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Animal Voice, Issue 12, December 2013
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Happy Christmas and best wishes for 2014
We wish all our friends & supporters a very happy, healthy holiday! Thank you for all your support throughout the year. We look forward to your continued support in the new year.
Nollaig shonasach agus athbhliain shuaimhneach from all at the Irish Council Against Blood Sports.
See the ICABS Christmas message at http://www.flickr.com/photos/icabs/11466704893/lightbox/
In this month's edition:
01. Ashbourne to welcome Ward Union "with open arms"
01. Ashbourne to welcome Ward Union "with open arms"
ICABS has complained to Ashbourne Chamber of Commerce after the body's president reportedly claimed that the town will welcome the Ward Union hunt on St Stephen's Day.
A front page article in the Forum newspaper quoted Chamber President Alan Tobin as saying that Ashbourne would welcome the hunt with open arms.
"The hunt is a spectacle not to be missed," Tobin stated. "I remember as a child being brought down to Frederick St. on Stephen's afternoon by my parents, and relatives would come to visit on that day too, they loved to see the hunt and experience the country way of life."
Defending the hunt, The Forum claimed that "no animals are intentionally injured or killed during the hunt" and "the hound does not attack or bring down the deer."
We have urged the Chamber of Commerce to reconsider its stance and act to protect the town's image by rejecting hunting.
According to the Wildlife Amendment Act 2010, "a person who hunts deer with two or more dogs shall be guilty of an offence." If you reside in the area where the Ward Union operates, please familiarise yourself with the Wildlife Amendment Act 2010 and report any breaches to ICABS and the Gardai.
ACTION ALERT
Ask Ashbourne Chamber of Commerce to reject hunting in the town.
Unit 4, Bachelor's Walk, Ashbourne, Co. Meath
For the phone numbers of Garda stations, please visit: http://www.garda.ie/Stations/Default.aspx
Read the Wildlife Amendment Act 2010 http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2010/en/act/pub/0019/print.html
02. Bandon urged to remove hunting from website's activities page
Bandon is being urged to show compassion for Ireland's wildlife and remove hunting from its Things to do in Bandon web page. ICABS is also calling for the removal of a hunt from a "sporting activities" page which presents "a list of local clubs and activities that should suit all tastes".
"Foxes and hares suffer terrible cruelty during hunting," ICABS stated in an email. "The creatures are chased to exhaustion and ripped apart by packs of hounds. Please protect Bandon's valuable image from any association with organised animal cruelty and exclude hunting from the list."
ACTION ALERT
Please ask Bandon.ie to show compassion for Ireland's wildlife and remove "hunting" from its website.
Email: visitbandon@gmail.com
Tel: 086-2388999
03. Don't buy animals as gifts this Christmas
Source: Animal Rights Action Network / www.aran.ie
Please, open your eyes to the suffering of animals. Wherever in the world you live, there’s no doubt a local rescue shelter with rows of loving and helpless dogs needing a good home and the very reason they sit in these shelters is because there simply is not enough good homes, or for the homes that are out there, people fill the spaces by buying from puppy breeders and puppy farms, and it absolutely kills the chances of survival for animals in pounds who are most often killed on a Friday if they are not lucky to be rescued and rehomed.
What about the good breeders? Let’s not kid ourselves here for one moment, there’s absolutely NO such thing as a good breeder. Considering that there’s a huge homeless crisis facing homeless and abandoned animals out there there’s absolutely no reason why we should be breeding any dogs for that matter. And why do breeders, breed? Money. Buying from a breeder or farm is only exacerbating the problem. Think about it!
You can help! Ensure you NEVER buy a dog or cat or any other animal for that matter. If you are looking to give an animal a loving, permanent and caring home, always ADOPT and NEVER buy. We would also encourage your companion animal(s) to be spayed and neutered. ARAN has been working for years to stem the problem of animal overpopulation and homelessness through celebrity ads, public outreach, school education, eye-catching demonstrations, lobbying for stronger laws and of course helping where possible to find homeless animals permanent and caring homes. We have also assisted low-income people with spaying and neutering costs where possible.
04. Singer/songwriter Don Mescall: "I support a ban on coursing and foxhunting"
A big thank you to celebrated singer/songwriter Don Mescall for expressing his support for a ban on bloodsports in Ireland. "I support a ban on Ireland's cruel hare coursing and foxhunting," the award-winning musician has stated.
