Two men charged over puppy trafficking

Two men have been charged in relation to trafficking animals from puppy farms in Ireland.

Gardaí, who seized two vehicles on the Malahide road in Dublin on Tuesday, found 36 puppies in boxes.

The puppies — spaniels, labradors, and Jack Russell terriers — are now in the care of the Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA).

The animals, ranging in age from three to eight weeks, were seized under the 1911 Protection of Animals Act because of the unnecessary suffering caused during transportation.

The puppies are at the DSPCA centre in Rathfarnham and have been given a full veterinary check-up and placed in secure accommodation.

Several of the puppies are receiving special care because they were too young to be removed from their mothers.

The DSPCA believes the puppies were destined for Britain and were being transferred from one vehicle to another when seized.

Many were suffering from treatable conditions, including mange, ear mites, fleas, and eye and parasitic infections.

Some of the puppies who had their tails docked and their dew claws removed are receiving treatment for minor infections.

The puppies will not be re-homed until the investigation is completed. Gardaí said the two men charged in relation to the incident are due to appear in the Dublin District Court on Nov 1.

Gillian Bird, the DSPCA’s head of education, media and public relations, said it was not yet known where the puppies came from.

She said the new Animal Welfare Bill would make it easier to prevent cruelty and prosecute offenders.

“One of the main issues which the DSPCA has been pressing for is compulsory micochipping of all dogs. None of the seized puppies were microchipped which makes tracing their original owners and breeders impossible.”

DSPCA chief executive Brian Gillen urged people not to buy puppies from the boot of a car or van and to meet the puppy with its parents at the breeder’s home.

“The conditions the mother is living in is a good indiction of the health and welfare of the animals,” he said.

The animal rescue centre said it would post a notice on its website and Facebook page when the puppies are ready to go to new homes.

* www.dspca.ie.