Deputy James Lawless, Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice getting the ‘Puppy Farms are a Life Sentence’ campaign petition from Suzie Carley, Executive Director of Dogs Trust Ireland. Photograph: Kenneth O’Halloran
Dogs Trust has actually provided a petition including 60,000 signatures to the Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice requiring harder penalties for puppy farmers.
Last November, Dogs Trust Ireland introduced an emotive campaign called ‘Puppy Farms are a Life Sentence’ to highlight the “cruelty and suffering endured by dogs who live on puppy farms and the often-lenient punishments given to those who contravene the law.”
As part of this campaign, the charity asked the general public to support their require harder penalties for puppy farmers by signing their online petition.
Dogs Trust just recently provided the petition, including 59,907 signatures to Deputy James Lawless, Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice.
Speaking about the petition, Deputy Lawless said: “Organisations like Dogs Trust see a lot of dogs being available in from puppy farms with substantial behavioural issues.
“This is why it’s so essential that there is higher enforcement on those who act beyond the Dog Breeding Establishments Act, particularly those who are participated in unlawful puppy farming.
“As part of the federal government’s drive to evaluate and enhance legislation in this location, work is continuous to determine any essential legal changes to the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 that might be needed.
“I understand first-hand simply just how much joy a dog can give an individual or a family’s life.
“We understand that much better hung out puppies, housed in suitable accommodation, produce much better animals.
“There should be no tolerance for the cruelty or disregard of any puppy or dog.
“Studies have shown that where there is a focus on socialisation in the first few weeks of a puppy’s life, there is a smoother transition to life in a family home.”
Suzie Carley, Executive Director, Dogs Trust Ireland continued: “Sadly we have actually seen the scary in a lot of dogs’ eyes since of the cruelty and disregard they suffer on puppy farms.
“Many mums are so distressed and closed down when they enter our care that they don’t bark or make a noise.
“As a charity, we are typically delegated get the medical and behavioural expenditures of getting these poor dogs to a condition where they can be rehomed.
“It is soul destroying to see the meagre penalties incurred by those responsible, which is often less than they would charge for one puppy. It’s not a deterrent and will not help to stamp out this vile trade, we want to see change.”
