done deal.
If someone is going to buy a bred dog then on the onus is on them to be a decent person and ensure the seller is legitimate and that the welfare of the dogs is prioritised. As is this is sadly, not the case then these horrific cases occur and keep occurring. I hate seeing ‘designer dogs’ not because of the dog itself but that the dog was bought to fit a lifestyle and bought on how it looks. Go to the pound, lots of great dogs all with sad stories. I adopted my best friend there 4 years ago, without over-exaggerating…he’s the best dog ever!!!
I hate to see pups advertised on donedeal, I say if there was a proper investigation into puppy breeding 90% would be advertised on donedeal.
Same names, phone numbers, locations, popping up again and again.
Reputable breeders don’t advertise on donedeal.
We got our guy in DSPCA 5 years ago and haven’t looked back since. He’s with us in London now. Love him :)
Not all pure bred “designer dog” owners should be tarred with the same brush! We adopted out Japanese spitz from the DSPCA although we weren’t looking for a specific breed! Just one that was right for us! :)
Sorry! Didn’t mean it like that. Just a massive sweeping statement born out of frustration when I read articles like that! No offence meant.
No offence taken :) people are usually surprised he’s from the DSPCA as we live in an area full of designer dogs!
Your right there we travelled down donegal to Cavan few months ago was told I’d have both parents there and get sample food etc etc sounded legit landed there was our wee puppy left in wee crate and I asked see parents he said they weren’t here and that he had them down at his home house and he was up at this house doing work after an oil leak I know I should not have got the dog my heart was saying get
Him but head saying no but I couldn’t leave him he is the biggest cutie I’ve ever had an do just think well at least he went to a good home but I did report the guy to the Cavan authorities because seen his number popping up again and again funny he hasn’t in months so maybe he was legit but not so sure
Michelle would you consider a call to the DSPCA or the Gardai? Your suspicion is probably enough to get it checked out.
Japanese Spitz’s arent designer breeds ;)
Well done DSPCA !! Leading as always. Sadly the track record of court judgements in Ireland against people involved in illegal puppy farming is abysmal.
Where is the ISPCA in all of this ? There are puppy farms in many counties. Who is regulating them?
Are they being inspected regularly?
Surely there are more than a couple of unscrupulous drivers involved in this trafficking.
Hopefully these rescued puppies will all be homed.
Yes, well done DSPCA. Good job and keep it up!
In so far as enforcement by SPCA Authorised Officers of the Animal Health and Welfare Act the DSPCA is responsible for County Dublin (eg Dublin Port), the ISPCA for the rest of the country, hence why this would have been a DSPCA operation not an ISPCA one. The ISPCA do an awful lot of very good work around the country and with government but it seems to be not picked up by the press as much as what the DSPCA does, for whatever reason.
The ‘puppy farms’ are meant to be regulated by local authorities (Dog Breeding Establishment Act). It’s a frustration that the law relating to these is not being rigorously enforced by the local authorities but in fairness the local authority vets are completely under resourced to do this.
Thank you Alan for trying to clarify the ‘absence’ of the ISPCA in this report. So we are to take it that the puppy farms involved are located in Dublin then? If not then surely the ISPCA inspectorate should have been involved. Just how many counties are affiliated to the ISPCA?
I sense this an ISPCA bashing exercise. Why?
Anyhow what looks like what happened here was it was a planned joint operation (Gardai, Customs, Dept Agriculture, DSPCA) and that the pups were taken in and cared for by the DSPCA, presumably because the DSPCA offered this facility as part of the joint operation (fair play to them, well done). It is only one of these organisations that have commented to the press so far.
The DSPCA’s remit is Dublin (it’s in their name), the ISPCA is responsible for the whole country (it’s in their name!). By agreement with the DSPCA, the ISPCA leaves Dublin to the DSPCA.
These are the only 2 SPCAs in Ireland whose officers are ‘Authorised Officers’, ie who can use the powers conferred by the Animal Health and Welfare Act to seize animals, initiate prosecution etc. Other persons who can use those powers are Gardai, Customs Officers, veterinary officers in some (not all) local authorities and all Department of Agriculture veterinary inspectors.
It is local authorities that are responsible for enforcing ‘puppy farm’ legislation, not the ISPCA or the DSPCA, or the Dept Agriculture.
