A midlands puppy farm breeding dogs in squalid conditions has been shut down following the latest raid in a crackdown on the trade.
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) raided two locations in the midlands and today took 58 dogs into care.
Over 70 puppies were being kept at the farm in one of the worst cases of cruel neglect ISPCA inspectors had seen, according to director of operations, Mr Alastair Keen. He said the puppies were living in 10 to 12 inches of mud and rolling around in their own urine and faeces.
They had no access to shelter or clean water, and many had mange and more serious conditions.
A warning was issued to the farm before Christmas but when inspectors returned this week they found conditions had worsened.
The ISPCA has asked gardaí to file a book of evidence with a view to prosecuting those responsible.
Ireland is believed to have the largest puppy farming trade in the EU. Around 30 farms are being investigated by the ISPCA.
The raid comes less than a month after inspectors removed 110 dachshunds from a farm in Co Tipperary due to poor conditions.