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Animal Voice - April 2008
Campaign newsletter of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports
In This Issue:
01. Minister Gormley settles with Ward Union
01. Minister Gormley settles with Ward Union The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has learned that Environment Minister, John Gormley, has settled out of court with the controversial Ward Union carted deer hunt regarding the conditions of a restricted hunting licence he issued last December. In a statement from the Minister's office, ICABS has been told that "the terms of the settlement are that the case will be dropped, and that the Minister will not impose conditions 12 and 13 on this or future licences, should such licences be granted. There is also an agreement that decisions on future licence applications will be taken within a reasonable timeframe." The restricted licence issued by the Green Party Minister to the hunt disallowed the use of dogs to chase the deer and prompted the hunt to seek a Judicial Review on the matter. They subsequently won an injunction, preventing the Minister from enforcing certain conditions. For over 150 years now, the Ward Union hunt has been subjecting tame deer to a distressing ordeal, leaving them exhausted, often injured and at risk of dying from heart failure. Under the Freedom of Information Act, incidents of cruelty have been documented, such as deer dying of aneurisms; a deer choked on capture; a deer drowned in a quarry; a deer sustaining fractured ribs and dying; a deer hanging by its front leg on barbed wire; a deer clearly exhausted with its tongue hanging out and lameness in deer following hunts. These incidents are just the tip of the iceberg, we believe. The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has always contended that this hunt should never have been licensed and this has now been borne out by Professors William Binchy and Clive Symmons of Trinity School of Law in a recently published legal opinion which concludes that the Ward Union hunt is "illegal" under the 1911 Protection of Animals Act, and that it shouldn't be licensed under the 1976 Wildlife Act. Our campaign to bring the Ward Union hunt to an end continues. ACTION ALERT Restate your opposition to cruel carted deer hunting and ask Minister Gormley to deny any further licence to the Ward Union (as is his right as Environment Minister).
SAMPLE LETTER
Minister John Gormley
Email: minister@environ.ie
Dear Minister Gormley, I am writing to urge you, as a Green Party Minister, to do everything in your power to prevent the Ward Union from resuming their terrorisation of deer. According to legal experts, this hunt is illegal. Please refuse further licences to this cruel hunt which a majority of people in County Meath and many more around Ireland and the world want stopped. Thank you. I look forward to your response. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] 02. Hotel asked to disassociate from coursing The manager of the Clonmel Park Hotel in County Tipperary has been asked by ICABS to disassociate from a cruel blood sport. In an advert placed in the events booklet for this year's coursing finals, the hotel extended a "welcome to all visitors to the national coursing meeting". The advert also highlighted that the hotel is "just 5 minutes drive from the coursing grounds" and that a coursing video was to be shown nightly at the hotel. Asking manager, Michael Boyle, to give a commitment that the hotel would disassociate from coursing and ensure that no further ads are placed in coursing publications, ICABS stressed that "a majority of Irish people (and many millions around the world) are opposed to this horrendous blood sport". Please join us in our appeal to the Clonmel Park Hotel by taking part in our action alert below. ACTION ALERT Appeal to the Clonmel Park Hotel to give a commitment that no further adverts will be placed in coursing publications and that coursing videos will not be shown at the hotel again.
SAMPLE LETTER
Michael Boyle
Email: michaelboyle@clonmelparkhotel.com
Dear Mr Boyle, I am contacting you to register my disappointment at your hotel's association with the Clonmel coursing finals 2008. It is incredible that a modern hotel like the Clonmel Park would wish to associate with a cruel blood sport that a majority of Irish people wish to see being made illegal. As you may be aware, hares are snatched from their habitats, kept in captivity for months and forced to run for their lives in front of greyhounds. They suffer fear, stress and injuries such as broken bones. Hares continue to die painful deaths in this horrendous activity. Please show compassion for Ireland's persecuted hare species by announcing that the Clonmel Park Hotel will never again advertise in coursing publications or allow coursing videos to be shown at your venue. Thank you. I look forward to receiving your reply. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] 03. Subscribe to the ICABS RSS feed Stay right up to date on Irish Council Against Blood Sports campaign activities and action alerts by subscribing to our new RSS Feed. Add http://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/feed to your news reader and be among the first to receive the latest ICABS news headlines. This exciting development will bring our campaign to an even wider audience and help further expose the cruelty of blood sports in Ireland. What is an RSS Feed? For general information, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/help/3223484.stm 04. Sickened hunter calls for "life ban" on 2 hunts A hunter who is alleging that foxes were dug out of their earth with spades and bars is calling for "a life ban" on two hunts. Quoted in the Avondhu newspaper, the long-time hunt supporter said he was "sickened to the core" to witness the scene. He has also alleged that a captive fox was released from a bag in front of hounds and that members of the Ormond and Avondhu hunts were "implicit in this act of barbarism". Following a call from the Irish Council Against Blood Sports, the incident is currently being investigated by the Gardai in Fermoy. The Avondhu newspaper says it was contacted by the sickened hunting enthusiast who "described how a group of men dug foxes out of their underground hiding place with spades and bars, subsequently killing them". The hunter brands digging out as being contrary to 'the good sport' to leave foxes