County Limerick native, Don Mescall is a songwriter for Backstreet Boys, Lonestar, Boyzone, Ronan Keating, Richie Havens, Aslan, Sharon Corr & many more. In 2012 he was named the International Songwriter of the Year in the Hot Country TV Awards.
Three of his songs feature on the new Boyzone album "BZ20" while seven are included on Sharon Corr's current album 'The Same Sun', including the first single 'We Could Be Lovers'.
ICABS is very grateful to Don for joining calls for hare coursing and foxhunting to be banned.
Visit Don's website at www.donmescall.com
05. Cockfighting investigation: Birds seized in Fermanagh
BBC News has reported that police in Northern Ireland have seized a number of birds as part of an investigation into illegal cock fighting.
The report outlined that the operation into alleged animal cruelty took place at three locations. The BBC's Julian Fowler outlined that the police found roosters tied up to plastic barrels.
Watch the report on the BBC website.
ACTION ALERT
Cockfighting is illegal in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. If you have any information about cockfighting activities, please immediately report it to the Gardai.
For the phone numbers of Garda stations, please visit: www.garda.ie/Stations/Default.aspx. If you are in Northern Ireland, contact the police at www.psni.police.uk
06. Charter Travel thanked for removing bullfight suggestion
A big thank you to international tour operator, Charter Travel, for responding to an ICABS appeal and removing from its website a suggestion that tourists visit a Mexican bullring.
We are very grateful to the Berkshire-based company for this compassionate response. Find out more about their holidays at chartertravel.co.uk
Charter Travel joins a growing list of companies which have responded positively to ICABS appeals and removed references to bullfighting or bullrings. These include EasyJet, Jet2holidays, Marriott International, Hilton Hampton, Ebookers, Club Travel, Abbey Travel, Sunways, Low Cost Holidays.ie, Travel Department, Cancun Holidays Information Center, Co-op Travel, Ultimate Travel, No Fly Cruising, City Breaks 101, Original Travel and Escape Trips.
Help us to convince other companies to drop bullfighting from their websites. Check out our latest anti-bullfighting Action Alerts now.
07. Petition calls on Minister Coveney to save hares from coursing
A new ICABS petition is calling on Minister Simon Coveney to show compassion and save the Irish Hare from cruel coursing. The Minister has been told that it "reflects badly on the Republic of Ireland that it remains legal to use live hares as lures for greyhounds".
Please Sign the petition Now and share the link with your friends:
08. New Irish Farmers Association president is a bloodsports supporter
The new Irish Farmers Association president, Eddie Downey, is a hunt supporter who gave his backing to the pro-bloodsports RISE campaign.
At a recent hunt in Co Meath, he was photographed shaking hands with hunters and thanking them for their support.
As deputy president of the IFA, Downey was one of the speakers at a 2010 RISE gathering in Waterford which protested against the Green Party's work to ban carted deer hunting.
In a statement headed "Pro-hunting campaign welcomes farming support", the RISE group claimed at the time that "Vice President of the Irish Farmers’ Association, Eddie Downey, has given his organisation’s support to the campaign. Mr Downey said the campaign to defend hunting and other traditional rural sports was an integral part of the wider battle to defend rural Ireland."
In response, ICABS highlighted to the IFA the appalling cruelty involved in blood sports and the fact that a majority of Irish people are opposed to these activities.
"It is highly inappropriate for the national farming organisation (which depends on this very majority to purchase its members' produce) to come out in support of animal cruelty," we stated in our 2010 letter. "As you are no doubt aware, the majority of farmers want nothing to do with hunts due to fears about disease spread, the disturbance of farm animals and damage to pastures and field boundaries."
Quoted in the Irish Times of May 4, 2010, a spokesman for the IFA denied that they have links with the RISE group. "They are a separate organisation," he said. "The IFA is a very separate organisation." In the same article, Socialist MEP Joe Higgins called on the IFA and the ICMSA to "carefully consider" whether they supported the hunt because farming organisations depended on "millions of us buying their produce".
According to a foxhunting website: "Eddie is a great supporter of hunting, shooting and fishing."
