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Animal Voice - May 2009
Campaign newsletter of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports
In This Issue:
01. Defence Minister "fully supports" ICABS campaign
01. Defence Minister "fully supports" ICABS campaign The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has warmly welcomed a statement from the office of the Minister for Defence, Willie O'Dea, in which we were told that the Minister "fully supports" our campaign. The heartening response came in reply to a fax sent by ICABS to Minister O'Dea in which we appealed for his help with our campaign against cruelty. We asked him to join our calls to the Minister for Agriculture to ban "cruel and barbaric digging out activities and the use of terriers and packs of hounds to harass, attack, injure and/or kill animals". Our presentation to the Limerick East Fianna Fail TD included a photo of an injured and bleeding Irish fox being held up by a hunter after it was mercilessly dug out of its earth. Although similar to illegal badger baiting, fox baiting remains legal in this country. It is carried out by what can only be described as thugs and sadists who dig animals out with spades and take pleasure in seeing their dogs inflicting the most savage injuries on them. Digging out and terrierwork is also an integral part of foxhunting in Ireland. The foxhunters' so-called code of conduct states that "only one terrier at a time may be used to locate the fox except in rocks, stacks of bales or stick piles, etc...Digging shall only be conducted by a small number of experienced people and assistants appointed by the Master or his nominee." It also highlights their desire to keep this appalling act away from the public eye, stressing that "reasonable efforts shall be made to ensure that digging out will not become a public spectacle." Badger baiting, dog fighting and cock fighting are already illegal in Ireland. Please join our appeal to the government to urgently take the next step and outlaw the heinous practice of fox digging and baiting and all forms of animal cruelty. ACTION ALERT 1 Please send a message of thanks to Minister Willie O'Dea for confirming his support of the campaign against blood sports. Urge him to do everything in his power to secure protection for the animals terrorised, injured and brutally killed in blood sports.
Minister Willie O'Dea
ACTION ALERT 2 - SAMPLE LETTER
Minister Brendan Smith
Dear Minister Smith, I am one of the majority of Irish citizens opposed to blood sports. I support the Irish Council Against Blood Sports' call on you to ban terrier work, digging out and the use of terriers and packs of hounds to harass, attack, injure and/or kill animals. There is absolutely no excuse for this shameful animal abuse which is carried out by sadistic thugs and foxhunting groups. Please act urgently to protect animals from this cruelty. Thank you. I look forward to your positive response. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location]
Video: Digging Out and Terrierwork Cruelty in Ireland
02. Success: Paddy Power ceases cruel bullfight bets After almost two years of campaigning by ICABS, Paddy Power has announced that it has stopped taking bets on the number of ears cut from bulls following torture sessions in Spanish bullrings. ICABS welcomes Paddy Power's decision to finally dispense with these grotesque bets and we thank everyone in Ireland and around the world who helped achieve this success. The appalling bets were available to punters on the Spanish section of the Paddy Power website. In one of our letters of appeal to the company, ICABS stated: "We find it absolutely grotesque and in the poorest of taste the Paddy Power company's acceptance of such bets. As people are placing bets on the Paddy Power website, tortured bulls are stumbling around the bullrings with blood spurting from their backs and spraying from their noses and mouths. How can your company justify making money from this disgusting animal abuse?" Paddy Power's response at the time was that it was "business" and commented: "We neither support nor denounce bullfighting, we simply respect this Spanish custom and offer a choice to those customers who wish to bet on it." As part of our sustained campaign, ICABS made impassioned pleas to all of the company's directors to intervene to stop the bets. They were shown photos of matadors holding up severed ears while the victims squirmed on the ground. Also brought to their attention were our campaign videos which featured explicit footage of suffering bulls. After nearly two years of campaigning, ICABS welcomes Paddy Power's decision to finally dispense with their bullring bets. We thank every individual and group from here and abroad who responded to our action alerts and sent in our campaign postcards. A special thanks to Maria Lopes of the International Movement Against Bullfights - www.iwab.org - for originally bringing this issue to our attention in August 2007. While Paddy Power have stopped taking bets on bullring cruelty, we must not forget that the removal of ears and other violent abuse against bulls sadly continues in the bullrings. The campaign against bullfighting cruelty continues and we urge you to please continue responding to our action alerts so that together we can continue working steadily towards the day when this sickening blood sport is a thing of the past. 03. Irish MEPs praised for supporting EU ban on seal