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Animal Voice - April 2007
Campaign newsletter of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports In This Issue:
01. Urgent: Urge MEPs to sign anti-bullfight declaration
01. Urgent: Urge MEPs to sign anti-bullfight declaration A big thank you to MEPs Proinsias De Rossa, Jim Higgins and Mary Lou McDonald for signing Written Declaration 0002/2007 which is aiming to see bullfighting banned in the EU. To succeed, the "Written declaration on the EU-wide ban on bullfighting" must be signed by a total of 393 MEPs across Europe. ACTION ALERT Please help to ensure that the declaration gets the majority support which reflects Europe's mass opposition to bullfighting. Please urgently contact your country's MEPs before the 14th April deadline. If you are part of an animal welfare group, encourage all your supporters to write to the MEPs, asking them to sign and support Written Declaration 0002/2007. A list of MEPs by country can be found on the European Parliament Website (www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public.do?language=en). For Ireland's MEPs, please scroll down for list below.
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear MEP, I am entirely opposed to bullfighting and I urge you, as one of my representatives in the European Parliament, to please sign Written declaration 0002/2007. The barbarity of bullfighting can be seen in graphic detail by visiting the Irish Council Against Blood Sports website at www.banbloodsports.com and clicking on Videos. This appalling treatment of bulls and horses every year should have no place in modern Europe. Please sign Written Declaration 0002/2007 and help rid Europe of this universally condemned activity. Thank you. I await your positive response. Yours sincerely, (Name/Location)
MEPs in Ireland
Gay Mitchell, MEP - gay.mitchell@europarl.europa.eu
02. Aer Lingus recommends visit to bullfight Please see update: Aer Lingus regrets offence caused 03. Cancer Society asked to honour anti-hunt promise The Irish Cancer Society has been asked by ICABS to honour a promise they made over a decade ago that they would not knowingly accept donations raised through blood sports activities. ICABS made contact with the society after they were listed as a beneficiary of a hunting festival in County Limerick. In our initial letter, we alerted the society to the presence of its name on a Abbeyfeale Harriers hunting flier and asked them to consider "disassociating your charity's good name from this animal cruelty event". We highlighted how, in a previous year, one particular fox was chased for three hours and ten minutes during the festival. In response, the charity's Head of Fundraising, Jill A Clark stated: "Our gift policy does not allow us to accept gifts that would jeopardise the financial, legal or ethical integrity or reputation of the Society. Given the mission of your organisation, I'm sure you know that the Abbeyfeale Harriers' activities are, at this time, legal in Ireland." In response, ICABS reminded the Irish Cancer Society of a anti-hunt promise made by their former CEO, Mr R Hudson. In a telephone conversation on the morning of 29th November 1994, Mr Hudson told ICABS Campaigns Director, Aideen Yourell, that he understood the cruelty of foxhunting. He went on to promise her that the Irish Cancer Society would not in future knowingly accept donations raised through blood sports activities. In a recent letter to the current Irish Cancer Society, CEO, Mr John McCormack, ICABS appealed for this promise to be honoured and for blood money from hunts to be rejected. "We fully understand your society's reliance on donations but hope that groups involved in animal cruelty can be prevented from latching on to the good work of the Cancer Society and introducing a positive element into their otherwise deplorable activities," we said. Disturbing extracts from a report on the 2007 hunting festival have been forwarded to the Irish Cancer Society. The report refers to foxes being chased and killed by hounds. To read the extracts and for more details on how hunt fundraisers help to keep blood sports alive, click on this link: Cancer Society asked to honour anti-hunt promise. ACTION ALERT Please contact the Irish Cancer Society, and any other charity which knowingly accepts donations from blood sports groups. Appeal to them to disassociate from such groups and refuse their "blood money".
