Gardai have recovered four foxhound puppies stolen from their home in Co Galway hundreds of miles away in Belfast.
The pups were taken from their owner in Craughwell and were found over 200 miles away at Belfast Harbour where they were being taken to a ferry with a number of other dogs.
The discovery was made as part of a cross-border operation, involving Gardai, Belfast Harbour Police, Belfast City Council Animal Welfare Service, the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the ISPCA.
The dogs, which were only four weeks old when stolen, have now been returned to their mother and their owner and are said to be in good health.
Gardaí are appealing to the public to take extra crime prevention measures when it comes to caring for your pet, particularly high-value breeds of dogs.
A spokesperson said: "Pet owners are advised to protect their animals by ensuring that they are microchipped. This ensures it can be easily identified if found and returned to the owner.
"It is also important that pets like cats and dogs have a collar which should include the owner’s contact details in the event that the animal gets lost.
"Anyone transporting an animal to another country must also ensure that the animal is microchipped and has a pet passport so that they can be traced.
"Animal owners are also advised to ensure that their home and garden are secure as this will help to prevent theft and deter potential culprits.
"Those with a high value breed of animal could also invest in CCTV and other crime prevention measures."
They also urged dog owners to report thefts to gardai as promptly as possible and also make reports to local authorities, vets and the dog’s microchip company.
