The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) has called on the Government to implement legislation to ensure the regulation of puppy farming.
The call comes after more than 70 dogs were found in tiny cages and mud-saturated pens at a midlands puppy farm.
Fifty-eight of the dogs were removed after the ISPCA raided two farms, operated by the same owner, in the Laois-Offaly area yesterday.
Three ISPCA inspectors, a dog warden, gardaí and a veterinary surgeon inspected the puppy farming operation and discovered 73 dogs in "atrocious and horrendous conditions" on Thursday.
Fifty-eight dogs at one of the locations had no proper bedding, no access to water and were living in confined pens with up to 12 inches of urine, faeces and muck beneath them
The farm operator agreed to hand over the majority of the dogs and 58 of them, from one of the locations, were taken into care. The remaining 15 will stay with the owner.
The ISPCA confirmed the 58 dogs were removed yesterday after a veterinary surgeon said they were being housed in bad conditions.
Those removed were of a variety of pedigree breeds, including German shepherds, Pomeranians, mastiffs, Labradors and West Highland terriers. The majority were adult dogs, but there were also some puppies.
Mr Alastair Keen, the ISPCA's head of operations, said the conditions in which the dogs were kept were "horrendous".
"The conditions were wet, there were faeces and mud everywhere. The mud was mixed with urine and there was up to 12 inches of that. There was no water and the dogs were suffering. Some had ulcers and open wounds, while others were thin and suffering from malnutrition."
The ISPCA moved the dogs to USPCA kennels in Northern Ireland, where they will be treated for ailments and diseases.
"This kind of thing could be described as factory farming for dogs, but dogs are not designed to be farmed," said Mr Keen.
"The dogs that were found here are all pedigree dogs and most of them were destined for the UK, and to a lesser extent, the US market.
"A pedigree dog usually would sell for £600 (€872) from a reputable dealer but from these people they can be bought for £200 or £300.
"People think that they are getting a bargain but most of the dogs are inbred and not vaccinated. This can lead to problems, like behavioural problems, where the dogs can be aggressive," he added.
Mr Keen estimated that more than 50 large commercial puppy farms operate throughout the State. He called on the Government to introduce legislation to regulate dog-breeding practices in Ireland.
ISPCA representatives are to meet Department of the Environment officials at the end of the month to discuss measures to control puppy farming.
The society recently lobbied the Government to "sign off" a section in the Control of Dogs Act, 1986.
Last month, gardaí and ISPCA inspectors removed 110 dachshunds from a puppy farm in north Tipperary because of poor conditions. On average the ISPCA raids one to two puppy farms each month.
Mr Keen confirmed the body was preparing a file about the puppy farm for the gardaí, who will pass it on to the Director of Public Prosecutions.