The SPCA is seeking help in the effort to crack down on puppy mills after the association seized 149 dogs in northwestern New Brunswick last week.

A complaint from the public led to the seizure of 149 dogs in Saint Basile, which is near Edmundston, last Friday, and the organization is urging anyone with information about other possible mills to contact them.

Mike Murphy, the executive director of the New Brunswick SPCA, said most people aren't aware of how large the operations can be or how widespread puppy mills are in the province.

"We're just scratching the surface,” he said.

Murphy said new provincial regulations introduced last year require anyone selling animals to have a licence but that step is often ignored.

"Every day we could go on Kijiji and pull out 30 people that do not have licence numbers. So it represents a rather substantial challenge,” he said.

Murphy said the SPCA has 20 inspectors on call but only three are full-time.Those inspectors are kept busy doing annual inspections of licensed breeders and only when complaints come in from the public can they specifically look for offenders.

Murphy said even private sales of puppies require a licence but a temporary permit is easily obtained.

"Their dog got into the other dog's yard and there's a litter of pups. In those situations we're not overly concerned,” he said.

While the SPCA is not looking to crack down on those accidental puppy litters, executive director has a very specific idea of the types of businesses that they do want to rid the province of.

"If you're running a business, a “puppy mill business” and know that you're in this business simply to make money and it has nothing to do with the animals themselves, you're going to, chances are, cut corners where you can and increase your margins,” he said.

Murphy said anyone who finds dogs that are for sale, but the seller does not have a licence number, should call the SPCA.

The New Brunswick government implemented, what it claims, are among the strongest standards that protect animals in Canada in April 2010.

The regulations apply to pet stores, kennels and animal shelters both commercial and non-commercial that are located in municipalities and in rural areas.

People who own more than five dogs over six months of age will be forced to follow nationally established standards of care for those animals.

Businesses selling animals considered livestock, as well as groomers, training operations, research and educational facilities, veterinary clinics boarding animals for medical reasons, and boarding and riding stables for horses are exempt from those regulations.