DOZENS OF ANIMALS have been seized following searches of two properties in Dublin yesterday.
The searches were part of a multi agency operation involving Tallaght Gardaí with the assistance of the dog warden from South Dublin County Council and the DSPCA.
Searches were carried out at two apartments in Citywest, Co Dublin.
Over the course of the search, Gardaí recovered 33 dogs and other animals, which were being kept in inhumane living conditions.
In a statement to The Journal, the DSPCA said the dogs consist of Dachshunds, French bulldogs, Old English and English bulldogs. They are a mixture of mature dogs and puppies.
The charity said that one dog had been dead in its cage for some time.
Other animals recovered during the search included two adult cats, two parrots, two tarantulas, a corn snake, a scorpion and a centipede.
One of the tarantulas was dead, and the scorpion and the centipede were also dead when seized.
“The animals were living in filthy conditions, many of the dogs were kept in small cages, stacked on top of each other. Most of the dogs were covered in excrement and had no bedding,” the DSPCA said.
It is believed that the majority of the animals were being bred for sale and the premises was not suitable or registered as a Dog Breeding Establishment, making it an illegal puppy farm.
The animals were removed from the premises and have been taken by the DSPCA for veterinary treatment.
Gillian Bird, head of education for the charity, told The Journal that the animals are doing well.
“Some of them are very, very nervous, but the rest of them seem happy to be out. They’re quite contented and enjoying the fact that they’re in clean, dry kennels. They’ve all been bathed and washed, and some of them are really enjoying having a soft bed to play with,” she said.
The charity said they are not currently seeking homes for any of these animals as the investigation is ongoing.
Bird also urged the public to report any suspected incidents of animal cruelty to the charity, or to Gardaí.
“If you see something like this going on, either in an apartment beside you or anywhere, please report it because it’s just wrong.”
A garda spokesperson said that no arrests have been made at this time.
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