FINGLAS based canine charity Dogs Trust has delivered a petition with over 28,000 signatures to Dáil Éireann demanding an end to the cruelty behind bad breeding.
Dogs Trust is calling on Minister of State, Sean Canney, to review and strengthen the Dog Breeding Establishment (DBE) Act as a matter of urgency.
It wants an amended act to introduce “robust measures” to clamp down on the unscrupulous breeders it says put profits before the welfare of the dogs in their care
Executive Director of Dogs Trust Suzie Carley recently handed over the signatures to Senator Catherine Ardagh and Dublin Central TD Maureen O’Sullivan at Merrion Square.
The petition followed Dogs Trust’s ‘How is that Doggie in the Window?’ campaign, which highlighted irresponsible dog breeding in Ireland.
As part of the campaign, the public was asked to take action by signing the petition to stop the cruelty.
Speaking at the delivery of the petition Carley said public pressure and changes in attitudes toward animal cruelty had been recognised by our Government, but current legislation didn’t go far enough.
“The publication of the Dog Breeding Establishment (DBE) Guidelines saw significant improvements made regarding the regulation of dogs and puppies being kept in breeding establishments,” she added.
“However more needs to be done in order to clamp down on the cruelty and suffering of innocent dogs at the hands of irresponsible breeders.
“To protect the welfare of mums, pups, stud dogs, as well as consumers, who all fall victim to unscrupulous breeders, we must have a robust legislative framework, adequate resources provided to the local authorities for inspection and tougher enforcement and penalties for those who do not comply.”
Deputy O’Sullivan said that as a dog lover she found it distressing to think of how hundreds of dogs suffer every day at the hands of irresponsible breeders.
“The Dog Breeding Establishments Act, which centred on regulating the dog breeding industry, was passed in 2010 and was a step in the right direction but it is now time the Act was reviewed to clamp down on irresponsible breeding,” she continued.
“Without tougher enforcement of the Act and adequate inspections, unscrupulous puppy farmers continue to profit heavily at a cost to the dogs in their care.”
Dogs Trust say thousands of dogs and puppies on puppy farms across Ireland are crammed into crowded, filthy pens, with little or no bedding or natural sunlight.
They suffer from the torments of cruel confinement, boredom and fear.
Mums are often locked away in horrendous conditions and kept as breeding machines, producing litter after litter for years on end and callously discarded when they get too old or are no longer of use.
“They never get to enjoy any sort of life as a beloved pet,” a spokesperson said.
“Puppies are often taken away from their mums and siblings too soon, missing out on a crucial phase of their development, which can lead to behavioural issues for years to come.”