Mr John McCormack,
Email: fundraising@irishcancer.ie
04. Bertie Ahern pictured with blood sport groups ICABS has questioned An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, about a newspaper photograph in which he is seen alongside representatives of blood sport organisations. Finance Minister, Brian Cowen, also appears in the photo which was taken at a Fianna Fail event. The photo which appeared in the Irish Examiner of 8th March 2007 includes Bertie Ahern and Minister Brian Cowen alongside Gerry Desmond of the Irish Coursing Club and representatives of hunting lobby group, Countryside Alliance. According to the accompanying article, the "Countryside Alliance says it uses its expertise to help government personnel arrive at solutions and create policies which receive the backing of rural voters"! A spokesperson is quoted as saying that "we will always have field sports [i.e. blood sports] at our core." In a letter to An Taoiseach in March, Aideen Yourell of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports reminded Mr Ahern about the cruelty of hunting and coursing and the mass opposition to the activities in Ireland. ICABS has urged Mr Ahern to give a commitment to introduce legislation outlawing all blood sports in line with the wishes of the vast majority of Irish citizens. Please join us in our appeal by responding to the action alerts below. URGENT ACTION ALERTS Urge An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, to clarify his views on all blood sports and to give a commitment to introduce legislation outlawing coursing, foxhunting, carted deer hunting and all forms of hunting with hounds.
Bertie Ahern, An Taoiseach
Urge Finance Minister, Brian Cowen, to clarify his views on all blood sports and to give a commitment to support legislation outlawing coursing, foxhunting, carted deer hunting and all forms of hunting with hounds.
Brian Cowen, TD
Please also contact your local TDs/Senators and urge them to put pressure on the Taoiseach to ban blood sports in Ireland as has been done in the UK. Write to your TD at: Dail Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 337 889. Write to your Senator at: Seanad Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 732 623. For the names and contact details of politicians, please visit the Irish Government Website at: www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/. 05. Fine Gael would NOT ban hunting: claim A hunting group has claimed that Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, has given a commitment that if his party gets into government, they will not restrict or ban hunting. ICABS is appealing to Mr Kenny to withdraw any such commitment and instead pledge to work towards banning blood sports. A statement issued in March by shooting organisation, NARGC, claims that "Enda Kenny gave a solemn commitment to all the hunting associations, when he met them on April 20th 2005 in the offices of the Irish Coursing Club in Clonmel, that Fine Gael would not in government agree to the introduction of restrictions or bans on hunting." In a letter to the Fine Gael leader, ICABS queried the claim and stated that if it was accurate, it was extremely disappointing to those campaigning against animal cruelty all across Ireland. We also conveyed our sadness at the claim that a meeting took place at the offices of the Irish Coursing Club. We reminded Mr Kenny that he confirmed to us in July 2003 that he is "opposed to the practice of live hare coursing". "Please withdraw any commitment to hunting groups and instead pledge to work towards banning activities involving animal cruelty, activities which a majority of the electorate want outlawed," we appealed to Deputy Kenny. "If you are in any doubt as to the barbarity and suffering involved in these horrendous acts, we invite you to view our shocking blood sports video presentations at www.youtube.com/icabs." ACTION ALERT Please join us in our appeal to Enda Kenny. Contact him today and urge him to withdraw any commitment given to hunting groups and to instead pledge his support for a ban on coursing, foxhunting, hare hunting, mink hunting and carted deer hunting.
SAMPLE LETTER
Enda Kenny, TD
Email: enda.kenny@finegael.ie
Dear Deputy Kenny, I was disturbed to learn about a claim being made by a hunting group that you have given a commitment that, when in government, Fine Gael would not restrict or ban hunting. Considering the suffering caused to animals by hunting groups, I am incredulous that a modern political party would want to align itself in any way with hunting groups or hesitate to act to bring these shameful activities to an end in our country. I implore you and Fine Gael to give a firm commitment that you will actively work to outlaw blood sports in Ireland. For video footage of the cruelty of hunting as well as presentations showing the humane alternatives, I can recommend a visit to the Irish Council Against Blood Sports channel at www.youtube.com/icabs. I look forward to your positive reply. Yours sincerely, Name/Location 06. "Vulpine suicide" - the foxes chased to their deaths Crassly described as "vulpine suicide", an Irish hunting report has described how a pair of foxes perished after desperately trying to get away from the pursuing pack of hounds. The Irish Field of February 3rd, 2007 included a disturbing account of the horrific deaths. The following is an extract from the report. "[The Limerick Harriers huntsman] told of twice this season when a good hunt had been spoiled by the fox committing the equivalent of vulpine suicide. As his hounds were pressing their quarry in one hunt, it turned to the road for sanctuary, only to be run over by a car. On another occasion hounds had pressed their fox hard and were not very far behind him when he jumped into a slurry pit and drowned." ICABS has brought this to the attention of Ministers Dick Roche and Mary Coughlan and implored them to act to make foxhunting illegal in Ireland. You can help by responding to the urgent action alert below. URGENT ACTION ALERT Urge the Minister for Agriculture to amend the Protection of Animals Act so that foxes and all wild creatures are protected from unnecessary cruelty.