alone once they have outwitted the hounds and escaped underground. However, digging out is commonplace during Irish hunts and acknowledged by the Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association's so-called code of conduct as being a part of foxhunting in Ireland. "Digging shall only be conducted by a small number of experienced people and assistants appointed by the Master or his nominee," it states. "Reasonable efforts shall be made to ensure that digging out will not become a public spectacle." In 1999, ICABS urged our then government to show compassion and make it illegal for hunters to dig foxes out of their earths. Our appeal fell on deaf ears but over the years we have continued to plead with politicians to outlaw this vile practice and hit those taking part in dig-outs with tough penalties. In recent weeks, we have renewed our appeal to the current government. "It goes against my grain to report this to you but these hunts deserve to be exposed and the actions of the IMFHA need to be questioned," the quoted source told the Avondhu. "I thought bagged foxes were a relic of darker times and consigned to the history books. The gentlemen of the Avondhu and Ormond Hunts are stuck in the past and their actions will only hasten the demise of foxhunting in Ireland. The anti-foxhunting brigade can hang up their boots, foxhunting will end as a result of the actions of its own followers". Although unlawful to release a captive animal in front of hounds, ICABS believes that this may also be commonplace in hunting and that hunt followers turn a blind eye to the cruel practice. Bagged foxes are released by hunts when hounds fail to find the scent of a fox in the wild. In a separate report in the Nenagh Guardian, it is suggested that the alleged incident came to light only after complaints were made by hunters from the UK. Please join ICABS in our urgent appeal to the Irish Government to follow the example of the UK Governments and finally ban foxhunting with packs of hounds. Cruelty is integral to foxhunting - from the moment the fox is disturbed from its habitat to the finale when the creature is knocked off its feet and bitten and mauled to death. No rules or guidelines will ever change the fact that this blood sport is totally based on unacceptable animal abuse and that a huge majority of Irish people want it banned NOW. Please help Ireland's persecuted fox species: Scroll down to "Action Alerts: Ban Foxhunting" 05. Call for Garda investigation into fox cruelty allegations The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has called for a Garda investigation into complaints of cruelty to a fox during a hunt in Fermoy, Co. Cork earlier this month. We have written to the Garda Commissioner, calling for a probe into the cruelty allegations made against the Avondhu Foxhounds by "senior people within the hunting community". It has been reported in the media that the incident is being "investigated" by the Irish Masters of Foxhounds to which the Avondhu is affiliated, but as far as we are concerned, this amounts to foxhunters investigating themselves. This is a matter for the Gardai, as they are the law enforcement agency in this country. Whatever the Masters of Foxhounds comes up with following their investigation is irrelevant as far as the law of the land is concerned. This is the second hunt in recent times to have allegations of cruelty made against it. Last November, it was alleged that a fox was thrown live to hounds after it was dug out of the earth by officials of the Westmeath Foxhounds, but following a so-called investigation by the Irish Masters of Foxhounds, it was stated that two hounds escaped from the main pack and killed the fox in the hole. ICABS was informed by the Mullingar Gardai that our correspondence relating to this incident had been passed to the Athlone Gardai and we are awaiting information regarding the outcome of their investigation. 06. Stay away from canal: Waterways Ireland's message to hunt Waterways Ireland is to contact the Westmeath Foxhounds to tell them to stay away from the Royal Canal. The move comes after the Irish Council Against Blood Sports highlighted a report from earlier this year which revealed that the hunt's hounds chased a fox into the freezing water of the canal and along its banks. The Irish Field of 2nd February 2008 told of how "the fox and the pack swam across the canal and continued along the banks to the Mullingar/Ballynacargy Road...the fox, with four and a half couple (9 hounds) in pursuit, [then] swam the canal again before retracing their steps back to Newman's Bog." In a letter to ICABS, Waterways Ireland Regional Manager, John McKeown confirmed that "the Westmeath Foxhounds do not have permission from Waterways Ireland to hunt on Royal Canal property." "We carried out some local investigations and could not find evidence that horses had accessed the canal banks and no damage was observed," he added. "However, I will write to the chairman of the Westmeath Foxhounds to inform them that their horses are not permitted on canal property." In its letter to Waterways Ireland, ICABS highlighted the threat to public safety posed by packs of hounds. We also pointed out that seeing a fox running for its life would prove distressing to legitimate canal and canal bank users. "Persecution of wildlife along the canal would surely be upsetting to the majority of those who enjoy the canal experience," we stated. ICABS has renewed its appeal to Westmeath landowners to stand up for our wildlife heritage by banning hunts from crossing their land. An increasing number of farmers are closing their property to hunts due to fears of disease spread, disturbance of livestock and damage to pastures and farm boundaries. "No Hunting" signs are now available to download from www.banbloodsports.com (Click on Farmers and scroll down to "No Hunting Signs") A fox disturbed from a hedgerow was forced to run for a gruelling 30 minutes, according to a report in the Irish Field newspaper. The fox was one of several terrorised during a Galway Blazers hunt earlier this year. Another desperately ran across a road to try and lose the pursuing pack. "Another fox had been sitting tight and was not disturbed by the pack when they were passing through on the previous occasion," the January report outlined. "He broke cover and crossed the road in the direction of The Fingerboards in anticipation of shaking off the pack. The bitches