Downey is currently listed as chairman of pro-bloodsports IFA Countryside. In a message on its website, he says "As Chairman of IFA Countryside and Deputy President of IFA, I meet people outside farming all the time who live, work and enjoy the countryside. Many of these people are involved in rural pursuits such as walking, fishing and hunting. Rural people have a great interest and place great value on the environment and in recent years there has been a growing awareness of rural activities. Many people visit farmland as guests to enjoy their field sports such as walking, fishing or hunting."
Shamefully, some of Ireland's worst cruelty to animals - foxhunting, digging-out and terrierwork - are among the activities embraced by IFA Countryside.
ACTION ALERT
Plagued by hunts trespassing on your land? Please visit the Farmers section of our website for information and advice.
http://www.banbloodsports.com/farmers.htm
09. Please sign the latest ICABS petitions
Please sign our new petitions and share the links online:
Minister Coveney: Save Irish hares from cruel coursing
Irish Government: Save foxes and dogs from horrific cruelty
An anti-fox hunting cartoon by writer and artist Harjit Singh Sagoo.
Harjit told ICABS "I love animals, particularly dogs. I've heard lots about fox hunting and think it's a cruel and pointless sport. So I wanted to contribute something that's against it."
A big thank you to Harjit for the cartoon.
11. Minister Coveney dismisses call to encourage drag coursing
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has dismissed a call by Galway TD Sean Kyne to encourage drag coursing as an alternative to live hare coursing. The Minister claimed in a Dail reply that "the promotion of drag/lure coursing is an activity that falls outside my area of responsibility."
Minister Coveney - whose Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2013 included an exemption which paved the way for coursing to continue - made the outrageous claim in his response that "the Irish Coursing Club has an established system of regulation in place to underpin animal welfare standards in coursing".
Despite being very aware of the appalling cruelty of hare coursing, the Minister went on to claim that "coursing is run in a well controlled and responsible manner in the interest of animal welfare both for hares and greyhounds alike".
It is entirely unacceptable for the Minister to present such a white-washed picture of coursing, particularly as ICABS highlights to him on an ongoing basis, the suffering caused to hares in coursing.
We are renewing our appeal to Minister Coveney to accept that coursing is intrinsically cruel and that the only way to change this is to remove the hare and replace it with a mechanical lure.
Please join us as we continue to push for a ban on this deplorable bloodsport.
ACTION ALERT
Appeal to the Minister for Agriculture to remove exemptions for coursing and foxhunting from the Animal Health and Welfare Act.
Simon Coveney, TD
12. Family distraught after pet dog attacked by a pack of hunt hounds
A family in Ashford, Co Wicklow has been left devastated after a beloved pet dog was killed by a pack of hunt hounds. A member of the family who witnessed the attack told Journal.ie: "The hounds were totally out of control. They chased her until they caught her and basically savaged her." This is the latest in a long line of disturbing attacks on pets during hunts.
ICABS has expressed sympathy to the family and pointed to the Control of Dogs Act 1986 which makes it clear that the owner or person in charge of (hunting) dogs must keep them "under effectual control" - http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1986/en/act/pub/0032/print.html
Read more in the Journal.ie report of 03 December 2013
Read the ICABS Report: When hunts attack pets
13. IFA urged to stop suggesting farmers poison foxes
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is calling on the Irish Farmers Association to stop directing farmers to an online leaflet which encourages the poisoning of foxes.
In an email to the farming body, we pointed out that the use of meat-based poisons is prohibited, where they pose a threat to wild birds, pine martens, otters and other protected species, except in accordance with a license or permit from the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
The "Advice leaflet on crows and foxes" gives the impression that a farmer can lay meat-based poisons (subject to conditions) when it is considered "the only option". The leaflet does not make it clear that there is a requirement to have a licence from the Minister for Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
The leaflet states that "if poison is used, it should also be placed under cover so only foxes can find it by scent and not birds that find food by sight. Poison left in the open is a serious risk to farm dogs."
It is difficult to imagine how poison for a fox could be laid in such a way as to make it inaccessible to a dog, pine marten or otter.
Farmers which read this leaflet and contravene existing legislation could face prosecution and fines. Therefore, we hope the IFA will urgently remove this link and stop suggesting that farmers use poison.
