DUBLIN: The dogs, which appeared to be between eight and 10 weeks old, were taken to Store Street Garda Station and were examined by vets.
It is the latest seizure in a crackdown on illegal puppy breeding in Ireland. The puppies were seized by a commercial garda vehicle unit at a checkpoint at the port at 1am on Tuesday. Two men were travelling in the Ford Transit, and the driver of the van confirmed the pupies were destined for export to the UK. The puppies were not microchipped and did not have the relevant paperwork. Gardai said no arrests have been made.
The animals are now being cared for by the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA). “This seizure is sadly yet another example of the absence of any regard to the health and welfare of puppies by those involved in the illegal trafficking of puppies from Ireland,” a spokesperson for the DSPCA said.
“The DSPCA will continue to support the gardai and we wish to thank them for their work.” The charity is working with agencies in the UK to combat the illegal puppy trade.