'Cruel' Irish puppy farms slated

Raids have uncovered hundreds of puppies arriving at British ports

Thousands of puppies are being shipped to Britain from the Irish Republic in unhealthy conditions, animal charities have warned.

The puppies are bred at farms where hundreds of dogs used for breeding are kept in squalid conditions, a BBC Radio Five Live report has found.

Puppy farming is legal in the Irish Republic, but campaigners want to see the practice banned.

It is thought there may be as many as 50 puppy farms operating.

Raids at British ferry ports have led to the discovery of consignments of between 50 and 100 puppies in cars and vans arriving from Ireland.

Scottish bill

Campaigners are also calling for the introduction of tougher controls on the sale of puppies in England and Wales, in line with new legislation already proposed for Scotland.

Last month Scottish National Party MSP Christine Grahame said she would lodge a bill which would set a minimum age at which dogs could be sold.

The Transportation and Sale of Puppies (Scotland) Bill would also require dealers to have full documentation for each animal.

Concern has been growing over the number of puppies being imported from Ireland.

John Walsh, from Cumbria, was fined £500 in November after being caught trafficking puppies in appalling conditions on a ferry between Ireland and Scotland.

Many of the 49 pups and three kittens found by police in the back of his car were covered in their own urine and faeces, while others had lice.

Walsh admitted causing the animals unnecessary suffering by denying them adequate space, ventilation and water.