THE
CRACKDOWN on puppy farms in Ireland continued apace, when
last week the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals in conjunction with the Wexford SPCA raided yet
another puppy farm in the Wexford area. Officials were alerted
that 119 dogs were being kept in appalling conditions and
responded immediately.
The dogs, most of which are toy breeds such as West Highlands,
Yorkshire Terriers and Schnauzers were removed by officials
of both charities for veterinary treatment.
Six of the dogs had to be put to sleep immediately because
of the condition they were in. Some of the dogs were suffering
from prolapsed eyeballs, widespread mange and fleas.
ISPCA Director of Operations, Mr Alastair Keen said "This
is another example of the huge puppy farming industry in Ireland
and we are calling on members of the public to support us
at this time. These puppy farm raids lean heavily financially
on the Society and if we are to continue to close down these
farms and provide the veterinary care required we will require
assistance financially".
ISPCA officials arranged a meeting late last week with representatives
from the Irish Department of the Environment to discuss a
way forward in preventing this terrible trade to continue.
This is the third raid on such premises in less than two months.
In January, over 100 Dachshund puppies were rescued from a
Tipperary puppy farm last week in a major cross-border operation
between the ISPCA and various other animal welfare agencies
in Northern Ireland and Eire, along with Garda officers.
Another puppy farm was raided by the ISPCA in early February,
when officers seized 29 dogs and took another 22 breeding
dogs into care at a puppy farm in the Laois-Offaly area. Many
of the dogs had lost large portions of their hair because
of lice and mange and were lying in kennels that were strewn
with animal faeces and waste.
Seized
The
charity has said it is investigating allegations of cruelty
to dogs at up to 30 puppy farms around the country. Many of
the Irish-bred puppies are sold in the UK, entering the mainland
via Scottish ports. Police and SSPCA officials have seized
a number of puppies whilst dealers are driving them in vans.
Ken McKie, Secretary of the Ayrshire-based anti-puppy farm
organisation, the Waterside Action Group (WAG) welcomed the
news of the latest puppy farm raid.
"WAG cannot express the sense of elation that yet another
‘puppy farm’ has been raided," Mr McKie told
OUR DOGS. "The ISPCA have been fighting a losing battle
for years over these premises but at last are getting the
much-needed success.
"We have to now demand that the Irish Government assist
the ISPCA and bring in strong and effective legislation to
outlaw these premises. We will never be happy about the puppy
farm industry but if it is done correctly, humanely and under
strict guidelines then we have success.
"We can only hope that there is more of these seizures
and that the supply of puppies to Scotland and the rest of
the UK mainland slowly dries up. We have to end the horrific
trade that is currently being undertaken by unscrupulous and
uncaring dealers.
"Well done ISPCA and keep up the good work!"
The
trial of Stephen Hamilton, a man arrested last November in
connection with illegal trading related to dogs brought into
Scotland from an Irish puppy farm is due to be heard today,
March 5th, at Stranraer Sheriff’s Court. Hamilton was
arrested by port officials at Stockton, Stranraer with 102
puppies of assorted breeds in his van.
