Rescue

The DSPCA are committed to making it socially unacceptable to mistreat any animal. Under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, our team of authorised inspectors rescue animals from situations of cruelty, neglect and abandonment. They also work closely and collectively with Government Agencies and authorities, such as the Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine and An Garda Siochana.

Our inspectors assist and help strengthen the law on animal welfare in Ireland and influence decision making around legislation to help improve the lives of all animals.

Our Inspectors

The DSPCA inspectors cover the Dublin and greater Dublin area. When responding to and investigating a complaint of animal cruelty, the inspector’s sole purpose is to determine if the animals welfare is compromised.

If there is evidence to suggest that an offence has been committed, as authorised officers under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 DSPCA inspectors can when necessary and have the power to:

Issue Animal Health and Welfare Notices requiring pet owners to provide immediate veterinary care or improve the way in which they care for their animals.

Use reasonable force to enter a property (other than a private home) where they suspect an animal is suffering. Failure to comply with an Animal Health and Welfare Notice is an offence and such failure may result in the seizure of the animal.

By law, an animal owner must give such assistance or information to an authorised officer if required.

Cruelty Cases

Man who neglected 11 German Shepherds, avoids jail time after successfully appealing sentence.

A 33 year old man who was handed down a jail term in court in September for the neglect of 11 German Shepherd dogs has had his jail time suspended on appeal. In September 2025, at Navan District Court, Judge Éirinn McKiernan heard how NSPCA Chief Inspector ConorDowling called to the defendant’s premises in January 2024 with Meath County dog wardens Alan Nolan and Fiona O’Connor. They found 11 German Shepherds in a total of nine kennels. All kennels had…

Video footage captured a man “physically abusing a husky dog”

Court Case: Video footage captured a man “physically abusing a husky dog” On 21st February 2024, the NSPCA received video evidence from a private security company showing prolonged physical and verbal abuse of a dog outside a residential apartment complex in Raheny, Dublin 5. Following receipt of multiple recordings, the NSPCA obtained witness statements, and immediately began a formal investigation under the Animal Health & Welfare Act 2013. On 26th February 2024, a search warrant was granted by Dublin District…

Lifetime ban from owning animals

NSPCA Inspectors alerted Fingal County Council following a complaint received regarding an alleged puppy farm at a premises in Swords, Co. Dublin. On 8 November 2023, NSPCA Inspectors assisted An Garda Síochána and a Fingal County Council Dog Warden, who had obtained a warrant from the Dublin Metropolitan District Court in connection with the reported animal welfare concerns. Upon entering the property, Inspectors were met with extremely poor living conditions. Multiple dogs were confined in unsuitable crates without access to…

Lifetime ban from owning animals upheld – Court Case

A Carlow man who pleaded guilty to charges of animal cruelty and obstructing an authorised officer has had his prison sentence suspended on appeal, but a lifetime disqualification from keeping animals was upheld. The defendant, a 25 year old male, had appealed the severity of the sentence imposed by Judge Geraldine Carthy in Carlow District Court on 5th December 2024, when he was handed a four month term of imprisonment, banned from owning animals for life, and ordered to pay…

Tail Docking – Court Case

At Naas District Court on 20 October 2025, two Kildare men were convicted for their roles in the docking of the tails of seven Doberman puppies. They were each fined €3,500 and each ordered to pay €1000 costs to the NSPCA. The court heard that in May 2023, NSPCA Inspector James McCormack visited a premises and found seven two-week-old Doberman puppies with their tails removed. The pups and their mother were seized and taken from the premises for veterinary assessment.…

Lacey – Court Case

On the 24th of March the inspectors responded to a call about a neglected dog. They removed a Staffordshire Bull Terrier from the premises and transported her to the DSPCA. Lacey was severely underweight, weighing only 10.6kg when she should have weighed between 15/16kg. Scroll down to read outcome of court case

Alfa – Court Case

On the 19th January 2017, following a court hearing at Balbriggan Court by Judge Dempsey, the owner of an emaciated Doberman dog was convicted of animal cruelty under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. Before ruling, Judge Dempsey ask the accused, a woman local to Balbriggan, if she had any other animals. She replied that she currently has another dog. He then ruled that the defendant was sentenced to a one year ban on the ownership of animals, a…

Dublin Port Puppies – Court Case

In October 2020 a man traveling in a blue van was stopped by Customs and Excise officers at Dublin Port. When questioned if he was traveling with animals he denied it twice. His van however was searched and 4 little puppies were found hidden in a black plastic box in the back of the van. There was no ventilation and the puppies had no access to water. DSPCA inspectors assisted with the seizure and the 4 little puppies were brought…

140 animals rescued from Dublin petting farm – Court Case

In April 2021 we were faced with one of the largest intake of animals at any one time with 140 animals all in desperate need of veterinary care. The conditions our inspectors found these animals living in were simply appalling and incredibly distressing. Scroll down to read outcome of court case

Rolly – Court Case

In November 2021 DSPCA Inspectors, assisted by An Garda Síochána seized a puppy from its owner. The puppy, a 12 week old Bull Breed had one of the worst cases of ear cropping that we had seen. Most of his ears were cut off with open wounds. The suture material used to stitch his ears had cut through his skin leaving deep sore infected wounds. His left ear had eight looped stitches and his right ear had fourteen. Scroll down…

Charlie – Court Case

In October 2021 a DSPCA inspector called to a home following complaints from a member of the public about the dog's welfare. Our inspector saw the dog who was underweight, very lethargic and not behaving normally. The owner of Charlie was advised by our inspector to bring him to a vet, however the following day when he returned the dog was on a public footpath in the same condition. Our inspector seized the dog on welfare ground On examination by…

Ruby – Court Case

Our inspectors seized an English Bull Terrier from a home in Ballymun, Dublin 11. Ruby had skin allergies that were not being treated, she was underweight, had an eye infection, a nail infection along with a broken dew claw. Scroll down to read outcome of court case