You may have seen footage on TVNZ's Seven Sharp last night that showed our SPCA Inspectors rescuing German Shepherds from a puppy farm. 

SPCA carried out a raid on the puppy farm it first visited in July last year after customers raised concerns about the animals' health.

"The first visit we made we're talking in excess of 63 adults and puppies," Greg Reid of the SPCA says.

"We went and made an inspection and were pretty dismayed with what we found."

After further inspections did not lead to improvements in conditions, the animal welfare agency uplifted some of the animals and now has 31 German shepherds in its care.

"Frankly we would have taken more if we had facilities or capacity ourselves, but we have limits too to ensure the right kind of care," Mr Reid says. 

Dogs New Zealand, the organisation that represents many breeders, says they too are appalled with the treatment found at some breeders. 

"As a small not-for-profit organisation Dogs NZ really struggles with enforcing rules, regulations and code of ethics," Dr Becky Murphy of Dogs New Zealand says.

"We can't be everywhere at once and we're extremely grateful for the SPCA's work."

Now the SPCA has a message for those breeding dogs for sale.

"Change your game. The SPCA is aware of this now. We're coming, we're going be looking," Mr Reid says.