products [ The Animal Rights Action Network has organised a protest against seal hunting for Sunday, May 24th 2009. Time: 1pm Sharp - 3pm. Place: GPO, O'Connell Street, Dublin City Centre. Website: www.aran.ie ] ICABS is proud to report that a majority of Ireland's MEPs voted in favour of an EU trade ban on seal products. All of our MEPs, with the exception of Sean O'Neachtain, were among the 550 MEPs who supported the historic ban which is expected to come in to force next year. We have thanked the Irish MEPs for siding with the seals who are cruelly clubbed, shot and hooked to death by hunters in what has been described as the largest slaughter of marine mammals in the world. The hunt sadly continues in Canada but the EU trade ban represents a major blow to those involved. "This good news comes amid fierce opposition from the Canadian Government who has been sending countless delegations to Europe in order to lobby Ministers and MEPs," stated the Animal Rights Action Network who led an Irish campaign against the seal hunt. "Their campaign has been built on lies and bullying tactics. This news will now mean that once the legislation comes into force, it will be illegal to sell or trade in seal products from countries such as Canada where the cruel commercial seal hunt takes place-thus cutting off a major market for seal skins." "From Mexico City to Milan and all the way to Moscow, the world is uniting in opposition to commercial seal hunts," commented Lesley O'Donnell, a director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare. "The European Parliament has hammered the final nail in the coffin of the sealing industry's market in the EU. A complete collapse of Canada's commercial seal hunt may now be inevitable." Please scroll down for some quotes from Irish MEPs... Kathy Sinnott, MEP: "I am always grateful to be able to act as a voice to all voiceless people and animals and to support the right to life of the weakest and most vulnerable in our society and our world. I am very concerned about the issue of seal hunting and have signed a Written Declaration demanding the ban of seal products in the European Union. In addition I have sent a Written Question to the Commission on this issue." Liam Aylward, MEP: "By an overwhelming majority we voted to take away any commercial gain from the seal hunt. There will be a ban on importing seal products in the Member States and on placing them on the market. There will be a derogation for the placing on the market of seal products where these seal products result from hunts traditionally conducted by Inuit and other indigenous communities and which contribute to their subsistence. This derogation was included in recognition of the importance to protect minority communities and to preserve traditional ways of life that are under threat. "While I believe that this report would have been adopted in any case that there was such a large majority can be attributed in no small way to the action and campaigning under taken by citizens and by interested groups. Such engagement in European policy-making by citizens is extremely welcome and crucially important, and I thank you for your part in this." Mary Lou McDonald: "In 2006 both Bairbre de Brun and I were happy to sign a written declaration calling for EU action [against the seal hunt]. We would be of course still be happy to support any legislation which reflected this position and will be examining the Commission proposal and Parliament's proposed amendments in light of this position." 04. Mooney show criticised for fox misinformation ICABS has called on RTE's Mooney show to clarify that the fox is not a threat to sheep farmers after show presenter, Eanna ni Lamhna, claimed that foxes are a "natural enemy". Show guest, Minister John Gormley, has also been criticised for suggesting that farmers should shoot foxes. On the 15 May 2009 show, Eanna ni Lamhna stated: "You have the sheep farmers making a living and they have lambs and as far as they are concerned the lambs are their wealth. Their natural enemies, would have been foxes...certainly, I suppose, the foxes in a way are actually killing weakly lambs in particular. So how do you get rid of the foxes?" This suggestion that foxes are a threat to sheep farming is in conflict with information from wildlife experts such as Professor James Fairley who has written that "a great deal many allegations of lamb killing are based on insufficient or even non-existent evidence." ICABS is in no doubt that the comments made on the Mooney show will result in more foxes being blasted to death. Responding to Eanna ni Lamhna statement, Minister John Gormley (who was on the show to discuss eagles) said that farmers "already have permission to go out and shoot foxes, rooks and magpies - that's a way of dealing with it." He went on to defend eagles from the dangers of misinformation but did not do the same for foxes, despite the fact that his department's National Parks and Wildlife Service division has confirmed that "no matter what some people think, foxes rarely kill and eat lambs." Minister Gormley said: "Let's be clear that once you mention lambs and eagles or whatever, people make that connection. When I released white-tailed eagles, I was told that there was no evidence that they were taking lambs. It reinforces that stereotype that these eagles are swooping down and taking lambs. We need to be careful because, of course, the farmer will take what he regards as precautionary measures but these measures can be very, very destructive." In an email to Minister Gormley, ICABS expressed our disappointment that he helped to perpetuate the myth that foxes are a threat to farmers and that they should be shot. "The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has been trying to debunk this myth for years and help free the fox from mass persecution based on ignorance and misunderstanding of the species," we stated. We brought to the Minister's attention, and also to the attention of the Mooney show, the quotes below which confirm that foxes are neither a significant threat to sheep nor need to be controlled. "A great deal many allegations of lamb killing are based on insufficient or even non-existent evidence. 