Nearly half of all dog owners don’t find out if their pet came from a puppy farm, it’s claimed.

Research by Dogs Trust found 74 per cent of ­people would be deterred from buying an animal from illegal farms.

But a shocking 45 per cent said they never checked to see where their new pet originated.

A further 39 per cent didn’t even meet the pup before taking it home.

Dogs Trust chief Suzie Carley said: “It is distressing to think about the harrowing life that some dogs and young pups have to endure as a result of poor breeding practices in Ireland.

Dogs Trust has cared for the most vulnerable dogs, including orphaned pups, nursing mums and pups, and heavily pregnant mums of various breeds following rescues, seizures and closures of dog breeding establishments in Ireland.

We see, first-hand, the devastating consequences when puppies have not been given adequate care or socialisation in the first few months.

Many pups develop behavioural and health problems, which can present itself as fearful or aggressive behaviour in later life.

At times this can prove too costly or troublesome for people who have taken on a new puppy, without undertaking adequate research beforehand, and sadly we then see them coming through our doors.”

Dogs Trust has launched its Christmas appeal to show the dangers in these conditions.

It revealed that the females are often locked away and kept just to breed litter after litter for years on end, before being thrown away when they get too old.