An animal welfare campaigner in Tipperary believes the majority of dogs being stolen finish up in the UK.
Gina Hetherington from PAWS in Mullinahone says a change in laws in Britain has led to the current situation.
Speaking on Tipp Today she urged people to be vigilant regarding their pets following a spate of thefts in Tipperary and across the country.
“There’s a great market at the moment for pups in the UK.”
“How they’re getting them over there as far as I know is through the North because they don’t need a pet passport.
“People are not breeding because of this new Lucy’s Law in England so there’s a great demand for pups and cute dogs because there are strict guidelines now in England on breeding unlike here.”