were having none of it though and ran him through to Shangarry, turning him and then running him in a circle all the way back to the find. This was over some of the very best stone wall country, including many well-built doubles." A third fox referred to in the report was disturbed from an "overgrown boreen" and was chased by hounds along "a fast run downhill through the plantation and to ground". The report praises an "important member" of the hunt who "manages all the coverts". Contrary to claims that the purpose of foxhunting is to "control" foxes, many hunts have admitted to managing fox habitats. This is usually to ensure sufficient foxes in a given area for hounds to chase to their deaths. Please help Ireland's persecuted fox species: Scroll down to "Action Alerts: Ban Foxhunting" 08. Help Irish Foxes - Join the campaign today Help save Irish foxes from the cruelty of foxhunting. Ask your friends to join our monthly action alert email list. Please spread the word about the campaign by displaying our "Help Irish Foxes" graphic on your website. To display the graphic on your page, please use the following code:
09. Galway cat relives fond foxy memories Last year, we reported on a fox who befriended a cat during one of his regular visits to a Galway cattery. This month we bring you a cute snapshot showing feline Ted watching foxes on television and clearly missing his foxy friend. (To view the photo, visit www.banbloodsports.com, click on Latest News and scroll down to Galway cat relives fond foxy memories) The photo shows Ted captivated by a recent RTE wildlife programme which featured foxes in the wild. He is seen looking up at the screen, reliving fond memories of Basil, a fox he used to share bowls of cat food with in the garden. Muriel Hayden of Athenry's Cuddles Cattery says that Basil came to her garden every day but sadly hasn't been seen since last August. "I still see foxes from time to time and occasionally a fox comes into my garden, but none so tame and friendly as Basil," she told ICABS. "I really miss his twice-daily visits." "There is so much ignorance about foxes though," she adds. "After Basil disappeared I told many people about him and quite a few of them thought a fox would probably attack a cat if he had a chance. My photos disprove that theory!" "I was very fortunate and felt privileged to have had the company of Basil," Muriel commented previously. "He frequented my garden more or less daily for a couple of months. I run a boarding cattery and always have leftover cat food, which Basil seemed to enjoy. He would follow me up and down the cattery (from outside) as I worked and when I was in the garden he acted very like a dog, wrapping himself around my legs sometimes." If you would like to share your photos or video footage of foxes, please send them to us at ICABS, PO Box 88, Mullingar, Co Westmeath or email them to info@banbloodsports.com. Thank you. More information: The Red Fox For more information on the Red Fox, including foxwatching advice, photos and podcasts, please visit the Foxwatch Ireland website at http://homepage.eircom.net/~foxwatchireland To see some video footage of foxes, have a look at our Irish Wildlife Playlist - http://ie.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=730D7AA7517ED712 10. ICABS Campaign Text Alerts Sign up for the Irish Council Against Blood Sports' Campaign Text Alerts service and receive occasional campaign updates to your mobile phone. To subscribe to this free service, simply text the word GO to our textline on 086-0386617. If, after subscribing, you wish to unsubscribe at any stage, simply text the word STOP to the same number. 11. Please display an ICABS campaign banner Help spread the word about the campaign against blood sports in Ireland. Please display an ICABS banner on your website or profile page. New banners this week: "Dublin wants blood sports banned" and "Galway wants blood sports banned". To view the banners and obtain the display codes, click here "link logos and instructions" 12. Google urged to remove hurtful bullfighting ad links The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is calling on Google to remove advert links from a page which previews a book about anti-bullfight campaigner, Vicki Moore. The links to a retailer of bullfighting tickets appear on a Google Book Search page for "Life on the Line". In a letter to Google's CEO, ICABS asked for the company to show compassion and remove the "sponsored links" which, we stressed, are "hurtful not only to Vicki's surviving husband, Tony, but also to the many people in Ireland, the UK and across the world who remember the enormous contribution Vicki made to the campaign against bullfighting." Sponsored links are advertisement links which companies pay Google to display on their search pages. "We are asking for you to please remove these bullfighting-related sponsored links," we appealed to CEO, Dr. Eric E. Schmidt. "Life on the Line is a book about Vicki Moore - a woman who dedicated her life to the campaign against bullfight cruelty. She led the campaign for many years along with her husband, Tony, and together they exposed much abuse against bulls in bullrings, bullruns and fiestas. In 1995 she was violently gored by a bull while filming for a British TV company. She was gored 11 times in the chest, back, groin, legs and also suffered a punctured lung and eight badly smashed ribs. She never fully recovered and died five years later." "With this in mind, we hope that Google can be sensitive to the memory of this brave and much respected and loved woman and remove the sponsored links," we added. The links highlighted to Google point to companies selling bullfighting tickets, bullfighting costumes and accommodation in Pamplona during the town's cruel bullrun event. ICABS has renewed its appeal to Google to implement a policy of refusing all future applications for bullfighting-related sponsored links. "As a modern and compassionate company which prides itself on a positive global image, it would be very appropriate for Google to stop allowing those who advertise or promote animal cruelty to benefit from your sponsored links service," we stated. ACTION ALERT Please ask Google to show compassion and remove the bullfighting-related links from the Google Book Search page for "Life on the Line". Ask the company to stop accepting ads for activities involving animal cruelty.
SAMPLE LETTER
Dr. Eric E. Schmidt, Ph.D.
