An investigation into breaches of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 is underway after horses were seized in Co. Kilkenny this weekend.
An Garda Síochána in Kilkenny/Carlow posted on its Facebook page that as part of a planned search on farmland in the Castlecomer area, 11 horses have been seized.
The Gardaí said that the search was a multi-agency operation including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the ISPCA, the KSPCA and My Lovely Horse Rescue.
Gardaí thanked those who assisted in the operation and who are now attempting to rehabilitate the horses.
Pup recovered and man charged following theft of litter
Meanwhile, also in Co. Kilkenny, one pup has been recovered and one man charged with possession of stolen property following investigations into the theft of six pups from a property last month.
Confirming the news, Gardaí based in the Laois-Offaly region made an appeal for information on the location of the other five stolen pups.
“Gardaí in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny are investigating the theft of a litter of six Welsh Cardigan Corgis from their home on March 2, 2021.
“During the course of a search operation on April 1, 2021, Portarlington Gardaí recovered a female pup from the litter.”
Noting that one male has been charged with possession of stolen property, the Garda statement added:
“Following a week in the great care of the Laois SPCA, [the] pup was well enough to be returned to her emotional owner on April 8, 2021.”
The Gardaí noted that this breed of dog, Welsh Cardigan Corgi, is a “rare breed, and therefore easy to identify”.
“This type of crime is fuelled by consumers and members of the public are urged to educate themselves prior to buying pups and dogs,” the Garda statement concluded.