20 puppies RESCUED after being transported illegally from Ireland
Twenty beautiful puppies of various breeds are currently being cared for by the ISPCA after they were seized from the boot of a car in Cairnryan ferry port in Scotland recently.
The puppies, which were aged between four and eight-weeks-old, had been travelling in the boot of a car from Ireland before they were discovered by officials.
In addition to being too young to travel and without the proper documentation, the puppies were not registered on an approved database – a requirement under the Microchipping of Dogs Regulations.
Commenting on the heartwrenching case, ISPCA CEO Dr Andrew Kelly said: ”This was a horrific way to transport these vulnerable puppies and the person they were seized from had no regard for their welfare.”
“We do not know exactly where these puppies originated from in Ireland but our investigations are continuing,” he added.
Commenting on the severity of the situation, he continued: “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 DBE legislation robustly and to take action where breeders fail to comply.”
Weighing in on the discussion, an undercover inspector for the Scottish SPCA confirmed: "Unfortunately the puppy trade is big business in Scotland, with thousands of dogs being brought into the country each year, from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in particular.”
“In the case of the puppies being smuggled into Scotland in the boot of a car, we were able to get these poor animals signed over to the ISPCA who can now find them loving new homes,” he added.
The puppies, which include Shih Tzu’s, Bichon Frise, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Pugs and Cocker Spaniels, were given a full veterinary examination in the ISPCA’s National Animal Centre in Co Longford after being returned to Ireland.
Once old enough, the ISPCA have confirmed that each individual puppy will be spayed or neutered before being re-homed in the near future.
The puppies were seized by the Scottish SPCA as part of Operation Delphin.
