Dog theft is a truly terrible thing.

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It truly depicts how some people see these sentient beings as nothing more than property.

And this latest story might be one of the worst cases we've heard.

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Taking place in many locations across the Republic of Ireland.

Any illegal dog trade is pretty brutal.

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But the sheer number of dogs in this case is flabbergasting.

More than 30 dogs have been seized.

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Including 3 Chihuahuas, 4 Pugs, a Jack Russell, and twenty-four Dachshunds.

To the value of €120,000, or a whopping $140,00.

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It's a truly staggering number.

Despite being man's best friend...

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Dogs are sadly one of the biggest victims of abuse and neglect. They are one of the world's most popular household pets, but for some completely unknown reason, people have been known to inflict all kinds of horrors on pups.

It's unknown how many animals are abused every year...

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But it's thought that thousands of animals suffer and lose their lives at the hands of careless and ignorant individuals, and it pains me truly to be writing this story.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, however.

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Millions of people around the world stand firmly against animal abuse, and there are endless animal organizations and charities out there that come together to protect our domesticated friends.

A fresh start for the unfortunate pets...

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These organizations and charities rescue animals in danger and animals that are injured from abuse; they also strive to get these pets rehomed into a safe and caring environment.

Abused and neglected dogs show certain signs of having been hurt.

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According to a study conducted by a team at Best Friends Animal Society, dogs that have fallen victim to abuse and neglect are more likely to show behavioral traits such as fearfulness, aggression towards people and other dogs, hyperactivity, persistent barking, and bizarre and repetitive behaviors such as digging, spinning in circles, and hoarding.

These behaviors can make a dog dangerous.

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In some cases, abused dogs have no hope of trusting humans again, which makes them aggressive and unsafe to have in a family home. Of course, this is not their fault, but it means that many families can't risk homing these poor pups. This sadly often results in euthanasia, which is always a last resort when it comes to caring for neglected animals.

This is why the kindness of strangers is of the utmost importance...

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And dogs who have been neglected or abused will need lots of rehabilitation before they can be adopted.

Dogs are abandoned in heartbreaking ways.

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And many wonder how anyone can be so heartless.

And even more horrifying?

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The fact that some cruel people steal dogs to make a profit.

The illegal dog trade is very scary.

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Any dog owner knows the idea of losing a pet is basically a living nightmare.

And after these pooches are taken from their homes...

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They're often very poorly treated in the interim between them being resold at a huge profit.

Luckily, law enforcement are around to help.

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And they work on getting stolen doggies back to people who truly care about them.

Police had received tip-offs about "unusual activity."

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They then obtained a warrant and on Saturday afternoon, searched several properties.

They discovered a total of 32 dogs.

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All of the dogs have been moved to a nearby rescue facility.

"Enquiries to reunite the dogs with their owners are now underway."

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There has been a recent spike in stolen dog cases in the area, with many dog-selling sites taking steps to prevent the trade.

We hope there's a happy ending for all these cuties!

Want another terrifying tale of dog thievery? Scroll on...