Irish Farmers Association
14. Kilkenny, Athy and Westmeath urged to reject cruel hare coursing
Please join us in urging Athy, Westmeath and Kilkenny to reject cruel hare coursing. At recent coursing meetings in the counties, hares were forced to run for their lives in front of greyhounds.
ICABS is urging local politicians to show compassion for the hares and condemn the bloodsport.
"Hare coursing is a form of animal cruelty which is illegal in all our neighbouring jurisdictions - England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland - and associating with the activity is a damaging blemish on the county's image," we stated in a message to councillors. "We urge you to show compassion for the Irish Hare, speak out against coursing and support calls for it to be banned."
ACTION ALERT
Email "Kilkenny - Reject Cruel Hare Coursing" to Kilkenny Councillors.
Urge Kilkenny Councillors to show compassion for the Irish Hare and speak out against cruel coursing.
Send an email to local politicians
Tweet to Kilkenny County Council
Email "Athy - Reject Cruel Hare Coursing" to Athy Councillors.
Send an email to local politicians
Tweet to Athy Town Council
Email "Westmeath - Reject Cruel Hare Coursing" to Westmeath Councillors.
Send an email to local politicians
Tweet to Westmeath County Council
15. Dog shot four times in Athlone: Witnesses sought
Shannonside FM, 2nd December, 2013
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Athlone says that animals are being dumped on a daily basis in the area.
The group has made an appeal for witnesses after a husky dog was shot 4 times over the weekend.
The dead animal was discovered by a passer-by on the road in the popular Glynwood Bog area on Sunday afternoon.
Chairperson of the SPCA Billy Gallagher says the incident has been handed over to the Gardai but they fear that the animal was dumped after failed attempts to sell the dog.
Mr. Gallagher says that while this case is extreme people are dumping animals along the motorway on a weekly basis:
Billy Gallagher is appealing for people to contact the Gardai if they have further information.
16. Fresh calls for ban on cruel Larsen traps
The cruel Larsen trap is used to catch magpies and other birds. Designed in Denmark in the 1950s, these traps are now banned there due to the suffering caused. They use a permanently trapped bird to lure in other birds. They fly down on to the trap, fall through a collapsing floor and find themselves trapped too.
Before being brutally killed, they will be overcome with the fear and stress of confinement. Some will suffer thirst, hunger and starvation while others will sustain broken beaks and cut heads from futile attempts to smash their way to freedom. When magpie parents are caught, their orphaned chicks will starve to death in nests.
Larsen traps are also used to catch foxes.
Witness the cruelty of Larsen traps at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9uJbS-sIws
ACTION ALERT
Please join us in calling on the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs to urgently introduce a ban on Larsen traps.
Jimmy Deenihan, TD
Email: jimmy.deenihan@oireachtas.ie
Constituency Details
17. Renewed Appeal: Groupama Insurance asked to stop advertising at bullfights
French insurance and banking company, Groupama, has been urged to show compassion and stop advertising at bullfights. An advertisement banner for the company was on display on 1st September at a bullring in the South of France where bulls were tortured, killed and dragged away.
"It is disappointing to note that Groupama had an advertisement banner in place during a cruel bullfighting event at Arenes de Plumacon in Mont-de-Marsan this month," ICABS stated in a letter to the company. "It is surprising that your company would choose to associate with this horrendous animal cruelty - particularly as a majority of people across France and Europe are opposed to bullfighting and want it outlawed."
Video footage posted on Youtube shows bulls being tortured and killed in front of the Groupama banner. See the video at http://youtu.be/FUK0OyzvZoQ?t=4m52s Warning: Graphic content.
ACTION ALERT
Contact Groupama and urge them to stop advertising at bullfights.
Groupama SA
Please also contact the other companies who had advertising banners at this bullring:
Carre Bleu International
France Bleu Radio
STEF TFE
Radio MDM
Question 186 - Answered on 18th December, 2013
Clare Daly, TD (Dublin North, United Left): To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made in relation to the Garda investigation into cockfighting in County Monaghan; and his plans to increase penalties and enforcement of those guilty of this unlawful activity.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael): My officials have been in touch with An Garda Siochana in this matter. I understand that investigations are on-going, that good progress has been made and that a file is being prepared for submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions in the New Year.
