A St Bernard dog who was allegedly mistreated by a busking gang that travelled the length and breadth of the UK has been seized in Dublin.
The dog, who animal rights activists have named Jack, is understood to have been used by the gang for the last four years.
During that time, he is alleged to have been left without water for hours at a time while preforming to prevent him from urinating and was transported in a tiny crate from city to city.
Jack was seized by gardai yesterday afternoon after being spotted on Grafton Street by a volunteer from the animal charity My Lovely Horse Rescue.
They said: "Yesterday we made a few phone calls back and forward with Gardai about this poor St Bernard, one of our volunteers spotted him in Dublin City Centre.
"An Garda Síochána where brilliant, they immediately got there and saved this beautiful dog."
Jack, who was originally chipped in Germany, has been placed in private foster care to allow him time to recover from his ordeal.
The dog's plight has led to campaigners in the UK calling for a change in legislation to make it an offence to busk with a dog in a public place.
The petition, which has been signed by almost 3,000 people, reads: "This is a lucrative business involving long hours for the dogs lying on hot pavements in the Summer without water or shade.
"Dogs are allegedly deprived of water to prevent them urinating (an old circus trick for performing animals).
"Dogs are transported for hundreds of miles between UK Cities to maximise their earning potential.
"Legislation is now vital to support the Animal Welfare Act by creating a new specific offence with strong deterrent penalties and increasing the powers of the police to seize animals where there is evidence of cruelty and exploitation."
Dublin Live has contacted gardai for comment.
