A puppy farm is where dogs are bred intensively for profit with little or no thought being given to their welfare.

Over the last two years, we have cared for 161 victims of puppy farming! Many of the dogs suffered from matted coats, caked in their own excrement, overgrown nails, dental disease, ear infections, skin infections and were described by the charity’s veterinary and behaviour teams as ‘terrified’ of human contact. So bad was the condition of the dogs’ coats, many had to be shaved upon arrival.

We want to highlight the often-lenient penalties imposed on those responsible for the horrific misery endured on puppy farms.

Over the past two years alone, we have spent over €60,000 providing veterinary care for 161 victims of this cruel trade. The majority of these poor dogs came from two puppy farms, and those responsible were each fined less than €2,000. We’re sure that dog lovers like you will agree that these numbers just don’t add up and charities shouldn’t be expected to foot the bill, while these cruel puppy farmers continue to profit from this vile trade.

By buying that ‘cute’ puppy advertised online, you may be unwittingly fuelling the trade that sentences the parent dogs, especially the mums, to a life sentence of misery.

Puppies and their mums are often kept cramped together in dirty and poorly lit pens.

They’re often denied exercise and natural sunlight and left with little or no bedding.

The mums are continuously bred until they are too old, or sick, and are then often callously discarded. Frequently, puppies who taken from their mum while they are still weaning, can develop lifelong behavioural, health and developmental issues.

Rescued mums and their pups can take a huge amount of commitment, hard work, patience and love to help them turn into happy, healthy and well-rounded dogs.

Thanks to our dog loving supporters, we help rescue mums and pups from lives of torment and put their paws on the path to a new life of hope and happiness.

We also lobby for the rights and welfare of all dogs, who are the victims of abandonment or cruelty.

Yes, they do!

We have done several petitions about ending puppy farming. It’s a complex topic, so we have tried many different avenues to improve the lives of the dogs who are caught up in this vile trade. We have gathered over 91,000 signatures from the dog loving public, highlighting the appetite for change. As a result, we were called to appear in front of an Oireachtas Committee on the subject, so petitions do work!

The call to action in this year’s petition is also very different from previous years. This year we are petitioning The Department of Justice for tougher punishments for puppy farmers, instead of the Department for Rural, Community & Development who are responsible for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. DAFM are responsible for the AHAWA 2013 and therein lies some of the complexity – there is more than one department responsible for dogs in Ireland.

Petitions are a vital tool in highlighting important issues, getting your voices heard, and rallying the policy makers.

The Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2013 or the DBE Act as it is more commonly referred to, applies to any establishment/person who has 6 or more female dogs capable of breeding and it can be found HERE.

In February 2020, laws to crack down on the illegal sale of dogs and pups in Ireland were introduced – and welcomed by Dogs Trust and other animal welfare organisations.

Now, to sell pets, a person must:

• Register sales with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine if selling six or more pets per calendar year
• Display a Dog Breeding Establishment number if in possession of six or more female dogs capable of breeding
• Include specific information in an advertisement of a pet animal for sale, including the microchip number*

*lack of a microchip or a non-valid microchip, could indicate the person does not want to be traced, and raises a big red flag for the dog’s welfare, and the conditions they are being kept in.

The laws also state that it is illegal to sell a puppy less than eight weeks old.

The aim of these laws is to stamp out cruel and illegal dog breeding and improve the health and welfare of dogs being sold and supplied.

It is a LEGAL requirement for the sale or supply of a dog that a microchip certificate accompanies the dog. Please don't ever trust a person who 'will send you on the paperwork in the post'.

Puppy farms are a life sentence and dogs can suffer from physical and behavioural problems as a result of poor breeding and lack of exposure to regular handling, a normal home environment and everyday noises like hoovers and dishwashers and people coming and going etc.

Poor breeding can lead to all sorts of veterinary issues, including hip dysplasia, breathing difficulties, heavy parasite burden, chronic ear, eye and skin conditions, not to mention the potentially fatal Parvovirus.

Parvovirus – can be fatal but cost up to €1,500 to treat and often results in death

Worms – can be fatal but if it causes bad diarrhoea requiring a drip, it could cost €500

Hip dysplasia – two total hip replacements could cost €7,000

Patella luxation (dislocating kneecaps) – surgery on both knees would cost approximately €1,500 (depending on the size of the dog)

Congenital heart problems – if surgery is required, could cost €5,000-6,000

Please see HERE.

Many people will never know that their dog came from a puppy farm as it is very rare for them to actually see where their dog was bred. If you got your dog from an advert on the internet or a newspaper, a pet shop or garden centre and you did not visit the premises where the puppy was born to see them interacting with their mum and littermates, there is a chance that your dog was bred at a puppy farm.

Unfortunately, some unscrupulous breeders are using what’s known as the ‘shop front strategy’ where a nice home is being used, often in a rural location and although the puppy is presented as having been raised there, there is no sign of the puppy’s Mum. Excuses will be made for her absence, such as she has been taken for a walk. Another ploy is to use a ‘fake’ Mum so it’s important to see the puppy and Mum interacting and see their relationship.

It is well established that the experience of puppies in their first 16 weeks of life will have lasting effects on their behaviour and health. The quality of experiences for puppies will therefore have a major impact on their lifelong quality of life. Both social (including other dogs, people and other animals) and non-social (including scents, sounds, objects and different environments) are important – all introduced carefully so every puppy finds each new experience positive.

Early socialisation means letting young puppies get used to other dogs/humans/other animals and to learn proper doggy communication skills so that they can get on happily with other dogs in the future. Habituation is teaching your puppy that people, other animals, new experiences, objects, and situations are nothing to be scared of. Both are imperative to ensuring a well-rounded dog. If a puppy is not socialised and habituated properly from a very young age and for the first year of his life, this can lead to serious behavioural issues in later life.

Please see HERE.