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." Professor James Fairley (Zoology, UCG) in "An Irish Beast Book" "I've worked at fox dens in all areas covering every aspect of prey possibilities. I've observed what adult foxes have brought in, I've analysed countless numbers of scats or droppings, and also the stomach contents of many animals. Game birds were insignificant, and so too were poultry, and the only two lambs I've ever found at dens were already dead before they were carried in. They were in fact carrion mutton." Zoologist, Dr AD Scott, BSc PhD MBOU "No matter what people think, foxes seldom kill and eat young lambs." National Parks & Wildlife Service "Starvation/exposure is the main cause of perinatal lamb deaths (accounting for 57% of losses in the first week of life). The important factors include sick ewes, exhausted ewes, lack of milk, mastitis, desertion, weak lambs after a difficult birth, under and overweight lambs and exposure to cold, wet and windy weather." Teagasc "There is no evidence that foxes need to be controlled...no method of fox control has had an impact on the fox population." Professor Stephen Harris, Bristol University "The pro-hunting argument that fox hunting is an essential form of pest control has been completely shattered. This new research proves what we have said all along - that fox hunting is essentially carried out for recreational purposes. It is cruel and unnecessary." John Rolls, RSPCA ACTION ALERT It is unfortunate that the Mooney show is spreading misinformation about one of Ireland's favourite wild mammals, the fox, and reinforcing the misconceptions some people hold about these fascinating animals. Please join us in urging show presenter Derek Mooney to clarify on the show that foxes are not an enemy of farmers.
Email: mooney@rte.ie
Slideshow: The truth about foxes
05. Minister Gormley shown photos of deer being dragged out of river In the last edition of Animal Voice, we reported on an incident involving a hunted deer that was dragged from a river at the end of a Ward Union hunt (Deer hunted for two and a half hours and captured in river). We can now reveal that another deer was dragged from a river in Meath at the end of a separate Ward Union outing... A disturbing photograph showing a deer being dragged out of a river at the end of a Ward Union hunt has been forwarded to Minister John Gormley as part of a renewed appeal for the hunt to be stopped. The unfortunate deer was pursued for over two hours during a hunt licensed by the Green Party minister. The NPWS photos, obtained by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports under the Freedom of Information Act, show hunters dragging the animal through the waters of the Broadmeadow River in County Meath. The hunt in question took place on 28th November last. [To see photos, see Minister Gormley shown photos of deer being dragged out of river] According to an accompanying report, the four-year-old stag was chased into a drain 1 hour and 20 minutes after the start of the hunt. The animal was subsequently observed running alongside the river. "At 14.20 the stag was in the river near Fieldstown Bridge," the National Parks and Wildlife Service ranger stated in a monitoring report. "After some running up and down the river and out of, and back into, the river, the stag then took some cover in bushes on the river bank." The deer handlers then "approached the stag and recaptured it", bringing it up a steep bank from the river and back into the hunt's trailer. ICABS has brought the sickening photographs to the attention of Minister John Gormley and renewed our plea to him to stop licensing the Ward Union. ACTION ALERT
Minister John Gormley
Dear Minister Gormley: I am writing to express my great concern about another incident involving a deer being chased into a river during a Ward Union Hunt. According to official NPWS reports, the animal was pursued for over two hours before going into a drain and then into the Broadmeadow River. A photo taken at the scene shows hunters dragging the animal through the water. Chasing an animal with a pack of hounds and subjecting it to this abuse is totally unacceptable. I implore you to stop licensing the Ward Union and to do whatever it takes to ensure that they never again get a licence for this cruelty. Thank you. I look forward to your prompt reply. Yours sincerely, [*** Your Name and Location ***] 06. UCC club at foxhunt: Appeal to university president ICABS has appealed to the President of University College Cork to investigate the UCC Equestrian Club's association with foxhunting. The call comes following a report in the Irish Field which outlines that "some who seemed to enjoy themselves [at the