I don’t think anyone would agree this is an ISPCA bashing exercise. The ISPCA is a charity picking up the pieces of illegal puppy farming in this instance.
Want a dog for your home? OK. Your local shelter is your first port of call. Always.
Ill love them all ..give them to me now
The new legislation we have in Ireland re animal welfare, transport of animals, ‘puppy farms’ is actually very good. All pups being exported must by law have a microchip, a pet passport, a rabies vaccine and a vet health cert. Also they can only be transported by Dept Agriculture approved transporters and they must be at least 15 weeks of age before they can be exported. The premises on which they are bred must be licensed and inspected by the local authority and if they are exporting dogs the breeder must also registered with the Dept Agriculture.
Enforcement – which ultimately costs them money in terms of lost revenue, fines etc – is the only way to bring these breeders into line. Being compliant adds to their costs so they see no reason to be complaint unless it is cheaper to be compliant, if you get my meaning.
It is very good to see this very public show of enforcement and long may it continue. All the puppy farmers knew what the law is but they were not bothering to be compliant until they could see that it was being enforced. A big show like this will hopefully do this. Let’s hope they will get their act together now for fear of being caught/for fear of what it will cost them. Their logic will be that it’s now cheaper to be compliant.
A Revenue clampdown on these breeders would be a good thing too – it’s a cash business.
Something very wrong with legislation that requires young pups to be vaccinated against rabies, a disease which does not exist in either island.
Instead of being “seized” by inspectors, can puppies be “scooped up and snuggled relentlessly” by DSPCA Inspectors?
Whens Covney or Fitzgerald going to get their act together and stop this, Ireland is being used again because we’re too lax compared to the UK.
“…it seized 116 puppies from two vehicles leaving Dublin Port for the UK last night.”
Lads, who let the dogs drive in the first place? Did they at least have their licenses?
Brian will i get your coat !
Licences.
There’s been a bit of a spate of puppies being stolen recently….if they’re included in this haul I hope they get reunited.
Cruella Deville springs to mind
The dog breeders industry is in desperate need of regulation that will be in forced.
I love puppies
The three puppies that look the same look like puppies that were taken in a burglary,
@Margaret Lawson re the three Shiz Tsus puppies. They do look like the pups that were stolen and it was three. Weren’t they taken from Waterford?? Can you remember which Dog rescue site it was on??? I’m going to post on Cork Lost and Found now. Here’s hoping it’s them.
Also cattle truck load of stolen dogs recently found in Tipperary. People should contact North (?) Tipperary pound. I’m sure any in Tipp would be able to help distraught owners.
Oh how I do like to play with puppies. Ron
I wish you would die Ron. Ron
Hopefully this is the first step towards hitting the source and closing down puppy farms. With thousands of dogs being put down in this country every year a massive clampdown is needed both on puppy farms and backyard breeders. Anyone breeding should have to pay a huge price for a licence to do so and if you don’t have it huge penalties and your dog and pups seized. It’s time dogs stopped paying with their lives for irresponsible owners. Those people buying dogs are almost as bad as the breeders as the more people buy the more these unscrupulous people will breed to sell. Adopt a rescue dog don’t be part of the problem, be part of the solution. Well done DSPCA this sends a loud and clear message.
100% agree Cheryl. Well done DSPCA. Some fantastic people up there running the place on a very tight budget I might add. Some fantastic dogs up there too, most of them 12 to 18 months old in desperate need of homes! The pups will get the headlines and I hope they all get sorted with amazing homes but let’s not forget the other four legged guys already there!
Have the rules changed. I travelled regularly over and back to the uk with my dog. I never had a passport for her or a rabies shot. I know I needed to get them to go to mainland Europe. She is microchipped though.
Yes Carina, rules have changed. You now need rabies vaccine and passport to go to the UK. Check the department of agriculture website or ring your vet for more info.
Oh I’d say they saved from a wuff journey
I’ll take one, if it gets me laid
After training it to “fetch”, Paul?
I blame the Catholic Church.
the people driving them tucks should have their money taken off them and their testicals cut off
Good on the DSPCA,
More money should be provided for a proper animal monitoring service like what they have in places like American.
have your say