DUBLIN, Ireland - A number of people accused of the abduction of 38 dogs and their subsequent ill-treatment have been arrested and faced court on Thursday.

Two women, both aged in their 30s, and 2 men, one in his 20s and the other in his 30s, were taken into custody on Wednesday and charged.

The arrests are part of a multiagency operation, involving Tallaght garda, with the assistance of the Dog Warden from South Dublin County Council and the DSPCA.

Officers from the various agencies swooped on two apartments in Citywest, Co.Dublin on 1 December 2021.

Over the course of the search, investigators recovered 38 dogs including a number of puppies and other animals which were being kept in inhumane living conditions.

Other animals recovered from the premises included cats, parrots, tarantulas, a snake, a scorpion, and a millipede.

The animals were removed from the premises and taken by the DSPCA for veterinary treatment.

The four arrested on Wednesday appeared before Tallaght District Court on Thursday morning.

Gardai say investigations are ongoing.