28 puppies rescued near Larne port

Q Radio news

28 puppies have been recovered from a pick up truck on a roadside near Larne Port.

The Cockapoos and Cocker Spaniel pups were taken into council’s care after PSNI stopped the vehicle. 

It's understood police were tipped off by a member of the public.

The pups will now be looked at by vets and rehomed with the assistance of local charities. 

It comes just weeks after another operation rescued 17 pups in time for Christmas.

Q Radio visited Mid Antrim animal sanctuary where 7 of the rescued pups are being looked after.

7 out of 28 puppies rescued from a pick up truck near Larne Port, are being looked after at Mid Antrim animal sanctuary. We hear from the sanctuary’s chairman George Anderson on news at 6. pic.twitter.com/UrnmtdmWZ5

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) January 21, 2019

Q Radio’s visited Mid Antrim Animal Sanctuary where 7 out of 28 dogs rescued near Larne Port, are being looked after. We hear from it’s chairman George Anderson on news at 4. pic.twitter.com/yaRbvHNit3

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) January 21, 2019

 The sanctuary's Chairman, George Anderson says he believes the pups were coming from a puppy farm: 

George Anderson, the chairman of Mid Antrim Animal Sanctuary says he believes 28 puppies rescued from a pick up truck near Larne Port, were coming from a puppy farm. He has this message for those involved: pic.twitter.com/5HX1UTybUj

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) January 21, 2019

Officials have been working to crack down on the illegal movement of dogs at ports across Northern Ireland.

Patricia Allen is head of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council's Public Protection, Health and Wellbeing branch.

She said: “We’ve been working closely with statutory organisations in recent months and it’s great to see that with this level of collaboration, almost 40 pups have been recovered.

“A special thanks goes to the member of the public who called in. Without their help we don’t know what would have happened to these dogs.”