Muskerry Hunt foxhunt] was a party of six from the UCC Equestrian Club" (Irish Field, February 7th 2009). A photograph of club members appears alongside the report. "We are saddened that students representing University College Cork have chosen to participate a blood sport which causes terrible suffering to foxes and which a majority of Irish people want outlawed," ICABS stated in a letter to Dr Michael Murphy. In the Irish Field report in question, we are told that several foxes were disturbed and chased. One was found in a quarry and was forced to "drop down into a crack in the limestone" to evade capture by the pack of hounds. Another fox was described as "clearly feeling pressed" and was chased down a hill, across a farm lane, into gorse, under some sheds, onto a hill and through fields of slurry. The hunters and hounds continued to "hunt him down the valley" where he was marked to ground. ACTION ALERT Contact UCC's president and urge him to ask the equestrian club to stop taking part in activities which involve cruelty to animals. Dr Michael Murphy President, University College Cork Email: president@ucc.ie Tel: (00353) 21 4903623 07. 10,066 dogs killed in Irish pounds last year A total of 10,066 dogs were killed in Irish dog pounds last year. This appalling figure was revealed by Minister John Gormley in response to a Dail Question from Deputy Finian McGrath (see below). It is unclear what percentage of these dogs were greyhounds or hunting hounds as the breeds of the dogs killed are not recorded. To read the related Dail question, please scroll down to "Parliamentary Questions and Answers" ACTION ALERT
Minister John Gormley
1. Ask Minister Gormley to put more resources into promoting spaying and neutering of dogs and ensuring that maximum effort is being made by dog pounds to publicise the dogs looking for homes. 2. Avoid purchasing a dog as long as thousands are dying in our pounds. If you can offer a good home to a dog, visit your pound now. There are all kinds of breeds waiting to be rescued. 3. Write a letter to your local newspaper, highlighting the address and phone number of your local dog pound. Ask readers to consider rescuing a dog from death and giving it a good home. 08. Unlawful animal traps seized in Kildare following ICABS action Unlawful traps and snares were seized last year by the National Parks and Wildlife Service after ICABS highlighted a website offering the devices for sale. Following evidence from a NPWS ranger in Naas District Court in April 2009, Judge Desmond Zaidan found the case against the accused to be proven but decided not to convict subject to an undertaking that he would pay 1,000 Euro to charity. A Department of the Environment statement provided to ICABS today that when the website in question was checked, it was noted that among the products offered for sale were unstopped rabbit snares, rat glue traps, mouse glue traps, electronic rat killers and electronic mouse killers. None of these items is an approved trap as defined by the Wildlife Act 1976 (Approved Traps, Snares and Nets) Regulations 2003. S.I. No. 620 of 2003. A National Parks ranger visited the business premises in Co Kildare and seized the traps and snares. Possession of, and offering for sale of, unapproved traps and snares is contrary to Section 34(6) of the Wildlife Act 1976 as amended by Section 42 of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 The Department statement continues: "As the accused was in possession of, and offering for sale five different traps/snares, ten charges were brought. Solicitor for the accused made contact with the Minister's representation in the lobby of the Court and after some discussion offered to enter a guilty plea in respect of two sample charges relating to the rat glue traps and electronic rat killer, one each for possession and offering for sale. This was accepted. "The NPWS ranger gave evidence of investigation and seizure, interview of the accused the following day, his admission of the offences and immediate caution, his decline to make a written statement and his voluntary verbal admission after caution. "Judge Zaidan found the case to be proven, but in response to representation for leniency, decided not to convict subject to an undertaking that the accused would pay the sum of 1000 Euro to a charity. The Judge made an order nominating the Michael Garry Hostel for the Homeless in Newbridge, Co Kildare, remarking that it was a good cause." ICABS congratulates the NPWS rangers involved for acting to seize the traps and bringing the case to court. This undoubtedly conveys a strong message that the possession and sale of unlawful traps and snares will not be tolerated and that those caught possessing or selling them will be pursued. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Please familiarise yourself with the types of traps that are unlawful in Ireland - click on "Campaigns" at www.banbloodsports.com and choose "Stop Illegal Traps". If you are aware of the sale or possession of unlawful traps or snares, please get in touch with us immediately. Alternatively, you may contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service directly on 01-8882000. