Dogs Trust launched their Christmas petition today calling for an urgent review of the Dog Breeding Establishment (DBE) Act 2010 and 2018 Guidelines to help end the suffering caused by cruel breeding practices.
This comes after a recent study* commissioned by the charity found that only one in five (20%) adults in Ireland know how to check if a dog breeder is licensed, while just one in four (25%) know how to report an illegal breeder, revealing a significant gap in public awareness around the issue.
The dog welfare charity cares for hundreds of victims of illegal puppy farming every year.
The dogs often come in with matted coats, caked in their own excrement, overgrown nails, dental disease, ear infections, skin infections and terrified of human contact.
One such dog is Nieve (pictured above), a Springer Spaniel Cross who was rescued from a puppy farm and arrived in a group of 25 dogs, 10 of which were puppies.
She was approximately four years old and Dogs Trust’s experts thought she had been used for breeding.
When Nieve first arrived, she was terrified, trembling when approached and pacing her kennel in distress.
Extremely worried by new people, a whole year on from her rescue she still struggles with her nerves but has been working closely with the Dogs Trust team of behaviourists and is taking brave steps forward every day.
The Springer Spaniel Cross is still looking for her forever home.
Dogs Trust is asking dog lovers across the country to lend their voices and sign their petition calling for an improvement in dog welfare standards and stronger enforcement of existing legislation so that negligent and abusive breeders can be held accountable.
Some of the improvements the charity is looking for include a call for stricter standards, such as sufficient staff-to-dog ratios, as, currently, one member of staff could legally be looking after up to 125 mums and pups, as well as a demand for a more transparent system where anyone breeding or selling puppies would be recorded on a central database.
This would make it easier to monitor and regulate their breeding practices and compliance with welfare standards.
Paulina Padlo, Communications Manager at Dogs Trust Ireland, says: “Right now, too many mums and their tiny pups are kept in cramped, harsh conditions, waiting for a kindness they’ve never known.
This Christmas, we’re asking dog lovers across the country to sign our petition to demand an urgent review of the Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010 and 2018 Guidelines to help end cruel breeding.
By reviewing and strengthening existing legislation and its proper enforcement, we can help improve dog welfare and ensure that negligent and abusive breeders who prioritise profit over welfare can be held accountable.
Together, we can make sure that every dog has the chance to know kindness.”
Dogs Trust also aims to empower compassionate dog owners with the knowledge to identify a healthy pup and avoid supporting unethical practices.
More information on the top red flags to look out for when buying a pup, and how to report concerns, is available on the charity’s website.
Today, the charity is asking dog lovers across the country to sign their petition, helping them give some much-needed kindness to the dogs who need it most.
More information about Nieve and the type of home she needs can be found here.
*Ipsos B&A Happy Dog Study – September 2025