A Garda unit was forced to intervene after a group were falsely accused of being 'dognappers' online.
The allegation was made on Friday night in a private Facebook group about dogs being taken in the Walshestown area of Mullingar.
It came accompanied with pictures of the supposed offenders and a Ford Transit van, which an individual claimed was being used to steal the pets.
However, none of that was true.
"We would like to confirm that there was no truth in this report and that the people involved were genuine and had called to the wrong address," a garda spokesperson said.
"The post has been removed from the original page and the person posting is aware of the mistake.
"The other people have received unnecessary and upsetting threats and we would ask people to stop sharing the original post as it is false."
There has been a rise in dognapping and abandonment of puppies nationwide, as well as interceptions from officers at ports as puppy farms remain in operation.
Last month, a dog breeder who had six puppies stolen from her home this week urged dog buyers to be vigilant about where they purchase their pets.
Marie Butler, who runs Castlemerle Kennels in Co Kilkenny, had six seven-week-old Cardigan corgis taken from her property at the beginning of March.
The puppies were the first litter bred by Mrs Butler, who has been working with dogs for over 50 years, was "broken" and "not herself anymore" as a result of the robbery.
At around 10.30pm, she was giving the puppies a "nightcap", their last feed before bed.
She allowed the animals to have a five-minute run around for five minutes, while she went in to wash her hands, only 20 steps from the back door.
Mrs Butler then heard a squeal, "like a hurt puppy squeal" and ran outside to find that a side gate was open and the puppies were gone.