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 09. Kildare Post editor: "It's time we started giving animals the rights they deserve" The editor of the Kildare Post has expressed amazement that a National Parks and Wildlife Service ranger declined to nominate an animal shelter to receive a contribution following a court case relating to unlawful animal traps. Writing about a case in which a local businessman was caught selling illegal traps (Kildare Post, 13 May 2009), Editor Sinead Flanagan stated: "Amazingly, when the judge asked the parks ranger involved in the case to nominate an animal shelter to give a contribution to, he declined the offer!" ICABS was the group who brought the traps to the attention of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. "The traps were made of glue so that a rat who walked onto this otherwise ordinary looking piece of paper would find themselves stuck to it," Sinead continued. "The suffering that that rat or mouse would have to endure before he or she died would be high, to put it mildly and you don't need to be a vet to garner that gem." She added: "Time and time again we see animal cruelty cases coming before the courts where the defendants are let off with lenient sentences. Surely, it's about time we started giving animals the rights they deserve and started to take a common sense approach to both sentencing and animal cruelty in general." 10. Distribution of illegal Nooski animal trap stopped The distribution of a trap that strangles animals to death has been stopped thanks to ICABS action. The Nooski trap, confirmed as being illegal by Minister John Gormley, was originally brought to the attention of the National Parks and Wildlife Service by ICABS after we identified a number of companies offering it for sale here. The mouse and squirrel trap kills its victims by a method of strangulation - the animal enters a tunnel, pushes past a trigger and causes a small rubber ring to be released onto its neck or chest. It is then thrown from the trap and dies a few feet away with the ring still in place around its body. Responding to a Dail Question from Deputy Finian McGrath, TD (Independent, Dublin North Central), Minister John Gormley confirmed that the Nooski trap is illegal. To read the related Dail question, please scroll down to "Parliamentary Questions and Answers" "The use of traps, snares and nets in relation to wildlife is governed by the Wildlife Act, 1976 (Approved Traps, Snares and Nets) Regulations 2003," Minister Gormley stated. "The 'Nooski Animal Trap' does not meet the requirements set by these regulations and is, therefore, illegal. Staff from my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service are currently in contact with the supplier of these traps in order to stop their introduction into the country." Among the regulation requirements are that such traps must result in the "immediate death" or the "immediate unconsciousness and subsequent death without intervening consciousness" of an animal. The possession of, and offering for sale of, unapproved traps and snares is contrary to Section 34(6) of the Wildlife Act 1976 as amended by Section 42 of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. If you are aware of the sale or possession of unlawful traps or snares, please get in touch with us immediately. Alternatively, you may contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service directly on 01-8882000 or natureconservation@environ.ie. 11. ICABS videos viewed 1/2 million times ICABS is delighted to announce that our video presentations on Youtube have been collectively viewed over half a million times. This important milestone for our channel represents a massive advance in the levels of awareness surrounding blood sport cruelty. Viewers from Ireland and around the world have witnessed the suffering inflicted on animals by hunters and coursers and the overwhelming response remains one of disgust and also disbelief that such animal abuse continues to be allowed here. Also proving popular on the site are our specially compiled playlists which feature delightful footage of animals living free in nature. We are confident that these will help increase interest in, and respect for, wildlife and lead to even more opposition to activities which deliberately inflict suffering. Among the playlists currently available are Nature in Ireland, Badgers and Foxes around the world. Visit and subscribe to our Youtube Channel today at www.youtube.com/icabs ACTION ALERT Please help us to expose the horrendous reality of blood sports to hundreds of thousands more. Highlight our Youtube site (www.youtube.com/icabs) to as many people as possible: * Ask your friends to check it out - if they are already aware of blood sport cruelty, they may instead enjoy our playlists which feature beautiful footage of Irish wildlife. * Ask your landowner friends to watch the videos and urge them to make their land off limits to hunters and coursers. * Ask your local TDs, Senators, Town Councillors and County Councillors to watch the videos and pledge their support for a ban on blood sports. * Ask your local clergy to have a look at the videos and urge them to condemn blood sports and all animal cruelty. * Provide a link to the site to your local Gardai. Ask them to establish a wildlife crime unit to tackle illegal blood sports such as dog fighting, cockfighting and badger baiting. * Highlight the site to your local media and ask them to expose the reality of blood sports. 12. New campaign posters - please print and display Please print and display these new campaign posters and help encourage others to protect wildlife from the cruelty of hunting. Thanks to Rachel for designing this excellent range of posters.
