67 dogs and 23 puppies were removed from a licensed dog breeding establishment by a Local Authority after they failed to comply with an improvement notice.
In a move welcomed by the ISPCA, the animal welfare group responded to a request for assistance for the Local Authority when they visited the registered premises.
During the visit, they found dogs and puppies living in dreadful conditions.
Many dogs had been living in bare concrete runs covered in their own faeces. More were suffering from serious skin conditions, eye and teeth problems requiring immediate veterinary attention.
47 of the dogs are now in the care of ISPCA where they are receiving veterinary treatment while the remaining dogs have been transported to Dogs Trust who offered to help.
ISPCA CEO Dr Andrew Kelly said:
“The ISPCA would like to thank the Local Authority involved in this case for enforcing the Dog Breeding Establishments Act effectively and for taking decisive action when it was clear that this breeder was not providing the appropriate level of care for these poor dogs.
“These dogs will now receive the care they deserve and will be rehomed over the coming months when they are ready.
“It is time for a debate on dog breeding on the scale we are seeing in some licensed breeding establishments around the country, some with more than 300 breeding female dogs."
“Dogs are not cattle or sheep and have very different welfare needs including the need for socialisation and the company of humans. They simply do not get that in these large scale puppy farms."
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dogs Trust Ireland for their assistance in transporting and rehoming these dogs. The ISPCA will continue to work with like-minded animal welfare organisations to rid Ireland of the scourge of rogue dog breeders.”