Minister Mary Coughlan
Please also contact the Minister with responsibility for the Wildlife Act. Urge him to amend the Wildlife Act so that foxes are given full protection from the cruelty of hunting with hounds.
Minister Dick Roche
Appeal to all Irish politicians Please join us in telling the Irish Government that it is now time to replace foxhunting with the humane alternative - drag hunting. Drag hunting sees the hounds chasing an artificial lure instead of a live animal. This form of "hunting" is already practised successfully by a few groups in Ireland. In a modern and civilised country like Ireland, there should be no place for foxhunting, particularly when a transition to drag hunting would be simple. We desperately need your help to convince the government that it is time to ban foxhunting. Please write to all of your local politicians and ask them to express their opposition to this blood sport. If possible, get your friends, family and workmates to contact them too. We need as much help with this campaign as possible.
Write to your TD at:
Write to your Senator at:
For the names and contact details of politicians, please visit the Irish Government Website. 07. Hunt literature removed from tourist offices East & Midlands Tourism has confirmed that literature promoting hunting has been removed from their public offices in the region. The move follows an ICABS appeal to the Failte Ireland-affiliated body last year. We urged the company to exclude references to hunting from future editions of its "Equestrian Holidays" brochure. Our appeal was prompted by the appearance in the booklet of five references to hunting, e.g. a listing for an equestrian centre which stated that "hunting can be arranged". In a recent letter to ICABS, Kevin Kidney, the General Manager of East & Midlands Tourism, stated: "Further to your recent correspondence, we wish to confirm that we have removed any literature promoting hunting from the shelves of our Tourist Information Offices." ICABS greatly welcomes this positive response which effectively means that hunting will no longer be publicised by the body in Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, North Offaly, Westmeath and Wicklow. For more information about tourist attractions in the region, please visit the East & Midlands Tourism website at www.eastcoastmidlands.ie. 08. Blood sports appeal to Limerick websites Two Limerick-based websites have been asked to stop publicising blood sports in the county. Please join us in trying to convince the companies that suggesting animal cruelty as a tourist activity is inappropriate. ICABS was disappointed to see that the visitlimerick.com and ballyhouracountry.com websites include information about blood sports. Among the objectionable content on visitlimerick.com are names, addresses and contact phone numbers for hunts as well as an accommodation listing which offers to "provide information and arrange hire of horses, booking with local hunts". The ballyhouracountry.com website, meanwhile, offers details about a coursing club as well as information about local hunting. "Fox hunting has a great tradition throughout Ballyhoura Country with the local population having a good knowledge and understanding of the sport," it states. In a letter to the companies behind the websites, ICABS appealed for information about blood sports to be excluded. "Hunting is no longer promoted or publicised by Shannon Development, Failte Ireland, East Coast and Midlands Tourism, etc due to the animal cruelty involved. We hope that you will follow their good example," we stated. ACTION ALERT Please join us in appealing to visitlimerick.com and ballyhouracountry.com to stop publicising blood sports. If you are aware of any other websites in Limerick or around Ireland which include information about hunting or coursing, please send us the details today. Thank you.