Farm Invasion - Keep hunters off your land
Foxes - man's best friend
Friend Not Foe - Help protect foxes
The unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable
Wildlife - No Life
More posters can be downloaded by clicking on Downloads at http://www.banbloodsports.com Alternatively, check out our Scribd page at http://www.scribd.com/banbloodsports 13. Action Alert Poster - Stop badger snaring Please download and display our new action alert poster. This new poster features an appeal to Minister John Gormley to stop licensing cruel badger snaring. We would be grateful if you could display the poster at your local music venues, youth clubs, animal welfare stands, veterinary surgery waiting areas, etc. Thank you.
Stop the badger snaring slaughter - Download Now (pdf, 112 Kb)
14. Minister Gormley welcomes prosecution in bird poisoning case The following statement was issued by the Department of the Environment in April: The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley T.D. has welcomed the successful outcome to a prosecution taken by the National Parks & Wildlife Service of his Department in Navan District Court on Wednesday 22nd April 2009. In November 2007, Conservation Ranger Annette Lynch investigated a complaint of dying rooks in a field at Headfort Demesne. She found dead and dying rooks and bread laced with a blue substance in a recently tilled field. As she collected the rooks and bait she was challenged by a man, who appeared to be the landowner. When she identified herself and told him what she was doing he stated that he was not the landowner, had no interest in the land and refused to give his name and address. She took his registration number and traced it to defendant. She brought the rooks and bait to the University Veterinary Hospital, UCD for analysis. Alphachloralose was found in the gizzards of the rooks and it was the blue substance laced on the bait. She confirmed with the local garda sergeant that he had not received any notice pursuant to section 14 of the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1965 that poison was laid on lands at Headfort Demesne. One defendant was charged under W/L Acts section 22(4)(a) - Unlawful hunting of protected wild birds, and two counts under section 34 of the acts - Hunting Rooks with poisoned bait and Laying poison in a place frequented by wild birds, the second defendant was charged two counts under section 69 - Refusing to give his name and address and Obstructing an Authorised Person. A guilty plea was entered in respect of all charges The Judge said that not only rooks but other birds are liable to be poisoned, pointed out that there is good reason for the legislation and spoke about NPWS attempt to bring back extinct birds. The Minister congratulated Annette for her meticulous investigation and preparation of this case. He also thanked UCD University Veterinary Hospital for the analysis carried out on the birds and the substance at no cost to NPWS. The Minister said that at his request, officials have been working on strengthening regulations relating to the use of poisoned bait. There are regulations limiting the use of poisoned bait to specific circumstances and methods, but the Minister believes these are now insufficient, given the ongoing poisoning of birds of prey and in particular eagles under the Golden Eagle Project. He is now considering the introduction of a system whereby poisoned meat-based bait could only be used in exceptional circumstances through license in cases in which there is no alternative and the risk of poisoning of protected species can be excluded. *My officials are in the process of drafting proposals. I also hope to consult with the Department of Agriculture on this to ensure that maximum protection is afforded to our rare wildlife, while at the same time ensuring good farming practice. I am determined to stamp out this disgusting practice of purposeful poisoning of rare birds. I intend to have these new regulations in place as quickly as possible.* Following consultation I hope to be in a position to introduce new regulations on this issue later this year. 15. Ask Portuguese mayor to stop July bullfights (Source: Animal.org.pt) Portuguese seaside city, Espinho, is being asked to prevent two bullfighting events from taking place in July. Please spare a moment to email a message of appeal to the city's mayor. ACTION ALERT - SAMPLE LETTER
Mr. Jose Barbosa Mota
Email: expediente@cm-espinho.pt
