THE Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) has called for the licensing of premises used for breeding dogs. This follows the discovery of 22 starving terriers in a shed last weekend. All the dogs were destroyed.
The dogs were found in cramped and "deplorable" conditions in the back yard of a house in Saul Road, Crumlin, Dublin.
The DSPCA said it was "very concerned" about discoveries of unhygienic puppy farms around the country in recent months.
"The chances are that in the past the house where these dogs were found was a puppy farm and had gone downhill," said the director of the DSPCA, Ms Therese Cunningham.
"We would like to see licensing of premises used for breeding puppies and adequate standards of hygiene with proper exercise areas, food and light."
Ms Cunningham said such premises should be subject to planning permission and inspected regularly by Department of Agriculture vets.
The Fianna Fail spokesman on law reform, Mr Willie O'Dea, said the discovery of a "hell hole for breeding dogs" highlighted the urgent need for reform of the law to tackle animal cruelty.
Mr O'Dea called on the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, to amend the current legislation to enable the Garda to convict people involved in abusing animals.
The DSPCA said its investigation into the case is continuing.