Email a complaint to Google at: consumer-complaints-euro@google.com
Dear Mr Schmidt, I am writing to ask that Google show sensitivity to the memory of Vicki Moore - a woman who dedicated her life to the campaign against bullfighting cruelty. I am upset to learn that sponsored links for bullfighting appear on a Google Book Search page which previews a book about Vicki. I trust that it was not Google's intention to be disrespectful or insensitive but the fact remains that the presence of these links is hurtful not only to Vicki's surviving husband, Tony, but also to the many people in Ireland, the UK and across the world who remember the enormous contribution Vicki made to the campaign against bullfighting. Please urgently replace these links with links that do not promote animal cruelty. I also urge Google to implement a policy of refusing sponsored links from companies that are advertising events based on animal cruelty. Thank you. I look forward to your positive reply. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] 13. Sligo TD asked to consider hunting cruelty A TD who described hunting as an "integral part of the rural lifestyle" has been told by ICABS about the terrible animal cruelty involved in the activity. Sligo Fine Gael TD, John Perry, has said that he will keep our comments in mind for the future. In a statement delivered at a pro-hunt meeting in January, Deputy Perry stated: "Outdoor leisure and recreational activities such as hunting, shooting and fishing are factors that are a fundamental and integral part of the rural lifestyle...In times of rapid economic development and urbanisation, the development of the global village and an international mass media, there is a need for positive policies to protect the best of our rural culture and traditions...I will maintain my pressure on this Government to have our rich rural heritage recognised, and indeed protected by legislation, rather than being threatened by it." Appealing for Deputy Perry to reconsider his stance, ICABS outlined how hunting is very much a minority activity and is in no way integral to the rural lifestyle. We pointed out that foxhunting is viewed by 68 per cent of Irish people as cruel, with 64 per cent wanting it banned. "During foxhunts, foxes are disturbed from their habitat, chased for anything up to three or more hours (during which they suffer not only fear and stress but a physical breakdown of muscles and damage to internal organs) and eventually knocked off their feet and eviscerated by a pack of hounds," we stated. "If they manage to find refuge along the way, hunters use shovels and terriers to force the cowering creatures back out into the open where they are killed. There is no justification for such cruelty to wildlife." Challenging to a claim by Deputy Perry that hunts have "an excellent record in...looking after the welfare of their hounds", ICABS highlighted how hunts destroy hounds that are no longer considered fit for hunting. "These would not be old, unhealthy hounds but hounds that are simply not considered by hunters to be satisfactory as regards speed or ability to follow scent." Responding, Deputy Perry stressed that he continues to "feel strongly about animal welfare and conservation of our wildlife". "I note your comments and will keep them in mind for the future," he added. ACTION ALERT Join us in appealing to Deputy Perry to give his support to a total ban on hunting. Point out that foxes, hares, deer and mink suffer greatly while being chased by a pack of hounds. If you are from the Sligo constituency, please point this out in your correspondence.
John Perry, TD
Email: john.perry@oireachtas.ie
14. Foxes dug out and "brutally assaulted" in Wexford The Star newspaper has revealed that two foxes were dug out of their den and "brutally assaulted" in Fethard-on-Sea, Wexford. A local woman said that, prior to the grim discovery, she saw two men from a red car walking close the dens with four dogs. ICABS urges anyone with information to please contact the Gardai. The Star (March 31, 2008) reported that the mangled remains of the unfortunate foxes were found by the woman while she was out walking. "I went for a walk and this is what I came across - two foxes just on the ground a few metres away from their hole," she was quoted as saying. "They were absolutely brutally assaulted. It must have been a long, slow death" Digging out and the use of terriers is one of the most cruel and heartless assaults on the fox species in Ireland. It is carried out not only by heartless individuals who enjoy seeing animals suffer but also by thugs employed by registered foxhunts. They send terriers down into the fox earth to viciously maul and bite the defenceless fox. The fox will either die underground as a result of its injuries or will be dragged out into the open where it continues to be attacked. Shovels and spades are used by hunters to dig away the earth to give themselves a better view of the doomed fox trying to defend itself. If you have any information that can help identify those responsible for the sickening cruelty in Fethard-on-Sea, please contact the Wexford Gardai now on Tel: 053-916 5200 (24 hours a day) The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has brought this latest assault on the fox species to the attention of the Department of Agriculture where new animal welfare legislation is currently being drafted. We have stressed the urgency of giving protection to foxes and setting higher penalties for those found guilty of animal cruelty. We have renewed our calls for an outright ban on digging out and so-called "terrierwork". Please help Ireland's persecuted fox species: Scroll down to "Action Alerts: Ban Foxhunting" 15. Arrow Tours remove bullfight image The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has thanked Arrow Tours, for removing a bullfight image from its website and for pledging to delete it from the next edition of its European City Breaks brochure. The publishers of a Madrid guidebook distributed by Arrow Tours have also been praised for promising to remove a matador from the front cover. Responding to an ICABS appeal, Brian Greene, a director of Arrow Tours stated: "I have been in contact with Metropolis International, based in the UK, who provide us with our citybreak guidebooks, and they confirm that on their next print run of Madrid guidebooks they will remove the bullfighting image that is currently on the front cover. Furthermore, I confirm that on the next print run of the Arrow Tours brochure we will also remove the Madrid bullfighting image." "Neither Arrow Tours nor Metropolis