The Department of Agriculture is to examine a report which has claimed "appalling cruelty" and "serious breaches of animal welfare laws" in relation to the export of a number of Irish greyhounds for racing in Spain.
The report was drawn up during a six-month surveillance operation by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) in co-operation with its British counterpart, the RSPCA. It claims that dogs were kept in tiny crates in 40 degree heat with no food, and only one water break during a 38-hour journey from Ireland to Spain.
It states that 36 dogs were shipped as freight for 1,200 km by ferry and road. Four of the dogs were given exercise during a stop-off in France.
The dogs were given one bowl of water during the single break, but were not fed, even though six bags of food were discovered on board the container, the ISPCC had said.
The cages used to house the animals were too small to allow them to stand up fully, the report alleges.
Sixteen of the cages contained two dogs each and were too narrow to allow both dogs to sit down, it claims.
The dogs were sold at auction in Cork to Spanish investors and were transported by men from Merseyside in Britain, the ISPCA director of operations Mr Alastair Keen said.
"We've been following these two men for six months, but this is the first time we've managed to catch them in the act. They've made four or five trips from Ireland to Spain already this year."
Spanish police apprehended the men on arrival in Barcelona. They cannot currently be named as it may jeopardise criminal proceedings.
The men had not registered their vehicle for the transport of animals and were unable to produce a transport certificate for Spanish police, according to the ISPCA.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Agriculture confirmed that animals must be examined by its officials prior to export before the appropriate certificates are issued.
In a statement issued last night, the Department said it had contacted the ISPCA and requested a copy of the report of the alleged animal welfare transgressions.
"The Department will examine the report when it receives it and will take whatever action is deemed appropriate arising from the report and other considerations.
"Under Directive 91/628 there is an obligation on the transporter to ensure that the dogs are fed at least every 24 hours, and given water at least every 12 hours," the statement said.
The auction in Cork was presided over by The Irish Greyhound Board (Bord na gCon), the semi-state body responsible for the control of the greyhound industry.
The IGB said it had no involvement in, or information on, the ISPCA operation.
"As IGB has been provided with no information to date regarding this case, we cannot comment on it specifically at present."
Ireland is one of the largest exporters of greyhounds.
Mr Keen said that more than 1,000 dogs are sent to Spain as freight each year, to be "raced to death".
