Puppy farms - The cruelty continues

THERE will be red-faces at the Department of Environment following the discovery of yet another appalling puppy farm where the treatment meted out to hapless animals can only be described as cruel, inhumane, and unacceptable by every civilised standard.

Despite repeated calls for a crackdown on such activities, the Department has been notoriously slow to introduce laws to curb these farms.

A report from a working group on the Management of Dog Breeding Establishments, in response to cases of mistreatment of dogs at puppy farms, was not acted upon by former Environment Minister Martin Cullen.

However, new standards were promised a year ago by Minister Dick Roche who has just been demoted in the new Coalition line up. He promised to implement the majority recommendations of the working group. It is unclear if any concrete steps have been taken to outlaw this outrage.

Whenever the plight of abused dogs in Ireland hit the headlines here and abroad, the Government is quick to promise action. But then it sits on its hands while the cruelty continues beyond the public gaze.

There is an onus on new Green Minister John Gormley to take decisive action and introduce legislation to end the appalling scandal of Ireland’s puppy farms once and for all.