International wishes to be associated with cruelty to any kind of animal and we give this undertaking as a sign of goodwill towards your efforts," he added. ICABS is delighted at this positive response from both companies. About Arrow Tours: With over 40 years experience, Arrow Tours is the longest established city break specialist in Ireland. The company employs a dedicated team of 20 and focuses exclusively on the city breaks/short breaks market. They have been voted 'Best Short Break Tour Operator' by the Irish Travel Trade and offer bookings on city destinations, hotels and sightseeing excursions from their website at: www.arrowtours.ie About Metropolis Publishing: Established in 1994, Metropolis specialises in Consumer, Business and Travel Publishing. It has offices in London, Croydon, Bolton, Plymouth and New York. 16. Wildlife is welcome, golf club tells ICABS Hermitage Golf Club in Lucan, Co. Dublin has informed the Irish Council Against Blood Sports that the club very much welcomes the presence of wildlife in the environs of their parklands. This comes following claims by a caller to RTE's Liveline recently that he was employed by the club to shoot rabbits. Not so, says the Hermitage, whose policy is to encourage wildlife and certainly not to eradicate it. Hares and foxes are welcome visitors to their greens, they say, and rabbits are not a problem. In an email to ICABS, Brendan Delaney, Honorary Secretary of the club stated: "I can confirm that it is not club policy to shoot any wildlife on Hermitage golf course. In fact, we are proud of the number of pheasants, foxes, hares, rabbits and squirrels who inhabit our course. We have no agreement with, nor has anyone express or other authority to enter our lands for the purpose of hunting any of the above." ICABS is delighted at this positive response. About Hermitage Golf Club: Founded over a hundred years ago, the Hermitage lies alongside the River Liffey within the famous Strawberry Beds part of the valley. Among those who have enjoyed golf at the course are Bing Crosby, Prince Rainier, President Hillery, Seve Ballesteros, Colin Montgomerie and Ryder Cup Captain Ian Woosnam. 17. ICABS responds to Galway student's hunting claims In a statement published on the Galway Independent website, the Irish Council Against Blood Sports has addressed claims by a Galway student that foxhunting is "humane" and that foxes need to be controlled. We have clarified that fox hunting is cruel from beginning to end and that foxes biologically control their own numbers. The full text appears below... Dear Editor, In his letter of 26 March, student David Scallan presents foxhunting as "the most natural and humane method of controlling a fox population". This absurd and baseless claim is wholly unconvincing. Firstly, there is absolutely nothing natural about a pack of hounds chasing a fox for anything up to three hours or more. The chase and the kill are orchestrated by hunters who begin the process by introducing hounds to the taste of fox blood. The horrific ritual, euphemistically termed Autumn hunting by participants, sees coverts surrounded and hounds-in-training goaded into attacking young foxes. Foxhunting could never in any way be described as "humane". It is unadulterated cruelty from the moment a fox is disturbed from its habitat and forced to run for dear life. Scientific research carried out by the United States Department of Agriculture leaves no doubt about the suffering endured. Autopsies performed on foxes pursued for just five minutes and then killed revealed haemorrhage of the heart and lungs and congestion of adrenal glands and kidneys. Blood analysis showed high levels of enzymes that reflect tissue damage caused by the exertion of the chase. Regardless of whether caught or not, the unfortunate fox will often subsequently suffer brain damage and paralysis. Of course, the chase is only one part of foxhunting's litany of animal abuse. If the desperate fox manages to find temporary refuge down a hole in the ground, the hunt's terriermen are summoned to evict the animal. With their vicious terriers, these cold-hearted thugs delight in hearing the squeals of an underground attack and seeing terrified foxes being tugged back out into the open. Foxes caught while on their last legs are not put out of their misery by a quick nip to the back of the neck as hunters claim. Their end is a despicable, bloody death with hounds pushing them over and biting their internal organs out of their bellies. The claim that foxhunting keeps fox numbers down has long been dispelled. Back in 2002, a UK Mammal Society study confirmed that foxhunters actually play no role in fox control. "This is the first scientific study into the impact of hunting on fox numbers and it shows quite clearly that hunting plays no role in regulating numbers," concluded society chairman, Professor Stephen Harris. Suggestions that fox control is a necessary evil in the countryside are highly questionable. Mammalogists believe that, based on the territory size and available food supply, a biological mechanism within the vixen determines how many cubs she will produce. This would suggest that by killing foxes in a particular territory, hunts are ensuring more food for the remaining foxes and promoting larger litter sizes. Mr Scallan's outrageous portrayal of foxes as "significant predators of livestock" is as outdated as it is inaccurate. This old wives' tale has been superseded by research findings which confirm that foxes are not actually a threat to agriculture. "A great deal many allegations of lamb killing are based on insufficient or even non-existent evidence," former UCG zoology lecturer, Professor James Fairley stresses in his An Irish Beast Book. "When interviewing farmers, I found that in some cases, a dead, unwounded animal or the mere disappearance of a lamb were attributed to the work of the fox." According to the Irish Department of Agriculture, predation on livestock is negligible and it is relevant to point out that foxes are not even mentioned in their statistics. The message coming from the Department appears to be that it's actually foxhunters that are the real problem and that farmers "should not allow foxhunts to traverse fields with livestock." Mr Scallan may have been in the majority at the NUIG hunting debate but in the words of Galway Councillor, Niall O Brolchain, the only thing proven by the hunters on the night was that "they can fill a room"! The fact remains that two thirds of the Irish population abhor foxhunting and want the government to ban this callous assault on our wildlife heritage.