Question 359 - Answered on 3rd December 2013
Maureen O'Sullivan, TD (Dublin Central, Independent): To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider suspending the hare coursing season during spells of adverse weather conditions and spells of freezing weather when the welfare of the hares and greyhounds is increasingly under threat; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael): Under the provisions of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 the regulation of coursing is chiefly a matter for the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon, which is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry, greyhound racing and coursing. The ICC has confirmed that it has systems in place to underpin the welfare of animals participating in coursing events. These include mandatory inspections of hares and coursing venues in advance of the commencement of an event. Greyhounds involved in coursing are subject to the provisions of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 and the Code of Practice for the care and welfare of greyhounds, published by Bord na gCon.
The ICC has assured the Department that it goes to great lengths to ensure the highest standards are adhered to during coursing. ICC rules and regulations require the postponement of coursing meetings if the weather is unfavourable for example where snowfall or frost could impact negatively on the greyhound or the hare. The ICC has confirmed that a coursing meeting scheduled to take place on November 23 2013 was postponed due to heavy frost. During extreme weather conditions, it is also the practice of ICC clubs to provide additional food for the hares living in the wild, within hare preserves protected by the ICC.
The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, under the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012, has responsibility for the issue of an annual licence to the ICC and its affiliated clubs to capture live hares. These licences currently have a total of 26 conditions attached to them. The conditions of these licences cover a range of items, including veterinary supervision at coursing meetings and a number of requirements attaching to the welfare of hares.
The ICC ensures that a veterinary surgeon and a control steward are present at all coursing meetings. In addition to this, veterinary staff from my Department and rangers from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (part of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht) carry out random monitoring inspections during the coursing season to verify compliance with the licences and the rules governing animal welfare.
As a further control, a Monitoring Committee on Coursing was established during the 1993/94 coursing season and is comprised of officials from my Department and representatives from both the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the ICC to monitor developments in coursing and in that regard the situation is kept under constant review to ensure that coursing is run in a well controlled and responsible manner in the interests of hares and greyhounds alike.
A very high proportion (98.09%) of the hares captured for hare coursing were returned to the wild at the end of the 2012/2013 season.
The systems that are in place are, in my view, effective, proportionate and are working well. The ICC has demonstrated its willingness in recent weeks to postpone an event due poor weather. Accordingly I see no need for any unilateral intervention on my part to suspend hare coursing during adverse weather conditions.
Question 450 - Answered on 24th September, 2013
Sean Kyne, TD (Galway West, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider encouraging the take-up of drag coursing as an alternative to live hare coursing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael): Under the provisions of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 the regulation of coursing is chiefly a matter for the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon, which is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry. The ICC has an established system of regulation in place to underpin animal welfare standards in coursing.
A Monitoring Committee on coursing was established during the 1993/1994 coursing season comprising of officials from my Department and representatives from both the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the ICC to monitor developments in coursing and in that regard the situation is kept under constant review to ensure that coursing is run in a well controlled and responsible manner in the interest of animal welfare both for hares and greyhounds alike.
Statistics compiled by the ICC show that a very high proportion (98.09%) of the hares captured for hare coursing were returned to the wild at the end of the 2012/2013 season.
The promotion of drag/lure “coursing” is an activity that falls outside my area of responsibility.
Question 358 - Answered on 3rd December 2013
Simon Harris, TD (Wicklow, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ban the docking of the tails of dogs-puppies and the removal of the dew nail, considering that both of these practices are banned by the Irish veterinarians body; if he will consider introducing such a ban in animal welfare legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael): The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (Section 16) prohibits the carrying out of procedures that may cause pain or suffering to animals, including certain husbandry related procedures, unless provided for under Regulations to be made under the Act. I propose to commence the Act shortly and, in this context, a number of draft regulations covering a wide range of issues are in the course of preparation to coincide with its commencement.
With regard to the specific issue of the docking of dogs’ tails, the current legislation, the Protection of Animals Amendment Act (1965), allows tail docking for all dogs up to one month old by any person. I am currently examining draft regulations under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 relating to this issue. It is my intention that, as a general rule, tail docking of all dogs will be banned, except in circumstances where the welfare of an animal is affected and, where it is permitted, it must be carried out either by a vet or veterinary nurse during the first four days. Veterinary practitioners will be required to make an assessment as to the necessity of carrying out this procedure given the individual animal’s circumstances and taking account of current scientific knowledge when making this decision.
