Puppy Farms Exposed: The Dark Side of Ireland’s Dog Industry - 27/04/2026

Ireland has long faced international scrutiny over its dog breeding industry, with welfare groups such as ISPCA and Dogs Trust highlighting concerns about so-called “puppy farms”—large-scale breeding operations where dogs can be kept in poor conditions and bred repeatedly for profit.While dog breeding is legal and regulated under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, critics argue that enforcement has not always been strong enough, allowing some substandard facilities to continue operating. Ireland also exports thousands of puppies every year, particularly to the UK, which has contributed to its reputation in this area.Campaigners say the core issue is welfare: breeding dogs kept in inadequate environments, lack of socialisation for puppies, and a system where demand—often driven by online sales and impulse buying—can outpace oversight.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by John O’Callaghan, founder of Dog Advocacy Ireland, who has been campaigning on this issue and raising awareness about the realities behind the puppy trade, as well as calling for stronger enforcement and greater transparency in the industry.We also heard about how things are on the ground for Catriona Lowry, who runs Hilltop Animal Sanctuary, and sees the trauma and damage dogs suffer as a result of these puppy farms Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.