People in the region are being urged to ensure dog breeders have the correct certificates and are registered before buying a puppy this Christmas.
Brendan Smith is the Monaghan County Council veterinary officer, and he says that with many of the shelters and pounds locally experiencing shortages more families are going to breeders.
He is reminding people that anyone selling more than five puppies a year has to be registered with the Department of Agriculture and will have a registration cert to prove it.
While anyone with more than six female dogs on their property must be registered with the county council and will also be issued with a certificate.
Brendan is advising people to check that the puppy is healthy and if they have concerns to report it:
