New laws for dog breeders

New laws to register and supervise so-called "puppy farms" will be enacted in the New Year, the Minister for the Environment John Gormley said today.

The long-awaited Dog Breeding Establishments Bill is a response to the concerns of animal welfare groups who have complained about the absence of legislation in the area.

Under the terms of the Bill, a local authority will be empowered to issue a closure notice requiring a dog breeding establishment to cease breeding or keeping dogs.

It will also be a criminal offence to operate an unregistered dog breeding establishment, except in specified circumstances where there is an application submitted or where it is subject to appeal.

Legislation to regulate large-scale puppy farms has been in gestation since 2004 and was promised by Mr Gormley's predecessor Dick Roche following a report in 2006, into the mistreatment of dogs on puppy farms.

Speaking at the launch of the legislation in the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) offices today, Mr Gormley said it would stop “backstreet dog breeders” and benefit those commercial breeders who do a good job and treated animals humanely.

The Government had intended originally to amend the Control of Dogs Act 1986 to 1992 to deal with dog breeding establishments but decided on new legislation instead, following legal advice.

“We've been aware of some cruelty in some dog-breeding establishments. This was a matter of serious concern. They will be registered and policed by the local authority. We think those bad old days will be left behind,” the Minister said.

The legislation has been welcomed by the DSPCA which has housed thousands of dogs which have been bred in puppy farms.

DSPCA operations manager Orla Aungier said the regulation and licence of dog breeding establishments would end the practices whereby Ireland has become the "puppy-breeding capital of Europe" because of a lack of regulation.

The DSPCA estimates that up to 1,000 puppies a week are being exported from Ireland to countries where there is much greater regulation.

“We have seen animals in appalling conditions bred purely for commercial gain. By introducing this bill, we are affording protection to those animals allowing for inspection, accountability and traceability,” she said.

“We're very excited about it, but what is critical will be the financial and resources are put in place to enforce it.” She said the Bill would be a first step in bringing animal welfare legislation in Ireland up to international standards.