The fight against puppy farming

The Ulster Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) has taken the lead on the fight against cruelty to animals . Leading the dedicated team is Stephen Philpott the chief executive of the USPCA for the last 14 years.

The charity discovered that Northern Ireland is the puppy-farming capital of Europe, despite the practice being illegal on both sides of the border.

An address was made to Northern Ireland ministers about the increase of puppies in the province.

The timing of the address coincided with the charity having to return 45 dogs to an illegal dog breeder in Co Fermanagh. The USPCA was also embroiled in a row with Belfast City Council over the seizure of a pit-bull.

Puppy breeding because it is so lucrative is attracting the attention of criminal gangs. Mr Philpott says it is time for politicians to act.

Mr Philpott said, "The plague of puppy farming is spreading throughout Northern Ireland at an alarming rate - especially in the border counties.

"Every part of Ireland has experienced an increase in the theft of pedigree dogs and the USPCA has evidence of the link between these thefts and local puppy farms.

"Conditions are appalling; animals penned up in blacked-out sheds or kept in scrap cars are two recent examples of the appalling conditions uncovered by USPCA/ISPCA Welfare Officers."

He added, "They survive in their own excrement and drink from filthy containers. The USPCA has found breeding stock being fed on the maggot infested carcasses of butchered bull calves or out-of-date meat products.

"Puppy farmers do not welcome visitors. One dealer in Fermanagh retails hundreds of pups each year through newspaper ads in Northern Ireland and exports thousands more through a well-established route into Scotland and England .

"I cannot believe I was forced to return dogs last week when the Public Prosecution Service suggested I didn't have enough experience in animal welfare. This is what we are up against and last week was one of the worst in my time in animal welfare."

"Thousands of these animals are being exported each year to feed the frenzy for trendy dogs gripping the British Isles and Europe. This has to stop now."

Mr Philpott also urged local animal lovers not to buy from puppy farms and to report their existence to the USPCA.