Group Of 116 Rescued Puppies Frolic In Ireland Shelter

The dramatic intervention of animal protection services in Ireland has led to 116 rescued puppies. The group of puppies are of varying breeds and are estimated to be between the ages of 5 to 8-weeks-old. Two vans that were trying to get aboard a ferry from Dublin, Ireland, to the UK were carrying the puppies, and those responsible for transporting the dogs were busted before they could make the trip.

The breeds rescued include Pugs, West Highland Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Shih Tzus, Labradoodles, and Beagles — all of them smaller dogs.

Nobody was arrested when the puppies were discovered, but there is an ongoing investigation by local authorities into where they came from, according to the Independent.

The rescued puppies were taken in by the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA), where they are currently living. Though the puppies were only rescued on February 4, they all have temporary foster homes waiting for them.

In the meantime, the puppies have been checked for microchips (the are all microchip free), and they are getting vaccinations and deworming treatments. The full health check also includes flea treatments. They are also getting good food, water, and a warm, safe place to rest, according to the DSPCA. The rescued puppies are also getting lots of toys to play with while they wait to go to their new homes.

About 32 of the puppies have diarrhea, likely from a virus of some kind, possibly a side effect of not getting enough fresh water. That group of puppies are already in temporary foster care. The other 82 remain in the shelter.

After the rescued puppies were transported to the DSPCA shelter for care, a call went out for temporary foster care for all of them. They cannot be officially adopted yet because they are material evidence in an ongoing criminal investigation, according to the Irish Times.

It is believed that the rescued puppies were bound for illegal sale in the UK. None of them had their required Pet Passport. The passport includes information about vaccinations and also shows that they have been microchipped, wormed, and seen by a veterinarian.

The DSPCA theorizes that the puppies would have been microchipped in the UK and sold at extremely high prices. A spokesperson for the DSPCA, Gillian Bird, said that the case had caught the attention of the highest levels of government.

According to Bird, Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture is personally interested in the rescued puppies and might introduce legislation to assist in prosecuting the people who intended to sell the animals.

[Lead image via Irish Independent]