A little puppy rescued from a horrific breeding farm in Carlow on Monday passed away today in the loving care of those who had saved her.
'Little Tish' was plucked from the farm along with 22 other puppies by members of the Laois Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (LSPCA).
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[/comment]In all, over 150 dogs were been bred on the farm, according to Heidi Erasmus, dog coordinator with the LSPCA.
"Her little body could not cope with everything so she passed away this morning," Ms Erasmus explained.
"She had a litter of three and she went downhill fast. She just didn't have it in her.
"One dog did not have her back feet and another make had tendon damage and they were both being bred.
"They rescued loads of dogs from the farm. They also took away skeletons and bones.
"It's absolutely horrific," she said.
"They named her Little Tish on Monday when she went into the vets. She was a Labrador cross. She would have been around six to eight weeks at the most. They all had horrible lives.
"From the time she was born to the time she died she had a horrible life. Whenever we pick up one dog she just screams, she's literally terrified."
Ms Erasmus added: "There was faeces stuck to their bodies. They all had diarrhoea, and when we gave them water they were fighting each other for it."
"For me, it is the worst case I've come across. One cocker spaniel was completely emaciated, covered in sores and scabs, and completely shook."
"Their eyes were rolling back because they weren't used to daylight, the vet said."
Gardai and the ISPCA are carrying out investigations.