AN ALLEGED outbreak of canine brucellosis on a puppy farm in the midlands poses a serious public health risk as the disease is transmissible to humans, the Dublin SPCA and the Ulster SPCA have warned.
They say the owner of the farm, on which there are 700 breeding bitches and up to 300 puppies, refused to sign an undertaking this weekend not to move the dogs off-site before tomorrow when officials from the Department of Agriculture or Environment could assess the situation.
The claims were rejected by a spokeswoman at the breeder’s facility, claiming instead that the two welfare agencies were involved in “intimidation”.
Jimmy Cahill, chief executive of the DSPCA, said a cordon must be put around the farm, which is near Moate, Co Offaly, and warned of a possible epidemic among dogs if any of the animals were moved.
Canine brucellosis is transmissible to humans and causes liver damage and arthritis. In dogs it causes pregnant bitches to miscarry and infertility.
“We got accurate information on Friday that this man was intending moving and selling these dogs and we acted on it,” said Mr Cahill. “He did admit he had an outbreak and our inspectors spent 4½ hours at the farm trying to contact officials from the Departments of Agriculture and Environment to come and close the farm until this is dealt with.
“The guards were very helpful but the owners refused to let us see the dogs or any of the carcasses. If there is an outbreak of canine brucellosis it could have a devastating impact on the greyhound industry,” he said.
A spokeswoman at the facility last night claimed that “nobody has confirmed positive test results. There are no tests for any results to be done. There is no confirmation or results to say there is an outbreak.” She also rejected any claim that they were a “puppy farm”, saying: “We don’t do puppy farming. We are dog breeders and reputable ones.”
She said that she did advise the USPCA that no animals would leave the premises over the weekend and confirmed last night that while she would not be moving anything, she could not stand over what anyone one else on the farm might do.
She questioned the motives of the DSPCA and USPCA and said the approach of the welfare organisations was one of “intimidation”. She said her vet would be speaking to animal welfare officials on Tuesday. Last night a Department of Agriculture veterinary source said an outbreak of canine brucellosis would be extremely unusual.