The new animal welfare strategy promises stronger protections for animals, tougher enforcement and tighter controls on dog breeding establishments.

While efforts are being made to try and combat the puppy farm issues in Ireland, it seems that many people don't think enough is being done.

The government recently unveiled its new animal welfare strategy, through to 2030, that promises stronger protections for animals, tougher enforcement and tighter controls on dog breeding establishment.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Sarah Lynch, Policy, Compliance and Research Manager at Dogs Trust Ireland, explained how the policy actually falls short of what's needed.

She said: "The animal welfare strategy is a milestone moment, but the proof will be in the pudding and we do think that it does fall a bit short in terms of dog breeding.

"We really do want to see how it steps up to ensure that the welfare of every pup and mom in those dog breeding establishments which are protected.

"Right now, with some of the suggestions, the recent bill doesn't go far enough in our mind.

"Unfortunately, we have this awful title of being the puppy farming capital of the world, so really, we want to see that this strategy, that what they've conveyed in it about dog breeding, that really it does stand up to scrutiny.

"Words are very easy, but we really want to see the recent bill that the minister announced, the general scheme of the dog breeding establishments amendment bill could go a lot further."

One aspect of the bill is how one staff member to 20 canine mums is just for the mums on site, and they're each going to have puppies.

Puppies, as Ms Lynch reminds us, are a lot of work, and the average dog births around six puppies. So, if you have 20 pregnant dogs, that could amount to 120 puppies on top of the 20 mums, with only one staff member caring for them.

That also doesn't include other dogs on the site, like retired dogs, which is why groups like Dog's Trust don't feel the bill is going far enough.

She added: "If it wants to really look at the welfare outcomes of every dog born on that site and present on that site, one to 20 is simply not achievable."

Main image: Six-week-old puppies Faith and Hope who were abandoned with their five siblings in a plastic bag when they were just four-weeks-old. Pic: Fran Veale/Dogs Trust Ireland