Philip Kiernan
18. Hunt supporter's sickening admission: I kill foxes with baseball bat A hunt supporting farmer has told ICABS that over the years he has "snared hundreds of foxes and killed them with a baseball bat". The disturbing admission was left as a comment on the ICABS video channel and has been brought to the attention of the Department of Agriculture. ICABS is demanding protection for foxes and tougher penalties for those convicted of cruelty. "I support the hunt and in the 25 years ive been farming ive seen 2 foxes killed [by the hunt]," the anonymous Irish farmer declared. "But ive snared hundreds of foxes and killed them with a baseball bat." ICABS will be urging the Gardai to attempt to uncover the identity of this cruel individual with a view to prosecution for cruelty to animals. Please help Ireland's persecuted fox species: Scroll down to "Action Alerts: Ban Foxhunting" 19. Doomed badger struggled for 24 hours in Dept of Agriculture snare Photos released by Badger Watch Ireland show a badger injured so badly in a Department of Agriculture snare that a vet called to the scene had to put the exhausted animal out of its misery. ICABS is joining Badgerwatch in its renewed calls on the government to stop this cruel snaring operation which has already left tens of thousands of badgers dead. Statement from Badger Watch Ireland (www.badgerwatch.ie) She was a soft target for the trapper. One of last year's cubs, likely. She had struggled in the wire snare for more than twenty four hours. It caught her across the groins and abdomen. The more she struggled, the tighter it became. Four times She had circled a branch on the ditch in her attempt to free herself until the branch broke. This is the barbaric multi-strand wire snare which the Irish Department of Agriculture describes as a "restraining harness" and would have us believe that the snared badger relaxes in it while awaiting its fate. Exhausted and almost unconscious the badger lay until locals became aware of her plight. The wire had cut into her body and its marks were plainly seen. The Department argue that there's a "stop" on the snare unlike illegal snares which are free-running. The stop in effect holds the animal in an eleven-inch noose, far too tight for an animal the size of a badger. A vet was called to attend the badger but such were her injuries it was necessary to immediately end the suffering. It is a national scandal that the Department, which snares thousands of badgers annually as part of a highly controversial TB Eradication scheme, sees fit to allow snaring of badgers during their very vulnerable breeding season, January - May (Inclusive). The young sow was checked to established if she was lactating. Luckily, she was not, otherwise her dependent cubs would have suffered the fate that no doubt many other orphaned cubs suffered - a lingering death from starvation and hypothermia. Badgerwatch is now calling on our Government for an immediate halt to its badger culling operations. What have we got to show for almost two decades of slaughtering the animals? Ireland's bovine TB levels rocketed by 13% in 2007. URGENT ACTION ALERTS Please 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 John Gormley
Dr. Ciaran O'Keeffe
20. Irish singer recounts fox encounter Musician Donal Donohoe has said that foxes are always welcome to his Co Wicklow garden. In his website blog, the singer and guitarist recounts the moment he came face-to-face with one of the creatures and tells of how a fox drops by occasionally to drink from the bird bath! "I was absorbed in what I was doing when I turned around to get something and there he was, the fox," Donal writes of the winter encounter. "With his reddish brown fur, long bushy tail and cat-like eyes, he was no more than three or four feet away from me. He just stood there looking at me expectantly in the hope, I suppose, that I would feed him. My elderly neighbour had told me that while her grandchildren had been staying with her for a few days sometime earlier they had fed the fox by hand a few times. Somehow feeding a wild animal with human food did not seem right, it could make him a little too trusting of people which might not always be in his best interest." "He followed me around for about a half an hour and although it was hard, I resisted giving him any food hoping instead that he would turn his attention to catching one of the many wild rabbits that inhabit these hills. Eventually the fox did go his own way, but over the following days and weeks he has come around many times. Sometimes he would eat some of the apples that were left out for the birds and other times he would drink from the bird bath, but maybe he was just dropping by to say hello in his own foxy way. As far as I am concerned he is always welcome."
Only thing to be learned from hunting debate is that hunters are bullies
Dear Editor: I attended a debate 'That this house would ban hunting' on Wednesday 5 March in NUI, Galway. While I am totally opposed to hunting along with all forms of animal cruelty, I listened intently to the speakers who opposed the motion to learn just what they had to say. One of the main points made by the pro-hunters was that they were doing the country a favour by controlling the numbers of foxes. However one PhD student stated that he does not know how many foxes are actually in Ireland. His entire research was based on UK figures (where fox hunting has been banned). The other core point made by the pro-hunter side was that they are only hunting sick and old foxes and that the young, fit animals get away. I fail to see the logic in this. The pro-hunting audience continuously heckled, jeered, interrupted and booed at every anti-hunt speaker. It seemed like a hunt was taking place in the theatre. I took grave exception when Mr Scallan said that all country people agree with hunting. I live in County Galway and I certainly do not. I did not learn anything that night that would even start to change my mind. The one thing I did learn was that the hunters are bullies.
