State ‘slow to help puppies’

THE Government has been accused of dragging its heels in destroying Ireland’s shameful reputation as Europe’s puppy farm capital.

The National Stray Dog and Cat Forum has urged Environment Minister Dick Roche to control the business and fears the delay could be interpreted as a lack of Government commitment to addressing such a serious problem.

Forum member and TV vet Pete Wedderburn said: “Already another Christmas season of trade in unhealthy, sub-standard puppies is guaranteed with thousands of Irish puppy farm-bred dogs ending up on the market in Ireland, Britain and America.”

Puppy farms are dog breeding facilities where large numbers of puppies are factory farmed, often in appalling health and welfare conditions.

Following a series of well-publicised raids on puppy farms a year ago, the Government was urged to control the industry.

The Government responded in September 2004 by appointing a working group to review the management of dog breeding establishments that consulted widely and then produced a detailed report and recommendations last month.

The report recommended that people who had more than five breeding bitches should be regulated and inspected by local authority vets. It would also be self-financing. A similar system already exists in Britain.

Mr Wedderburn said Minister Roche has neither accepted nor implemented the working group’s recommendations and earlier this month said he needed to canvass public opinion again. Submissions are being taken until December 16.