Dear Mr Jose Barbosa Mota I am writing to appeal to you to prohibit bullfighting in your beautiful seaside city. I understand that two bullfights are scheduled for July and I urge you to act to protect Espinho's image and prevent such animal cruelty events from taking place. I hope that, as mayor of Espinho, you can follow Viana do Castelo, Braga, Cascais and Sintra in their widely welcomed announcements that they will no longer authorise local bullfights. Perhaps also, Espinho could go one step further and declare itself Portugal's second anti-bullfighting city. Thank you very much. I look forward to your positive response. With best wishes. Yours sincerely, [ Your name and location ] 16. End the cruel exploitation of macaques Source: BUAV Please support the BUAV in its campaign to end the cruel exploitation of macaques in Indonesia. Write to the President of Indonesia to ask him to place an immediate ban on the capture, breeding and export of long-tailed and pig-tailed macaques destined for the research industry.
Dr. H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Write letters to the Indonesian embassy in your country calling on the government of Indonesia to place an immediate ban on the capture, breeding and export of long-tailed and pig-tailed macaques destined for the research industry. Click here for the contact details of Indonesian embassies around the world: www.indonesia.go.id/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=120&Itemid=214 Visit the BUAV web site for further information, photos and video - http://www.buav.org/chainofsuffering 17. Parliamentary Questions and Answers Question 359 - Answered on 12 May 2009 Finian McGrath: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the complaints from landowners or other members of the public in regard to the activities of a hunt (details supplied). Question 361 - Answered on 12 May 2009 Finian McGrath: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will refuse future licences to a hunt (details supplied) in view of the continuing risk being posed to motorists in Counties Meath and Dublin. Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr Gormley): I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 361 together. Section 26(1) of the Wildlife Act 1976 provides that I may grant to the master or other person in charge of a pack of stag hounds, a licence authorising the hunting of deer by that pack, during such period or periods as is or are specified in the licence. The Ward Union Hunt Club was granted a licence on 8 September 2008 for the 2008/2009 season from 13 October 2008 to 31 March 2009. This licence did not authorise any person to enter on any land without the permission of the owner or the occupier and, in addition, contained a number of conditions addressing the control of the Hunt, traffic management, the convenience of the general public and notification of landowners in the immediate vicinity of each hunt meeting. My Department is aware of some complaints in relation to some of the hunts which took place in the 2008/2009 season. In considering any application for a renewal of a licence for the coming season, compliance with the licence conditions during the term of the previous licence will be taken into account. Question 360 - Answered on 12 May 2009 Finian McGrath: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if an animal trap (details supplied) is unlawful here under the Wildlife Act 1976 and the action he and the National Parks and Wildlife Service are taking against distributors of this trap. Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr Gormley): Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr Gormley): The use of traps, snares and nets in relation to wildlife is governed by the Wildlife Act, 1976 (Approved Traps, Snares and Nets) Regulations 2003. The "Nooski Animal Trap" does not meet the requirements set by these regulations and is, therefore, illegal. Staff from my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service are currently in contact with the supplier of these traps in order to stop their introduction into the country. Question 362 - Answered on 12 May 2009 Finian McGrath: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of animals destroyed in dog pounds here in 2008 and 2009 along with a breakdown of the dog breeds in question; and if the breeds are not currently recorded, his views on making it compulsory for pounds to record this data. Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr Gormley): The number of dogs put to sleep in local authority dog pounds in 2008 was 10,066 which is a 20% decrease on the 2007 figure of 12,649. Further details are available on my Department's website. Figures for 2009 will not be available until early 2010. Details are not breed specific and there are no plans to alter these arrangements. View more Parliamentary Questions by clicking on "Politicians" at www.banbloodsports.com "Speaking to Star Sunday, Mark Hickey from the Tipperary Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said these are two of the worst cases of animal cruelty he has witnessed in recent times. 