Northern Ireland animal welfare charity, the USPCA, has issued a warning to animal lovers across the region, following intelligence reported to its Special Investigations Unit.

Recent reports highlight that illegal puppy farmers have moved to a new mode of operation when selling sick and ill-bred pups – doorstep transactions where the seller insists on carrying out a home check.

A series of similar reports have been made to the USPCA in recent weeks, all occurring in areas across Co. Antrim including Templepatrick, Belfast, Tullycarnet and Carrickfergus, and involving Shih Tzus, Pomeranians, and some designer breeds such as Chorkies and Cockapoos.

Sellers are demanding that home checks be carried out to ensure the new home is ‘suitable’ but do not follow through with them at the time of sale.

Buyers are also being asked to place cash in an envelope which is then handed over on the doorstep.

Reporters have noted that the sellers often wear hats and facemasks, making identification more difficult.

USPCA animal care manager, Deirdre McArdle, said:

"Over the past two years they have used the excuse of Covid to stop buyers viewing where the pup has been born and bred – and now we see them using the ploy of ‘home checks’ in a bid to gain the buyer’s trust.

“Illegal puppy farmers and dealers will do anything in order to appear as a legitimate seller – in this case the majority of adverts are stating that the pups come from ‘loving family homes’ and are fully wormed and vaccinated however no proof is presented during the sale.

"Unfortunately for the buyers involved in these cases, a trip to the vet has revealed that the pups are very poorly – malnourished and many weeks younger than stated by the seller. In fact, in some cases, the pups have also been sold as the wrong gender.

"A puppy farmer’s only interest is how they can make a quick buck to the detriment of an animal’s wellbeing – unfortunately many of these cases can have a terrible outcome.

“Although these incidents have taken place in the Co. Antrim area, it is highly likely that the sellers are operating throughout the region."