Eighteen dogs and puppies have been seized by gardaí at Dublin Port.

A shipment of five female dogs and 13 puppies were discovered in the back of a rental van heading for the late ferry.

The DSPCA said it is the third seizure of dogs at Dublin Port in the past six days.

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The 13 puppies, which were seized last night, are a mixture of cross breed terriers and collies are all about 7 weeks old.

The DSPCA is very concerned over the five adult female dogs, none of which are neutered and all of which are of breeding age.

The dogs are described as three terrier cross females who are around three or four years of age, a very small sized female German Pointer aged about 9 months old, and a female Springer Spaniel aged about three years old.

The DSPCA is appealing to anybody who may have lost a dog recently to get in touch with them.