Visitlimerick.com
Ballyhouracountry.com
SAMPLE LETTER
To whom it concerns: I am writing to appeal to you to please remove references to hunting and/or coursing from your website. These activities are responsible for cruelty to Irish wildlife and are opposed by a majority of citizens. I think it is inappropriate to publicise such blood sports on your website or to present them as possible activities for tourists. County Limerick has so many positive experiences to offer tourists from around Ireland and from abroad. I hope that any activity involving animal cruelty can be excluded from your site. Thank you very much. I eagerly await your reply. Yours sincerely, Name/Location 09. Woman "severely injured" after being bitten by hounds A woman who was bitten and gnawed by a marauding pack of hunt hounds was left suffering from "considerable personal and psychological injuries". A solicitor's letter seen by ICABS details the horrendous incident which allegedly took place on private property during a hunt in Ireland some years ago. The woman was "severely injured as a result of being attacked by a pack of hounds", the solicitor's letter outlines, adding that "the hounds were, on the occasion, in the process of pursuing [an animal] when they strayed into the garage area of a house adjacent to a field where the hunt was going on." "They proceeded to bite and gnaw our client's body resulting in considerable personal and psychological injuries from which she is still suffering," stated the woman's solicitor. Reference was made in the letter to the "spontaneous nature of hounds" and to "how dangerous it is to have a pack out in fields close to houses where they may be liable to stray and attack". Following this disturbing incident, a court case was pending but it later emerged that there was an out-of-court settlement. For legal reasons, ICABS is unable to name the hunt in question. These shocking revelations make it clear that hunt hounds are not only a threat to wildlife, livestock and pets but also to children and adults. ICABS has renewed its appeal to the Gardai to restrict the movements of hunts in the interests of public safety. We have also alerted the government and cited this attack on a human as another reason to urgently ban hunting with hounds in Ireland. Visit the ICABS website to see a delightful set of photos capturing the moment a peckish fox stops at an apple tree, chooses an apple and jumps up to get it. The unique shots were taken in County Kilkenny by the late Tommy O'Neill - a wildlife enthusiast and freelance photographer. "The fox was a regular visitor to Tommy's garden and was always at ease in his presence," recalls friend Willie. "Tommy could sit on the wall and the fox would just wander around doing whatever he wanted to!" To see the photos, please click on this link: The fox and the fruit 11. Dublin Support Group invites you to join The Dublin Support Group of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports is inviting members of the public to attend their next meeting. If you're from around Dublin and are keen to get active in the campaign, please get in touch now. Phone the Dublin Support Group's Charlotte Eager on 01-821 3332 for more details. Thank you. 12. Department cruelly snaring badgers - and pets As many as 208 pets are being caught every year in cruel snares placed by Department of Agriculture operatives, it has emerged. The admission by Minister Mary Coughlan makes it clear that the suffering caused by her department's so-called TB Eradication scheme is even worse than previously imagined. Responding to a Dail question from ICABS Vice-President, Tony Gregory, TD, the Minister revealed that up to 6,000 snares are waiting for badgers on farmland on any given night during the spring, summer and autumn. Animals caught in the devices struggle desperately to escape. Disturbing photos obtained by ICABS show a dead badger caught up in a snare - on the tree to which the snare is attached are claw marks where the unfortunate creature tried to scratch its way to freedom. The badgers caught in the snares are killed the following day by gunshot. The domestic animals caught up in the snares are "released unharmed" the following morning, according to Minister Coughlan. However, it is likely that these creatures - like the badgers - will have suffered in their efforts to regain their freedom. ICABS has renewed its appeal to Minister Coughlan to show compassion and suspend the cruel badger snaring operation. We have also challenged the Department of Environment on why it is continuing to license the snaring of a protected animal as part of a scheme which has been described as slaughter masquerading as science. Please see below for Tony Gregory's Dail question and the response in full. URGENT ACTION ALERTS Appeal to Minister Mary Coughlan to show compassion and suspend the cruel badger snaring operation. Remind her that the badger is a protected species in Ireland and that the Protection of Animals Act, for which she is responsible, makes it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to an animal. Tell her that a recent report stated that "badger culling apparently has the capacity to increase badger-to-badger transmission of infection, potentially undermining anticipated reductions in badger-to-cattle transmission."
Minister Mary Coughlan
Please write to the Minister for the Environment and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Remind them that the Wildlife Act, for which they are responsible, lists the badger as a protected species. Demand that they stop licensing the snaring and killing of thousands of badgers as part of a cruel and discredited TB eradication scheme.
Minister Dick Roche
Jamie Mulleady
For more information on this issue, visit our Campaigns Page
13. Iarnrod Eireann to contact hunts about trespass The Chief Executive of Iarnrod Eireann has announced that the company's district managers have been asked to contact their local hunts to warn them that any hunters caught trespassing on to tracks will be prosecuted. In a letter to an ICABS Supporter in February, the national rail company's CEO, Richard Fearn, wrote: "Noting your concerns that, in particular, mounted foxhunters have trespassed on the railway lately, I have asked my district managers to contact their local hunts directly and to advise them of the seriousness of acts of trespass on the railway." He also stressed that Iarnrod Eireann "will, and has, prosecuted offenders who commit acts of trespass on the railway". "Trespass on an operational railway can endanger the lives of both the trespassers and rail users and is considered, both by Iarnrod Eireann and the Courts, as most serious," he added. ICABS is very pleased with this response. Last year, the company promised to contact a single hunt after one of its members reportedly trespassed on to a track as a train approached. This latest announcement that district managers are to actively address the problem on a national scale, however, is a major step further. ICABS has sent Iarnrod Eireann a complete list of Ireland's registered hunting groups along with contact names, addresses and phone numbers. We have assured the company that our efforts to convince the government to replace animal hunting with drag hunting is ongoing. "Drag hunting not only eliminates the cruelty of hunting but also ensures that the route taken by hunters avoids prohibited land, public roads and railway lines," we stated. ACTION ALERT If you witness a hunt trespassing on rail lines, urgently contact Iarnrod Eireann. Try to get photos or video footage as these may prove vital in securing a successful prosecution. After alerting Iarnrod Eireann, please notify ICABS. Thank you.
