The scale of the rescue of animals from a puppy farm in Myshall, Co Carlow has been described as "unprecedented" by the ISPCA.

Numerous ISPCA officers, as well as Gardaí and officials from the Department of Agriculture and the Local Authority were involved in removing 340 dogs and 11 horses over a nine-day period.

The animals in most need of urgent veterinary attention were moved first.

The majority of the animals were transported to the ISPCA National Animal Centre in Longford. Some were taken to the ISPCA Equine Centre in Mallow whilst others were taken to other welfare groups who offered assistance.

The rescued dogs were mostly adult females ranging in breeds from Cocker Spaniels, Siberian Huskies, Yorkshire Terriers, Bichon Frise crosses, Cavalier King Charles, and Shih Tzu's plus a small number of large-breed puppies under five weeks old.

The majority of the dogs had heavily matted coats which needed to be completely clipped and they were also suffering from chronic skin, eye and teeth problems.

A number of them had untreated injuries which were infected, causing further suffering. Their paws were also badly infected from being soaked in urine.

The ISPCA has now issued an emergency appeal, urging the public to please donate anything they can by visiting the ISPCA’s secure website.

ISPCA Chief Inspector Conor Dowling said: "This operation has been extremely challenging for the ISPCA as a whole and for the individuals involved at a personal level.

"The conditions in this dog breeding establishment were absolutely shocking and it was imperative that it be shut down.

"We welcome this as the first closure notice to be served since the implementation of the Dog Breeding Establishment Act and we are delighted we were able to remove so many animals where their welfare was compromised.

"We would particularly like to thank An Garda Síochána for their efforts in dealing with this matter."

ISPCA CEO, Dr Andrew Kelly said: "This is an appalling and horrific case.

"Many of these animals were living in squalid conditions and there were dead animals scattered around the site.

"A large number of animals are now in the care of the ISPCA and we will be working very hard to provide them with veterinary care and rehabilitation and will eventually be seeking to rehome them.

"I am very grateful to all the ISPCA staff involved in such a harrowing case and I am also grateful to our volunteers and other welfare groups for their assistance with transporting and housing some of the dogs seized.

"I want to make it absolutely clear that the ISPCA will not tolerate animal abuse of any kind and we will do all we can to shut down places like this.

"We will be calling on the Department of the Environment to revise the DBE to allow random and unannounced inspections of all registered breeding establishments."