Police seek rescued puppies owner

The dogs were of various ages and pedigrees

Police are seeking to find out who owns more than 100 dogs removed from farm buildings in Katesbridge, County Down.

Animal welfare officers seized the dogs in an operation by the PSNI and the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) on Thursday.

It is believed the alert was raised when boxers were spotted in a nearby field eating the carcass of a cow.

A range of breeds were being kept in "appalling conditions" at the Circular Road site, said the USPCA.

A spokesman said: "Both the police and ourselves are trying to establish who owns the dogs.

Examined

"The puppies have been taken to various locations and are currently being examined by vets."

The dogs were of various ages and pedigrees, from Rottweilers and boxers to Jack Russells and terriers.

The operation to remove the animals was hampered when the electricity supply to the farmhouse was cut off.

At one stage, a number of men tried to stop the media taking pictures of the operation.

Ken Forbes of Banbridge District Council said: "Premises of this type have to be registered with the council as a breeding establishment.

Police are trying to establish who owns the dogs

"The dogs have to be licensed with the council as well, and in this case, none of them were.

"Neither of those requirements were met."

Meanwhile, Jim Wells, DUP assembly member for South Down, has described current animal welfare laws as "extremely outdated and very weak".

"The three areas that I have concerns about are puppy-farming, dog-fighting and also the keeping of guard dogs in very cramped conditions," he said.

"We urgently need the law to be strengthened... if we actually examine the legislation, there is nothing the police or the USPCA can do about it."