Iarnrod Eireann
14. Exhibit true picture of hunting: appeal to Laois Council ICABS has asked Laois County Council to expose the truth about foxhunting by publicly displaying an image showing the fate of the fox. The request was made after we learned that a hunting scene appeared as part of an art exhibition at the council's Portlaoise headquarters. In a letter to the County Manager, we registered our disapproval at hunt paintings which show only half the story about this cruel activity. "Would Laois County Council afford us the opportunity of having a photo displayed at Aras and Chontae - either one depicting the animal cruelty involved in this horrendous activity or one showing the beauty of the red fox, the victim in foxhunting," we asked. We have also brought to the council's attention a statement issued by ICABS in January in which we noted that "a side to hunting that will certainly never be seen in these paintings is the cruelty meted out to the defenceless victims." ICABS hopes that Laois County Council will reply positively and consider displaying one of our photographs. ACTION ALERT If you spot a hunting scene on display in an art exhibition or in a hotel or pub, educate the manager about the reality of blood sports in Ireland. Enquire about his or her stance towards activities involving animal cruelty. Suggest that a photo or painting showing the beauty of wildlife would make better viewing. If you would like to join us in our appeal to Laois County Council, the contact details are as follows:
Laois County Council
Tel: +353 57 8664000
15. Parliamentary Questions and Answers For more Parliamentary Questions, visit our Politicians Page Question 451 - Answered on 27th February, 2007 Tony Gregory: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of snares laid by her Department officials to snare badgers in 2006; if her Department has received complaints that other wildlife and domestic animals are being caught or injured in these snares; if she will review this practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Ref No: 7116/07. Written reply. Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan): My Department implements a wildlife strategy, which includes the targeted removal of badgers, under licence issued by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government where they are implicated in an outbreak of TB. Capturing is undertaken in areas where serious outbreaks of Tuberculosis have been identified in cattle herds and where an epidemiological investigation carried out by my Department's Veterinary Inspectorate has found that badgers are the likely source of infection. Most of the operational work involved is carried out by staff from the Farm Relief Service Co-op (FRS) who are closely supervised by staff from my Department. For this, a "stopped restraint" of a type approved under Section 34(2) of the 1976 Wildlife Act is used. During the peak months (spring/early summer and autumn), each FRS staff person lays and monitors between 60-100 restraints and at peak times there may be up to 6,000 restraints on farmland on a given night. My Department does not have precise figures in relation to the number of restraints set annually. All restraints are checked daily to ensure trapped animals do not suffer any unavoidable trauma. Captured badgers are humanely euthanised. The landowner's permission is first obtained and landowners adjacent to where capturing operations are ongoing are similarly notified before restraints are set. This ensures that farmed livestock are grazed elsewhere and minimises the risk that domestic animals become accidentally trapped. The level of non-badger capture is very low and Department staff report 6-8 captures of dogs per year in each county. No complaints have been received by staff of my Department in relation to these captures. Any domestic animals including dogs captured are released unharmed during the morning inspections. Dog owners have a responsibility to confine their animals at night, as dogs should not be roaming freely due to the threats they pose to sheep. My Department is committed to a research project with UCD on the development of a vaccine for use in badgers that would lead to a reduction in the current high levels of TB infection in that species. It is hoped that this strategy will in the long term reduce the need to cull TB infected badgers as tuberculosis levels falls in both cattle and badgers. However, any vaccine will not be available for wider use in the immediate future and the existing strategy will remain in place for some time. My Department is satisfied that its current badger removal policy is justified and has contributed to the decline in the number of TB reactors and the costs associated with bovine TB. For an ICABS translation of the Minister's response, please click on this link: Department cruelly snaring badgers - and pets 16. Bishops consider blood sports at meeting The bishops of Ireland considered the issue of clergy involvement in blood sports at their latest general meeting, ICABS has been told. The bishops have thanked