Louth County Council’s Dog Control Unit has seized 18 dogs which were living in what they described as terrible conditions with limited access to food and water at a rural address in the county.
The seizure came as a result of strategic measures to tackle the ongoing problem of illegal puppy farming across Co. Louth, this week.
All 18 puppies are now in the care of the Council’s animal compound and have been vaccinated, micro-chipped and properly registered with the local authority.
The dogs, who were mainly Cocker Spaniels and Dachshunds, some of the so called “designer breeds” are undergoing continual assessment.
Louth County Council Veterinary Officer, Garrett Shine said:
“Beware of buying a dog online and never meet someone off-site. Always insist on seeing where the animal has been living.
“All properly registered kennels have to be assessed by the local authority, so members of the public should check the register before acquiring their dog to ensure the welfare of animals in that establishment is up to standard.
“Every puppy over eight weeks must be micro-chipped by law, so be sure to check the database for your animal’s details.
“As always, our advice to the public is to check the pound first, since there are always dogs seeking new homes.”
Members of the public are encouraged to check the official list of registered sellers before buying a dog, which can be viewed HERE.