'These two dogs definitely died in a dog fight, their injuries could not have been sustained any other way,' he said. 'I think people don't realise just how bad animals are being treated all over the country. It's not just dog fights that are on the increase, we're seeing more and more cases of animal cruelty overall.'...Animal cruelty experts fear the fights are happening across the country almost every weekend, with thousands of euro at stake. The TSCPA is appealing to the public to report any dogfighting incidents to their local cruelty prevention centre or the Garda Siochana." Star Sunday, May 10th, 2009. "I have been determined to steer this law into place as a clear expression of the will of the European public. The impact of this impending ban has already been felt. Thanks to the continuing collapse in the fur price the Canadian hunt has killed less than 60,000 seals this year, down from over 220,000 last year." UK Socialist MEP Arlene McCarthy who described 550 MEPs voting for an EU ban on seal products as "a victory for people power and a credit to the campaigners involved". The Parliament Magazine, 5th May 2009. "The Irish stoat has been found here for at least 35,000 years and is sufficiently different to stoats elsewhere so as to be considered a unique Irish subspecies. Bones from the Irish mountain hare found in Waterford date back 28,000 years and again it is a subspecies unique to Ireland. The Otter is another of our oldest residents and has been found here for at least 10,000 years. The Eurasian otter has become extinct in much of Europe due to hunting, habitat destruction and pollution, so there must be an impetus for conserving Ireland's otter population." From the National Parks and Wildlife Service website. "Stoats are Ireland's smallest carnivore. Males are bigger than females. They average about 1 ft (30 cm) in length, nose to tip of tail...Stoats are totally protected in Ireland. It is illegal to kill a stoat." From the website of the Wicklow Mountains National Park.
Ban Blood Sports in Ireland
Abolish Bowhunting and end the brutality!!!
Stop cruelty against animals in Spain
Stop Killing Homeless Dogs in Armenia
We say NO to Northern Ireland Badger Cull
Alaska's Dead Wolf Pups Demand Justice
Keep hunters off your land Make it known publicly that your land is off-limits to hunters. Place a preservation notice in your local newspaper now. Here is a sample notice that you may wish to use: "Take notice that all my lands at [Insert address(es) of land] are private and preserved day and night. All forms of hunting and shooting are strictly prohibited. Trespassers will be prosecuted. Signed [Insert name(s) of landowner]" For more information, click on Farmers at www.banbloodsports.com Please make a donation to ICABS The Irish Council Against Blood Sports relies entirely on your generosity to continue our campaigning for an end to blood sport cruelty. Please become a supporter of our work today - click on "Shop" at www.banbloodsports.com for more details or send a cheque to ICABS, PO Box 88, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Ireland. Thank you very much. Let's be friends on Bebo, MySpace, Youtube, Twitter Help highlight the Irish Council Against Blood Sports' campaign against hunting and coursing cruelty. Please add us as a top friend on your MySpace, Bebo and Youtube pages and repost our regular bulletins. If you have a website, we would be grateful if you could link to us or display an ICABS banner (For linking options, please click on Links at www.banbloodsports.com and choose Link To Us). Thank you very much. The addresses are: www.myspace.com/banbloodsports, www.bebo.com/banbloodsports, www.twitter.com/banbloodsports and www.youtube.com/icabs ICABS Campaign Text Alerts Subscribe to the Irish Council Against Blood Sports' Campaign Text Alerts service and receive occasional campaign updates to your mobile phone. Text the word GO to our textline on 086-0386617 (this is free service). To unsubscribe at any stage, simply text the word STOP to the same number. Your number will not be passed on to anyone else. 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 clicking on "Videos" at www.banbloodsports.com Please ask your local TD/Senator to view our videos and back a blood sports ban. Animal Voice - subscribe/unsubscribe To receive "Animal Voice" by email every month, please send "Animal Voice - Subscribe" to info@banbloodsports.com
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