Until we stop harming other living beings, we are still savages
Dear Editor: When is a debate not a debate? When one side of the debate seeks to bully and intimidate the other side into submission. This was certainly the case at last week's NUIG Inter-Societies Debating Forum when many of those supporting the motion for the debate 'That This House Would Ban Hunting' were laughed at and ridiculed by the opposing faction. This debate may have been an academic exercise for the students of the Inter-Societies Debating Forum, but their organisers were visibly shocked at the levels of aggression they had to contend with from the pro-hunting lobby, and for this their chairperson, who did his best to keep order throughout, should be congratulated. The pro-hunting lobby, having been bussed in from the four corners of Ireland to support their cause, grossly outnumbered the anti-hunters. This is, of course, not the fault of the hunters, but it does indicate their determination to fight their corner. Poll after poll reveals that 80 per cent of the Irish population stand firmly against hunting of all species as a sport. It is a great pity that this 80 per cent did not bother to turn up to this debate, perhaps believing that the debate was an 'open and shut' case for the anti-hunters. At no point throughout the evening was the pro-hunting lobby able to produce one piece of accurate factual evidence to support its argument that hunting is the optimum method of population control. One of the two main pro-hunting platform speakers admitted that he had no idea how many foxes are in Ireland, yet he and every supporting speaker vowed that hunting was necessary to keep down numbers. This illogical admission was shortly followed by a figure of 280 million Eruo being quoted as hunting's contribution to the Irish economy. On questioning, the same speaker could not stand over this figure or enlighten the audience on how it had been calculated. Illogical, irrelevant arguments were cast around like confetti, with the real issue of the debate being carefully air-brushed out; this being that hunters hunt for the thrill of the chase and the buzz they get from terrorising outnumbered animals, be those animals wild foxes or tame deer. Anti-hunters had to endure the usual catalogue of cliches such as: urban v rural (only 'townies' are anti-hunting and pro-hunters are the real guardians of the countryside), as well as: foxes enjoy the run and mostly outrun their predators. If this is the case, then how could fox hunting possibly be a viable method of population control? More pro-hunting illogical statistics told the audience that 80 per cent of foxes are not hunted at all, and of the remaining 20 per cent, 80 per cent of those escape. From my calculations that means that only four per cent of foxes are ever caught, and that these are supposedly elderly, sickly animals. And this is supposed to be a serious argument for population control? All arguments put forward from the pro-hunting side were pretty much an insult to the intelligence of the average person. Most of the pro-hunting speakers for example insisted that wild animals, such as foxes and deer, do not possess the human feelings of terror or pain. I suggest that any person, from any background, who has watched a tame (carted) deer running for its life by the very people who feed it, or witnessed hounds ripping apart a fox, which has sometimes been thrown to them by the hunters themselves, would be ashamed to be classified as a member of a human race that brags about possessing a higher intelligence. The true essence of a higher intelligence is evidenced when it is combined with compassion and respect for all forms of life, and to rejoice in sharing our planet with every creature that supports Earth's eco-system. It's a pity that Thomas A Edison could not have attended this 'debate'. Maybe those who hunt for fun would have respected his words: 'Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages'.
Cowen's support of blood sports bodes ill
Dear Editor: I will not be celebrating Brian Cowen's accession to high office. As a campaigner against live animal baiting, I feel sick to the stomach at the thought of this man becoming Taoiseach. Why? Because he is one of the country's most ardent and influential supporters of live hare coursing. And he will soon be directing our future as a nation. He will be the visible face of Irish politics and of Ireland itself. I suspect there would be very many worried hares squatting in their forms right now across the length and breadth of our countryside if the fleet-footed creatures could grasp the far-reaching political and ecological significance of the leadership change. Thankfully, they will be spared that mental torture, being dumb and innocent if not the probable consequences of our Taoiseach-in-waiting's stated commitment to the continued legality of hare coursing. Cowen is on record as approving of a practice whereby hares are netted and then set up as bait for competing dogs, a practice in which animals are terrorised, mauled, tossed about like rag dolls, and horribly injured. Perhaps I am being overpessimistic. It may well be that the new Taoiseach will reevaluate his position on hare coursing. I would suggest that a close association with a real blood sport, as distinct from a metaphorical one, will do nothing to help the new Taoiseach's standing as leader of our country. It could certainly have the opposite effect. I hope he will listen to the estimated two in every three Irish citizens (according to opinion polls) who disapprove of hare coursing and that the Green Party will be permitted to fulfil its pre-election pledge to ban this obscenity. "Chris Smith [huntman] first drew above the village behind the Parochial House and into O'Connolly's where hounds briefly put a hare afoot...he moved on and drew the convent by kind permission of Mother Paul Mary. The last covert at the convent saw our first fox afoot but after a brief hunt, our pilot went to ground back in the convent." (from a report on the Fingal Harriers - Hounds Magazine, Vol 24, No 2) ICABS has written to Mother Paul Mary to appeal to her to make the convent grounds a haven for wildlife. "Hounds eventually got a fox to leave, running to the nearby smaller plantation he got to ground in a rabbit hole. Bolting from the strong mark, the hounds caught him on top after a short run." (from a report on the White Heather Harriers' meeting at Clonacody, Tipperary Voice - 5th February 2008) "The Ormond Foxhounds in North Tipperary is at the centre of an investigation into complaints of cruelty to a fox, it was reported last week. The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has called for a Garda investigation into the alleged incidents which occurred in North Cork earlier this month." (from Ormond Foxhounds under investigation, Nenagh Guardian - April 05 2008) "A lovesick cat who befriended a fox longs for his pal...Snowy Ted rekindled last summer's fun with curious Basil when he tuned in to a show on foxes in the wild. Friendly Basil started dropping by Galway cattery Cuddles for a bite to eat." (from I'm Feline Foxy, The Irish Sun, April 10th, 2008) "Tony [Moore of Fight Against Animal Cruelty in Europe] hung around and met bullfighter Mariano Villaescusa, who had retired in 1985 after fifteen years and allegedly six hundred dead bulls. During his last ever bullfight he looked the wounded bull in the eyes and saw the pain. 'I felt a great sorry for this courageous beast. He had an exceptional nobility.' He realised that they were both victims; the animal for being hurt and killed and he for risking his life. So he came up with the idea of mock bullfights, which would eliminate blood-spilling, torture, and the death of the bull." (from Life on the Line, by Matilda Mench. Published by Bluecoat Press, ISBN:1904438571)
Ban Blood Sports in Ireland
Translocate Kangaroos - don't kill them
Whales Revenge International Petition
Stop Dog Abuse
Petition against animal testing
Pet Protection Petition
24. Action Alerts: Ban Foxhunting ACTION ALERT 1 Please make a special appeal to Trevor Sargent TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture where new animal welfare legislation is currently being drafted. ICABS welcomed a statement from Minister Sargent last year in which he assured us that the new legislation will "ensure that the welfare of animals is properly protected". Please appeal to him to prioritise fox protection in the new act.
