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ISPCA seize six Jack Russell puppies with docked tails

All of the six puppies have been deemed healthy and have been rehomed.

Jack russell dog and siz puppies with docked tails in ISPCA care This is Davey. Hans Smits / ISPCA Hans Smits / ISPCA / ISPCA

THE ISPCA HAS seized a Jack Russell dog and six puppies from an individual in Co Leitrim. 

The animal welfare organisation was responding to a call from a concerned member of the public.

Upon investigation, its inspector Karen Lyons discovered a dog and six tail-docked puppies living in unsuitable conditions. 

In the past, amputating animals’ tails was thought to be a harmless way to prevent them from catching diseases, but in Ireland it is illegal to do it without a professional, or for purely cosmetic reasons.

Someone who is not a veterinary surgeon cannot legally amputate dogs’ tails, or remove dew claws (known as a dog’s thumbs) since March 2014, and courts can issue fines to those who are caught doing so. 

Jack russell dogs and six puppies with docked tails in ISPCA car More pictures of the Jack Russell puppies seized. Hans Smits / ISPCA Hans Smits / ISPCA / ISPCA

Jack russell dog and six puppiies with docket tails in ISPCA car Hans Smits / ISPCA Hans Smits / ISPCA / ISPCA

The dog and six Jack Russell puppies were removed for veterinary examination and transported to the National Animal Centre where they have been cared for as investigations continue.

Inspector Karen Lyons said: “The removal of a puppy’s tail is not only illegal but it provides no benefit to a dog or puppy. It is just not acceptable to remove a puppy’s tail purely for cosmetic purposes. 

A dog’s tail also acts as a protective mechanism which they use to communicate with one another, to establish boundaries and to prevent aggressive encounters.
Amputating their tail weakens a dog’s ability to communicate properly, leaving them vulnerable to be misunderstood by other dogs and also humans which places them at a social disadvantage.

Jack russell dog and six puppies with docked tails in ISPCA care Lennon is this one in the front's name. Hans Smits / ISPCA Hans Smits / ISPCA / ISPCA

“Modern veterinary considers this to be a cruel and unnecessary mutilation so what may have been standard practice in the past, is now an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 and people need to respect this.”

The ISPCA said that if a new puppy’s tail has been docked, it is likely that it has been done illegally, and should be reported to the ISPCA’s National Animal Cruelty Helpline on 1890 515 515.

All of the six puppies have been deemed healthy and are already reserved to go to new homes.

If you are thinking of getting a dog or puppy, you can visit the ISPCA rehoming page here.

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    Mute Marjory
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    Jul 13th 2025, 9:46 AM

    When I was young, a bit of good weather was something to be enjoyed.
    But when you open up this site, the minute there’s a bit of sunshine, all you’re told is floods, lightning, and forest fires.
    These leftists in the Journal can find joy in nothing.
    Misery and degeneracy are hardwired into their brains.

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    Mute JP
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    Jul 13th 2025, 9:57 AM

    @Marjory: This is one of truest comments ever in the Journal. Well done Marjory. Life is too short for moaning.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Jul 13th 2025, 9:59 AM

    @Marjory: News outlets report facts. You can always choose not to read them if they upset you. Should floods and forest fires not be reported? Should weather forecasts be banned?

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    Mute Des Daly
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    Jul 13th 2025, 10:03 AM

    @Brendan O’Brien: that’s NOT what she means. Way to go to misconstrue her comment

    52
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    Mute Kev Kerr
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    Jul 13th 2025, 10:04 AM

    @Marjory: there was no mention of floods and lightening the last few days as there was no risk of them happening. Today, according to this article, there is a risk of floods and lightening in the west. It’s called a weather forecast, and thunder storms, when appropriate, have been part of the forecast for as long as I can remember

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    Mute Marjory
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    Jul 13th 2025, 10:09 AM

    @Brendan O’Brien: I’d forgotten how naive people can be.
    Thanks for the reminder.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Jul 13th 2025, 10:12 AM

    @Des Daly: You don’t think it’s a tad excessive to claim that ‘Misery and degeneracy are hardwired into their brains’ (with reference to Journal reporters)? How would she know about the ‘degeneracy’?

    Looks like an extremist rant to me.

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    Mute Buster Lawless
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    Jul 13th 2025, 10:21 AM

    @Brendan O’Brien: & let’s face it …’ extremist rants’ are brennys forte, lol

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jul 13th 2025, 10:22 AM

    @Marjory: Lol! Left/right dummies… You literally don’t HAVE to read anything :’ )

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    Mute Buster Lawless
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    Jul 13th 2025, 10:22 AM

    @Des Daly: ” twisting and deflection” is brennys stock- in- trade in fairness

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    Mute Marjory
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    Jul 13th 2025, 11:16 AM

    @Buster Lawless: What does ‘in fairness’ even mean in this context?
    I really don’t understand why people throw this useless phrase into their sentences. To me, it denotes an inability to think coherently.
    Enjoy the sun everyone, and f u € k the begrudgers!!!

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    Mute Fishlord “Fishlord_Username” Username
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    Jul 13th 2025, 11:20 AM

    @Marjory:

    The article: “Hey just be careful today cause there’s probably gonna be a thunderstorm even though the weather is nice! Be on the lookout because danger is possible, and you should be aware of it and make decisions with that in mind!”
    You for some reason: “those goddamn leftists are taking my sunny days away”

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    Mute Buster Lawless
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    Jul 13th 2025, 11:32 AM

    @Marjory: ain’t here to give vocabulary lessons ol’ stock …. Google is your friend. Anyhow, you’re right bout’ this glorious weather —– ENJOY!!