Nothing in the legislation will interfere with a veterinary practitioner’s ability to undertake appropriate therapeutic operations in respect of injured animals.
"During the past thirty years, there has been a paradigm shift in ethical thinking about our treatment of animals. From being regarded as things, tools, machines or resources for us – animals are increasingly regarded as sentient beings with their own inherent value, dignity and rights. Given this paradigmatic change spurred on in no small part by academic ethicists, philosophers and theologians, we believe that the time is right for a new ethical assessment of our use of animals in research." Professor Andrew Linzey announcing a new academic review of the ethics of the use of animals in research, December 2013.
At a recent meeting of Farmers Against Fox Hunting and Trespass, a motion was passed unanimously declaring that all the commercial farming lands of Ireland should be off limits to all hunting groups with dogs, whether on horseback or on foot. Access to farmland will only be by Written and Signed Permission from the Farmer/Land Owner. This measure is seen as necessary because almost all foxhunts erroneously claim to have permission to hunt on Farmland despite not having sought the farmer’s permission. The IFA, ICMSA and ICSA state that nobody has a right to enter farmland without the owners’ permission. Because of the NON payment for damage caused by foxhunts to farms, crops and livestock running into hundreds of thousands of Euro in all twenty-six counties, most farmers will no longer grant permission to Hunts to enter their lands at all. From a statement by Farmers Against Foxhunting and Trespass, December 2013. http://farmersagainstfoxhunting.wordpress.com/
Hunting foxes with dogs has been outlawed [in the UK] since 2005 yet around 172 hunts with dogs still operate across England and Wales. Tellingly, the areas which have the most hunts are also the areas which have the highest TB infection rates - the Southwest and West of England, South Wales and the border between Wales and England. By overlaying visual illustrations of the two sets of statistics there is a clear correlation: the greater the number of hunts, the higher the rates of TB, higher than in other areas of the UK. from the VIVA website - http://www.viva.org.uk/what-we-do/badgers/cattle-tb-%E2%80%93-hunting-reason
"I'm against both hunting and meat. I think the fox thing offends many because they're a predator so them being hunted..." Eilis O'Hanlon, Sunday Independent, via Twitter, 10th December 2013.
Gardai smashed a gang they believe is responsible for poaching up to 200 deer after boasts about the exploits were posted on Facebook. Operation Bambi was carried out by officers with the assistance of the National Parks Wildlife Service and targeted a gang that was regarded as highly active. The deerhunters have been operating without a licence in counties Wicklow, Carlow and Kilkenny and have been under investigation by gardai since the start of the season in September. Senior sources have revealed that one suspect used Facebook to boast that he had killed 15 deer on one night, and that gardai would not catch him. The inquiries culminated yesterday in the arrest of three men in their 20s, two in Carlow town and one in Rathvilly, Co Carlow. from 'Operation Bambi' tracks down gang of deerhunters, Irish Independent, 26 November 2013
Help raise awareness about Ireland's animal cruelty issues - write letters to the editors of local and national newspapers to speak out against hare coursing, foxhunting, etc.
Hounding stags
While the recent successful Garda operation against suspected deer poachers is to be welcomed, there is another practice that involves the infliction of even greater suffering and distress on these timid creatures. I refer to carted stag hunting. This was banned in 2010 but is still being carried on illegally in some parts of Ireland, principally south Meath and north Co Dublin.
A deer when shot is at least out of its misery, provided the shooter is a skilled marksman. But a stag hunted with hounds has to endure a long obstacle-strewn cross-country chase. In the course of this terrifying ordeal, the animal sustains painful injuries as it passes through brambles or becomes entangled in barbed wire. The hunt ends only the stag drops from exhaustion, bleeding from head to foot from cuts, its tongue hanging out and steam rising from its quivering pain-wracked body.
It is truly a heartrending sight: to see this animal that once occupied pride of place on our pound coin brought so low. And for what? The hunt serves no pest control or conservationist purpose, the sole aim being to make animals suffer for “sport”.
