Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

dog in cage image via Shutterstock
how much is that doggie

Ceasing online animal sales would make it harder to find 'unscrupulous dealers'

The DSPCA said it’s a serious problem but DoneDeals.ie claims removing ads for these sales would drive the marker underground.

TWO WEBSITES HAVE defended themselves against criticisms about the sale of animals online, after the DSPCA called for them to cease all of these sales immediately.

Yesterday the society’s Chief Executive Brian Gillen said the online trading of animals is a “serious problem” as many of these pets are not properly vaccinated or micro-chipped. “It is difficult to source the origin of cats, dogs and all other manner of animals,” he said.

In a straw poll of DoneDeal.ie and BuyandSell.ie in one morning, the DSPCA said it found around 11,000 advertisements for animals and called on the two sites and all websites to stop allowing this.

A spokesperson for DoneDeal said that its loves dogs and “we continually strive to improve the welfare of all dogs across Ireland”.

“The DSPCA calling on DoneDeal to cease all sales of animals on our site would actually drive the market underground and make it very difficult to track down unscrupulous dealers,” they said. “We would urge everyone who notices anything suspicious when it comes to dog breeding to report it immediately either directly to us or the ISPCA who we work closely with.”

In a statement, BuyandSell.ie said it had not been contacted by the DSPCA but supports the charity’s efforts to improve animal welfare. The website also said it maintains “firm guidelines for the advertising and sale of live animals. Similarly, DoneDeal said it monitors dog ads and helps the authorities with information to help them investigate breeders.

However the DSPCA’s Gillian Bird refuted claims that removing these ads would force the trade underground, saying that if the public don’t have the option of buying online, they are more likely to go through shelters and adoption centres.

“It’s not like we’re going to have an illicit market with people just selling dogs,” she said. “What this will do it stop people from deliberately breeding dogs for profit.”

Bird called on other animal welfare groups to join the campaign against selling animals online and urged the public not to buy pets in this way.

Read: Charity warns public about ‘illicit puppy traders’ selling online>

Read: Fifty puppies found in Dublin cars in animal cruelty investigation>

Your Voice
Readers Comments
42
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.