Local gardai are to be complimented for their work in tracking down thieves who steal pets and then try to transport them to the UK where they are sold for big profits.
This week's Galway County Council Joint Policing Committee heard Cllr Peter Roche praise local gardai for their diligence in dealing with this sort of crime.
"People are frightened that their pets are going to be taken. The loss of a pet is more than just an ordinary material theft, it is a vital part of people's lives," he said.
Chief Supt Tom Curley asked people to be vigilant for markings on their gates, which might look suspicious.
"Scouts are sent ahead to identify homes where dogs might be in a garden and then they provide the information to the thieves who carry out the crime by marking the particular house. We would ask people to report anything suspicious to us," he said.