Carted stag hunting is a serious criminal offence punishable by heavy fines. Anyone who witnesses the practice, or has any knowledge of upcoming hunts, should immediately contact the gardaí or National Parks and Wildlife Service.
The noble stag is part of our precious wildlife heritage. It does not deserve to be treated like this. – Yours, etc,
John Fitzgerald
Coursing Madness
The recent spate of severe weather has again focused attention on the injustice and medieval barbarity of hare coursing, reminding us that it is unlike other sports in more ways than one.
Apart from the fact that its players are forced to participate, and that they routinely suffer painful injury or death as they dodge hyped-up greyhounds, there is another factor that differentiates this "sport" from those that accord some measure of respect to their participants.
I refer to the callous disregard shown by coursing clubs to the added stress and trauma inflicted on the hares when they are made run on hard frosty ground, in heavy rain, hailstorms, snowfall, or on venues swept by strong winds.
There is no legal requirement on clubs to call off events affected by adverse weather conditions. This season, as in previous ones, hares have performed for the fans of this oddball sport in circumstances that would surely have led to a cancellation of any other sporting event.
With even worse weather predicted for future winters it is surely past time for a clampdown, if not on the entire practice of hare coursing, which is banned in many jurisdictions, including Britain and Northern Ireland, then at least on the holding of fixtures in the appalling conditions that hares were compelled to endure over the past seven weeks.
There is no valid excuse for this annual five-month attack on our hare population, a treasured centrepiece of our wildlife heritage. A switch to drag coursing, in which no live hares are used, would allow coursing clubs to hold events in the spring and summer as well as the autumn and winter.
John Fitzgerald
Few racehorses enjoy 'retirement'
In last Sunday's paper (November 24) two pieces of journalist portrayed so vividly the very different worlds of the horse industry.
Tamso Doyle's article, "Excitement, glamour and history at Goffs", opened the door and gave us readers a glimpse into a world of excessive wealth, competition and the business of the bloodstock industry. In stark contrast to this, Declan Lynch (Life) challenged us as a nation on our so-called "love of horses and horse racing".
There are many who would agree with Mr Lynch's observations that if there were no betting and drinking, very few of us would go to a race meeting. The fate of the horses at the end of their racing career would appear to be of little or no consequence to the average person. Once "Paddy" has his day out at the races, boasts about knowing "the form" and, even better, wins on a bet, then everything else is insignificant.
Horses are magnificent intelligent animals. Perhaps if we were to witness their demise at a slaughter house, their fear and distress as they sense their impending death, we might realise that very few old horses retire gracefully to pastures green with treats of autumn apples.
Thos who love animals will endorse the hope expressed so eloquently by Martin Luther King. "One day the absurdity of the almost universal human belief in the slavery of other animals will be palpable. We shall then have discovered our souls and become worthier of sharing this planet with them."
Mary C Fitzpatrick
No Christmas Cheer for animals or humans
As the festive season descends, it heralds a spike in domestic abuse.
Fuelled by copious amounts of alcohol many a partner will feel the violent wrath of their supposed loved one over the holiday period. For these victims, Christmas cheer will be a mythical state as they try to heal their broken bodies ‘til the next beating is inflicted on them.
Running in parallel with it is the spike in animal abuse. During the festival season there will be an increased countrywide organised assault on our already hard-pressed wildlife by a minority of the population.
No Christmas respite is given to wildlife by bloodsports followers who pollute the countryside with their toxic presence. The actions of the Irish hare coursing community have been well documented. Many hares will end their lives for the Christmas entertainment of people who are strangers to compassion and respect for life.
The hunting with hounds community use St. Stephen's day hunt meets as a public relations exercise. The general public is shown the Christmas card image of fox hunting; red coated riders throwing back glasses of hot port surrounded by packs of big loveable hounds.
What is kept hidden is the sole reason for this gathering which is to hunt down, terrorise and kill a harmless wild animal. Hunting with hounds is organised pre-meditated animal cruelty.There is no justification for it; be it on moral, economic or cultural grounds.
The link between human and animal abuse is now well documented. The humane movement's long held position that society's treatment of animals is inseparable from its treatment of human beings is now being acknowledged.
With this in mind one can ask is the salutation of have a happy Christmas just a hollow refrain.
John Tierney
21. Anti-fur protest, Dublin, Saturday 21st December
The National Animal Rights Association will hold an anti-fur protest on Saturday 21st December from 1pm - 3pm.
