Close to the village of Moate, on the border of Westmeath and Offaly, is home to one of Europe’s largest puppy farms. This is yet another of Ireland’s secret shames.
John Boland Snr. and John Boland Jnr. own the farm, and breed thousands of dogs there, in horrendous conditions, every year.
An excerpt from a Sunday Times article:
“The puppy farm is not visible from the main Dublin to Galway road. Signs warn trespassers to stay clear and CCTV cameras guard the premises. The Boland’s do not sell puppies to members of the public; only to dealers.
There are believed to be up to 50 puppy farms in Ireland, with some keeping up to 100 animals in cramped and cruel conditions, but the Bolands’ is by far the largest. There are said to be more than 700 dogs at times, possibly as many as 1,200. They produce "pedigree" puppies for a network of dealers who sell throughout Ireland, Britain and Europe.
The ISPCA has attempted to investigate Boland in the past. In 2003 it arranged a surprise inspection of the farm, but found all the kennels had just been cleaned, leading them to conclude he had been tipped off.
The ISPCA maintains dealers such as the Bolands’ are exploiting a loophole in Irish law that allows puppy farms to operate unregulated. In Britain, a female dog aged over eight cannot be used for breeding, and no female dog can produce more than two litters a year. No such regulations exist in Ireland, making it a profitable location to factory farm puppies.
The farm is an unauthorised development, says Offaly county council, but it hasn't carried out an inspection to establish how waste produced by the dogs is being disposed of. The Bolands would not elaborate on their welfare and environmental practices.”
In early 2009 there was also an outbreak of canine brucellosis on this ‘farm’.
WE NEED TO CLOSE THIS SLAVE CAMP - AND ALL OTHER PUPPY FARMS - NOW!
IF YOU CAN GIVE US ANY INFORMATION TO HELP WITH THIS CAMPAIGN, PLEASE CONTACT US!
