The ISPCA is looking for new homes for 20 puppies seized from the boot of a car in Cairnryan ferryport in Scotland and returned to Ireland recently.
The rescued puppies were aged between four and eight weeks old, and include Shih Tzu’s, Bichon Frise, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Pugs, and Cocker Spaniels.
The Shih Tzu puppies were estimated to be between four and six weeks old and had to be hand fed by ISPCA staff, as they were too young to be separated from their mother.
Darcey is one of the puppies looking for a new home | Via: ISPCA
The puppies were seized by the Scottish SPCA as part of Operation Delphin, which is targeting the illegal trade in puppies from Ireland to the UK.
They were not accompanied by pet passports and, although microchipped, were not registered on an approved database as required under the Microchipping of Dogs Regulations.
The ISPCA is currently investigating where the puppies originated from.
Image via: ISPCA
"This was a horrific way to transport these vulnerable puppies and the person they were seized from had no regard for their welfare," said ISPCA CEO Dr. Andrew Kelly.
"The ISPCA believes it is time for a crackdown on illegal behaviour by dog breeders in Ireland and is calling on all local authorities to enforce the Dog Breeding Establishments (DBE) legislation robustly and to take action where breeders fail to comply."
The DBE Act 2010 states that all breeders with six or more female dogs of six months of age, and capable or breeding, must be registered with the local authority.
Dr. Kelly said: "In one county a registered breeder licensed for 100 breeding females had over 500 dogs on site when inspected and in another county the ISPCA discovered an unregistered breeder and reported it to the council who simply invited them to register."
"On a positive note, the guidelines associated with the DBE Act are being revised following pressure from the ISPCA but too many local authorities have been turning a blind eye to illegal behaviour,” he added.
All twenty puppies will be neutered when they are old enough, and the ISPCA will be appealing for good, loving homes shortly. For more information: visit www.ispca.ie, email info@ispca.ie or call 043 332 5035.