us for drawing their attention to the continued practice of hunt blessings. In a letter to the Irish Bishops Conference last November, ICABS highlighted the latest instances of clergy involvement in hunting and coursing and renewed our appeal for the issue to be addressed. Brought to the conference's attention was a priest who presented a coursing award, a priest acting as a hunt master and a priest who blessed a foxhunt. In our correspondence, we appealed to the bishops "to convey to priests the inappropriateness of associating with or participating in hunting or coursing". "Blood sports such as foxhunting and hare coursing are contrary to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and should be shunned by members of the clergy," we pointed out. "We hope that 2006 will mark an end to this unfortunate link between priests and activities involving cruelty to some of God's most vulnerable creatures." In a letter recently sent to ICABS, the Executive Secretary of the Irish Episcopal Conference, Revd Aidan O'Boyle replied: "Your letter was brought to the attention of all of the Bishops at their December General Meeting [and] the specific cases you highlighted in regard to the involvement of certain clergy in blood sports were brought to the attention of the relevant Bishops." "The Bishops have asked me to thank you for bringing these instances of involvement in blood sports to their attention," he added. ICABS has previously welcomed an announcement by the Irish Bishops Conference that they are opposed to priests blessing hunts or accessing church property. We will continue to urge the Irish bishops to condemn blood sports. ACTION ALERT Please write to your local bishop and appeal to him to publicly condemn the hunting of animals with packs of dogs. Highlight that blood sports are contrary to the Catholic Catechism. Paragraph 2418 states that "it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly" while Paragraph 2416 states: "Animals are God's creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals." "Sadly nowadays one sometimes sees horses left standing in trailers for hours after a hunt while the owners enjoy a warm fire and refreshment. Masters of hounds should stamp out this practice as it demeans the hunt and only shows the ignorance of these few owners who are so careless towards the needs of their horses." (From "Hunting: The Great", a pro-hunting article in the Irish Independent, February 6th 2007) "The coursing community's love affair with Greenmount [Racecourse in County Limerick] did not last very long, with the result that many enthusiasts are not attending the Irish Cup. This was reflected in the disappointing crowds at the recent renewal..." (Sporting Press, March 2007) "This [Kildalkey, Co Meath] incident should [act] as a wake-up call not only for the masters, committee and followers of the Ward Union, but for every other master and hunt in the country. Thankfully there was nobody injured and there was no great damage done. However, it could just have easily been a pack of foxhounds, or harriers or beagles hunting into or near a school or village." (James Norton, former Irish Masters of Foxhounds PRO, the Irish Field, 3rd March 2007) "There was some serious riding to be done. McNamara had changed horses as his first suffered a nasty cut and he was quickly faced with a narrow bank with at least six foot on the take-off side and another eight foot down onto the road." (Report on the Limerick Harriers hunt, Irish Field, February 3rd, 2007). "They had killed a fox and sent the field home happy..." (Report on the Limerick Harriers hunt, Irish Field, February 3rd, 2007). "Autumn hunting is the preserve of the huntsman. The new entry are introduced, decisions made on which hounds to keep and which should be moved on, and the foundation stones for the season ahead are bedded in...When the quarry's presence was picked up they thundered across the bog..." (The Irish Field, October 14th, 2006). Stop Ireland's badger snaring slaughter Help persuade Tesco to stop selling live turtles in China Protection of Pets petition to Bertie Ahern Save the bears on Korea's bear farms Check out our new nature gallery which features 16 stunning shots of animals, birds, fish, insects, landscapes and plants. This is the latest in a series of galleries which show the beauty of nature in Ireland. Click on "Gallery" at www.banbloodsports.com to view the images. 20. Make an online donation to ICABS You can now make an online donation to ICABS by clicking on our new Donate link. You can make a donation using your paypal account or by using your credit card. Thank you for any donation you can make - your support will allow us to continue campaigning against blood sport cruelty in Ireland. If you prefer, you can post a donation to ICABS, PO Box 88, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Ireland. Tune in to the ICABS Channel Footage of blood sport cruelty and the humane alternatives can now be viewed on the new ICABS Channel on Youtube - www.youtube.com/icabs
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