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    Mute Brian
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    Jul 13th 2025, 11:57 AM

    @Des Daly: The only one who misconstrued anything is the OP. Talk about a rant ! The headline says THE FORECAST ” Hot weather in store again today, but there’s also ,annoyingly , a thunderstorm warning.” The very fact the word ‘ annoyingly ‘ was used contextualises that the hot weather is being enjoyed but may be disrupted. It’s incredulous the amount of trolls who get triggered by a weather forecast.. even when it’s bemoaning the possibility of disruption to good weather.

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    Mute Alice Gaughan
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    Jul 13th 2025, 12:23 PM

    @Marjory: If weather forecasts upset you so much don’t read them.

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    Mute Fishlord “Fishlord_Username” Username
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    Jul 13th 2025, 11:26 AM

    Checked my own forecast, quite excited to hear there’s gonna be rain later in the day. I just really like hot days and then the rain comes falling down, it’s such a lovely feeling atmospherically (Also maybe I’ll be able to actually fall asleep.)
    A little jealous of the thunderstorms, not super jealous of the risk of flooding.

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    Mute Athena
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    Jul 13th 2025, 1:15 PM

    @Fishlord “Fishlord_Username” Username: What’s with the able to sleep bit? In the winter people heat their bedrooms close to 20celsius (we don’t, we like warm feet and cold nose tips) so they can sleep. Yet the same temperature in summer prevents them from sleeping. That doesn’t make s ns. Or are your sleeping quarters overheating as your well insulated attic is “keeping the heat in”?

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    Mute CP
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    Jul 13th 2025, 1:56 PM

    @Athena: the temperatures have hit nearly 30 degrees, that’s gonna cause sleeping issues for alot of people because we’re not used to that kind of heat, simples

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    Mute Tom O' Donnell
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    Jul 13th 2025, 2:11 PM

    @Athena: It’s humidity in summer rather than heat. Also in winter, people don’t leave their heating on all night, so it gets a lot cooler. And the temperature in our house yesterday evening was 26 degrees. We never heat our house close to that temperature in winter

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    Mute Athena
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    Jul 13th 2025, 2:35 PM

    @Tom O’ Donnell: But that’s what I mean. The house shouldn’t be 26 Celsius indoors. Modern house design (i.e. big window for a light and airy feeling), insulated attics, airtight rooms etc will sooner or later mandate air-conditioning, another demand led branch of industry, pushing more geared air out into an already heated environment.
    Why aren’t houses build with roof overhangs, or roller shutters to produce shadow and keep heat out?
    While our upstairs rooms (Midland location, 29.7 yesterday) were a “toasty” 18 Celsius, we enjoyed a good night’s sleep in a cool 14 Celsius downstairs room. No air conditioning, just an old house with thick walls and small windows, surrounded by shrubs, bushes, trees, built 130 years ago by people who understood the lay of the land and the environment.

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    Mute Andrew Kenny
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    Jul 13th 2025, 10:54 AM

    Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah…………

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Jul 13th 2025, 11:00 AM

    @Andrew Kenny: You’re quoting Cozy Powell?

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    Mute Pat Murray
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    Jul 13th 2025, 4:22 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: Wow Brendan, Cozy Powell, What a memory that is,Great Drummer

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    Mute Paddy C
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    Jul 13th 2025, 10:01 AM

    If people would only have listened to the green party we wouldn’t be in this boat. The extra taxes would have offset the weather patterns. People need to learn the war in Ukraine and gaza emissions there have little effect on the earth even highly populated countries like India and China. Its mary in the micra going to dunnes for the shopping when she could have walked around the emissions played a part. If she was taxed more she wouldn’t have used the car and less emissions hence less weather sinarios. Roderic and eamon are highly educated in such practices especially Roderic who invited the world in to INCREASE emissions, well done.

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    Mute Fishlord “Fishlord_Username” Username
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    Jul 13th 2025, 11:37 AM

    @Paddy C: people wouldn’t use cars as much if ireland had more reliable, cheap and well placed public transport. Taxation is great, especially to fund this cheap public transport, but I think the focus should really be on our infrastructure and how that influences human behaviour. And it has the benefit of better infrastructure.

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Jul 13th 2025, 9:15 AM

    I was in malta the last 10 days. Its actually as warm here.

    40
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    Mute Larry Betts
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    Jul 13th 2025, 10:40 AM

    @Brian Dunne: I hope you had a great time Brian,one of my fave places for holidays. Been 5 times,lovely friendly country

    20
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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Jul 13th 2025, 10:52 AM

    @Larry Betts: fantastic time Larry! Didnt get to that restaurant after, ran out if time. Did go by it on a choo choo train though and thought of you! Its a lovely place, our 3rd time there.

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    Mute Buster Lawless
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    Jul 13th 2025, 11:36 AM

    @Larry Betts: absolutely gorgeous……& Reasonable too……we went just before Christmas……. A beautiful Island/ great people

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    Mute Des Daly
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    Jul 13th 2025, 9:52 AM

    I love CO2 and its apparent results in these beautiful sunny days we are having.

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    Mute Athena
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    Jul 13th 2025, 10:32 AM

    Connaght?? Look at what the heat does.

    5
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