Concern for fate of designer puppies bred at dog farms

LONG-AWAITED legislation aimed at controlling puppy farms has been put on hold due to legal difficulties.

The Department of the Environment confirmed the decision as fresh concern was raised for the welfare of farmed puppies.

The Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) said hundreds of puppies unsold over Christmas may be killed by puppy farmers because of the economic downturn.

Puppy farms are large-scale dog-breeding facilities in which dogs are often kept in cramped conditions with many suffering from bad health and congenital inbreeding, according to the DSPCA.

Regulation has been promised since 2006 when then minister for the environment Dick Roche announced that he was going to implement the recommendations of a working group set up to investigate mistreatment of dogs on puppy farms.

The group recommended the introduction of a system of licensing and inspection for dog breeding establishments by amending the existing Control of Dogs Act.

In 2007 Fine Gael TD Andrew Doyle said he had received assurances from the minister that it would be implemented by the end of that year.

However the Department of the Environment has told The Irish Times that following legal advice, new legislation would be needed to regulate puppy farms. While the legislation was being worked on, there was no date yet for its completion, a department spokesman said.

The DSPCA is warning of an increase in the number of classified adverts for farmed dogs compared to last year. It is concerned for many dogs bred for the Christmas market.

"They are not breeding animals because they love them but purely for economic reasons," Orla Aungier of the DSPCA said of the puppy farmers. "Surplus will exist and how many of them will be killed in fields and sheds?"

The DSPCA could not inspect a property unless given permission by the owner, Ms Aungier added.

A scan of recent classified adverts reveals what Ms Aungier calls the "Paris Hilton effect" which is driving demand for a smaller selection of breeds such as Yorkshire terriers, west highland terriers, bichon frise poodles and labradoodles. "People want small fluffy miniatures, pocket puppies with pink outfits and diamante collars," she said.

The DSPCA estimates that up to 1,000 pups a week are being exported from Ireland. Customs said it does not regulate dogs being exported, just the ones being imported.

A Bill to cover the transportation and export of dogs was also recommended by the working group and this is expected to be covered under the Animal Health and Welfare Bill.

The DSPCA said it was aware of two puppy farms with 300 breeding bitches having two or three litters a year, with pups sold at upwards of €400 each.