The DSPCA has issued an appeal after 18 dogs and puppies have been seized by gardaí at Dublin Port.
A shipment of five female dogs and 13 puppies were discovered in the back of a rental van heading for the late ferry.
The DSPCA says it is the third seizure of dogs at Dublin Port in the past six days.
The 13 puppies, which were seized last night, are a mixture of cross breed terriers and collies.
They are all around seven-weeks-old.
The DSPCA says it is "very concerned" about the 5 adult female dogs, as they are not neutered and are all of breeding age.
The dogs are described as:
- Three terrier cross females who are around three or four years of age
- A very small sized female German Pointer, aged about nine-months-old
- A female Springer Spaniel, aged about three-years-old
The DSPCA is appealing to anybody who may have lost a dog recently to get in touch with them at lost@dspca.ie, and to include a photo of their missing dog along with a contact phone number.
