Puppy 'Smugglers' Foiled Again: More Dogs Found

Irish authorities have foiled a second apparent attempt to traffic dozens of puppies to the UK - recovering 56 dogs in a van at Dublin Port.

The animals were seized by police and customs officials just days after officers found 36 puppies in a separate seizure in the city.

In the latest incident, on Thursday, a 46-year old man was arrested at the scene following a search of the van.

He has been released and police are continuing their investigation.

The recovered dogs include mainly small breeds aged between six and 10 weeks.

All the animals are being examined by Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) vets but a spokesman said most appear to be in good condition.

The DSPCA, which believes the animals were illegally bred on puppy farms in Ireland with the intention of selling them on the black market in the UK, has warned people buying a puppy to be vigilant.

The organisation is calling on the Irish government to crack down on traffickers in the Republic and for compulsory microchipping of dogs.

"None of the seized puppies were microchipped or had any form of identification or vaccination papers which makes tracing their breeders impossible," said a DSPCA spokesman.

Two men have been charged after the puppy seizure on Tuesday, which saw 25 Jack Russells and a number of other breeds recovered in boxes in two cars.