Thought this article was important enough to post. UK Puppyfarmers get a lot of their pups from Ireland. UK Ones should be shut down ASAP


Dublin SPCA and Ulster SPCA warn of potential canine brucellosis epidemic
3rd May 2009

DUBLIN SPCA AND ULSTER SPCA WARN OF POTENTIAL CANINE BRUCELLOSIS EPIDEMIC

- PUPPY BREEDER CONFIRMS PRESENCE OF DISEASE – DEPARTMENT MUST TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO PREVENT ITS SPREAD

Dublin, 3 May 09: Information received from reliable sources has led Dublin SPCA Animal Welfare personnel and their colleagues from the Ulster SPCA to visit a puppy farm in Offaly to investigate reports of a potentially devastating outbreak of a virulent disease amongst animals kept on the premises. Canine Brucellosis (Brucella canis) poses a public health hazard since it is transmissible to humans, especially those handling aborted fetuses. Humans may develop a serious liver impairment or arthritis.

The farm, near Moate, is one of Europe’s largest mass breeding establishments and churns out thousands of so called ‘pedigree puppies’ each year to meet demand in Ireland and the UK for ‘designer dogs’.

The operators refused cooperation on the visit but reluctantly confirmed the presence of Canine Brucellosis. This is a highly contagious bacterial disease and will now be endemic amongst the hundreds of dogs and pups currently on the farm or recently exported from it.

There is NO vaccine or effective treatment for this disease and it is likely the farm will require depopulation. The outbreak clearly has potential welfare and economic repercussions in the Republic and it is imperative animals are not removed from this farm until their health status has been assessed. Both the Dublin SPCA and ISPCA have contacted veterinary authorities in the Republic to request an immediate quarantine of the premises.

In the absence of any effective welfare legislation North and South both the Dublin and Ulster SPCAs are constantly warning the puppy buying public of the pitfalls of buying dogs from unknown sources. This outbreak emphasizes our many warnings; the puppy farming industry in Ireland breeds both dogs and disease and must be properly regulated.

Jimmy Cahill, Chief Executive, Dublin SPCA said: “We are calling on the Department of Agriculture or Department of Environment to take immediate action and quarantine this puppy farm to prevent any further contamination of the canine population in this country. We anticipate that this breeder will start moving animals off his premises today thus escalating the spread of this virulent disease. Every hour increases the risk of a countrywide Canine Brucellosis epidemic. This health risk is an inevitable result of the antiquated legislation in this country which allows inhumane over-breeding to continue.”

Stephen Philpott, Chief Executive, USPCA: “Puppy farming in Ireland, unlike most European countries, has no regulations governing its practice. In the absence of effective legislation in both the North and South the USPCA is constantly warning the puppy buying public of the pitfalls that can lurk in an apparently innocuous looking ad offering them the puppy of their dreams. This outbreak underlines our countless warnings; the puppy farming industry in Ireland, fuelled by greed, breeds both dogs and disease and must be properly regulated.”

Dublin SPCA and Ulster SPCA are jointly issuing warnings to their colleagues in the RSPCA, Irish and UK Kennel clubs and Veterinary Council of Ireland as well as Government Departments. Minister for the Environment John Gormley must introduce dog breeding regulations first promised by the department in 2006

Thx for posting.
It's frightening that such a dangerous and infectious condition can be spread and their is no legislation to stop the movement of these animals.
This quote is from the Irishtimes.com a link for the full article http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...245893011.html
How can she say they are not puppy farming with allegedly 700 breeding dogs
And it's disgusting how she won't take responsibility, saying she won't move any dpgs but she can't be responsible for any of her staff.mad:

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A dog Possesses Beauty without Vanity,Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices.

thanks for posting that!

puppy farmers make my blood boil! And they are willign to move potentially infected dogs on! ARGH!

Is there anything we can do?

This is still going on. I wonder why this Puppyfarmer will not let anyone in to actually see what is going on !!!!
Family deny 'puppy factory' disease claim - National News, Frontpage - Independent.ie

Imo its bad enough that people will be buying sick puppies BUT breeding bitches can abhort a litter and then later produce another which may not show signs of the disease but be carriers. Without regular testing on the puppy farm this is going undiagnosed

These puppies at a later stage may be used for breeding by the new owner and will pass the disease onto the puppies even though they may show no signs themselves. The same applies to a puppy if it a carrier if it is later used as a stud dog.