Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is something we as a committee need to look more into as we get feedback from Dogs Trust Ireland. The ISPCA said it is illegal to perform the cropping procedure and for another person to carry it out and also to show dogs with cropped ears. It is not an offence to import a dog, however. If I have a dog with cropped ears, I cannot show it. However, I take it that most of these dogs are being imported and, therefore, Martin Browne can walk around with his dog with a cropped ear. Who is responsible for identifying those kinds of dogs and actually bringing someone to court? Do dog wardens who are tied in with local authorities or does the ISPCA follow up on that kind of enterprise with those types of dogs? We all see these guys walking around with dogs with cropped ears.