Trevor Sargent TD
Email: tsargent@greenparty.ie
Dear Minister Sargent, As one of the two thirds majority of Irish people who want foxhunting banned, I appeal to you to please ensure that foxes are afforded full protection from hunting groups in the new animal welfare legislation being drafted. Please do everything in your power to finally bring foxhunting to an end and protect foxes from this horrendous abuse. Thank you. I look forward to your response. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] ACTION ALERT 2 Urge the Minister for Agriculture to protect foxes and all wild creatures from unnecessary cruelty.
Minister Mary Coughlan
Dear Minister Coughlan, I appeal to your sense of compassion to urgently intervene to save foxes from the cruelty of foxhunting. Foxhunting is an abhorrent assault on our wildlife heritage and a complete ban is long overdue. Please ensure that Ireland's new animal welfare legislation includes protection for foxes. Thank you. I look forward to your response. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] ACTION ALERT 3 Please urgently appeal to your local politicians Please join us in telling all of Ireland's TDs 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. Please stand up for the foxes so cruelly abused by hunting groups - write to all of your local politicians and ask them to act to secure a ban on foxhunting. If possible, get your friends, family and workmates to contact them too. We need as much help with this campaign as possible. For a list of TDs and Senators, please visit www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist
Contact your TD at: Dail Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Contact your Senator at: Seanad Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
ACTION ALERT 4 Contact Ireland's forestry board, Coillte, and demand an end to foxhunting on its property.
SAMPLE LETTER
Mr. David Gunning
Email: pr@coillte.ie
Dear Mr Gunning, As an Irish citizen, and thereby a shareholder in Coillte, I am writing to demand an end to foxhunting on Coillte property. I understand that Coillte currently issues permits to a number of foxhunts to carry out blood sport activities in forests. Considering the appalling cruelty of foxhunting and the fact that a majority of Irish people want it outlawed, the time has come for Coillte to do the decent thing and make all of its property off limits to foxhunting groups. Thank you. I look forward to your positive reply. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] ACTION ALERT 5 If you are a farmer/landowner, please make your land off-limits to local foxhunts. Post "No Hunting" signs on the boundaries of your property and place a notice in your local newspaper to make it clear that hunts are not welcome. For more details on why it's in your best interests to keep hunts out, please click on "Farmers at www.banbloodsports.com 25. Action Alerts: Ban Coursing ACTION ALERT 1 Please contact Environment Minister, John Gormley, and appeal to him to give a commitment that this will be the last ever hare coursing season in Ireland.
SAMPLE LETTER
Minister John Gormley
Email: minister@environ.ie
Dear Minister Gormley, I am writing to implore you to firmly reject future licence applications from the Irish Coursing Club. Hare coursing is one of Ireland's most appalling forms of animal abuse with thousands of hares being ripped from their natural habitat and forced to run for their lives before muzzled dogs. When hit, the injuries are often so severe that the terrified hares have to be destroyed - but only after suffering from internal injuries such as broken bones. In its pre-election manifesto, the Green Party pledged to ban blood sports when in government. I am among the confident majority who trust that you will take this historic opportunity, Minister, to spare the hares the suffering caused by coursing and refuse further licences to these heartless destroyers of our wildlife heritage. Thank you and best wishes. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] ACTION ALERT 2 Please contact your local TD and Senator and ask them to make an appeal to Minister Gormley on your behalf. For a list of TDs and Senators, please visit www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist
Contact your TD at: Dail Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Contact your Senator at: Seanad Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Become a supporter of ICABS The Irish Council Against Blood Sports relies entirely on the generosity of its supporters to continue campaigning for an end to blood sport cruelty. Please become a supporter of ICABS today. Annual rates are just 15 Euro (Individual), 20 Euro (Family) and 8 Euro (Unwaged). Download a subscription form at www.banbloodsports.com/subsform.htm and send a cheque (made payable to the Irish Council Against Blood Sports) to ICABS, PO Box 88, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Ireland. You can also become a supporter or make a donation by using your paypal account or credit card. Please visit www.banbloodsports.com and click on the "Donate" button. Thank you. Your support will allow us to continue campaigning against blood sport cruelty in Ireland. Tune in to the ICABS Channel Footage of blood sport cruelty and the humane alternatives can be viewed on the ICABS Channel on Youtube - www.youtube.com/icabs or by visiting our Videos Page Animal Voice - Tell a friend! Help us to highlight our campaigns to even more people. If you have friends who would like to receive "Animal Voice", please ask them to send an email to info@banbloodsports.com with "Animal Voice - Subscribe" in the subject line.
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