Location: Outside Barnardo Furs, 108 Grafton Street, Dublin 2.
Witness the cruelty of Ireland's fur farming at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8N77XURIVA
ACTION ALERT
Demand a ban on fur farming in Ireland. Email Simon Coveney now.
Email: Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie
Tel: 01-607 2884 or LoCall 1890-200510.
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Minister Coveney,
I support a total ban on fur farming and an immediate closure of Ireland's fur farms.
In these hellholes, animals suffer a horrendous life of misery before being cruelly gassed to death. There is absolutely no justification for the continuation of this cruelty.
Please ban fur farming now.
Yours sincerely,
[Name/Location]
Ban Blood Sports in Ireland Now
Minister Simon Coveney: Ban ALL Tail Docking - No Exemptions
Ask An Taoiseach Enda Kenny to Ban Hare Coursing
Stop sponsoring hare coursing in Ireland
Protect the Irish Hare
End Cruel Blood Sport of Fox Hunting in Ireland
Limerick Racecourse: Stop hosting cruel hare coursing
Coillte - Ban hunters from your forests
Ban Fur Sales on eBay
Stormont Northern Ireland Assembly: Ban Fox and Stag Hunting in Northern Ireland
Ban Torturous Hanging of Greyhounds in Spain
Bishop Bill Murphy: Stop clergy involvement in cruel coursing
Dunnes Stores: Lift Ban on Animal Charities Fundraising
Arts Council of Ireland: Stop funding animal circuses
Stop the EU funding bullfighting
Stop Torturing Bears: End Bear Bile Farming In China
Stop badger culling and focus on a vaccination programme in Ireland
Add report option "Animal Abuse" on Facebook
STOP Spain's cruel and barbaric Toro de la Vega
End Bullfighting in France
STOP Spain's cruel and barbaric Toro de la Vega
Please make a donation to ICABS
If you like our work, please consider making a donation. 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 the Paypal button at www.banbloodsports.com to make a donation or send a cheque made payable to ICABS to ICABS, PO Box 88, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Ireland. Thank you very much.
Top ways you can help the campaign
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
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
To receive "Animal Voice" by email every month, please send "Animal Voice - Subscribe" to info@banbloodsports.com
Make a donation to ICABS
Please consider making a small donation to ICABS. For more details, please click on the button below or
follow this link to find out how to become a campaign supporter. Thank you.
Campaign newsletter of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports
02. Bandon urged to remove hunting from website's activities page
03. Don't buy animals as gifts this Christmas
04. Singer/songwriter Don Mescall: "I support a ban on coursing and foxhunting"
05. Cockfighting investigation: Birds seized in Fermanagh
06. Charter Travel thanked for removing bullfight suggestion
07. Petition calls on Minister Coveney to save hares from coursing
08. New Irish Farmers Association president is a bloodsports supporter
09. Please sign the latest ICABS petitions
10. Anti-hunting cartoon
11. Minister Coveney dismisses call to encourage drag coursing
12. Family distraught after pet dog attacked by a pack of hunt hounds
13. IFA urged to stop suggesting farmers poison foxes
14. Kilkenny, Athy and Westmeath urged to reject cruel hare coursing
15. Dog shot four times in Athlone: Witnesses sought
16. Fresh calls for ban on cruel Larsen traps
17. Renewed Appeal: Groupama Insurance asked to stop advertising at bullfights
18. Dail Q&A
19. Campaign Quotes
20. Letters to the Editor
21. Anti-fur protest, Dublin, Saturday 21st December
22. Petitions
Email: ashbournechamber@gmail.com
Tel: 01 835 7089
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25337391
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/minister-coveney-save-the-hare-from-cruel-coursing
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/minister-simon-coveney-replace-hare-coursing-with-drag-coursing
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/irish-government-save-foxes-and-dogs-from-horrific-cruelty
http://www.flickr.com/photos/icabs/11422498225/
Minister for Agriculture
Department of Agriculture
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Email: Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie
Tel: 01-607 2000 / 01-607 2884 / LoCall 1890-200510.
Fax: 01-661 1013.
http://www.thejournal.ie/dog-attacked-hunt-1200991-Dec2013
http://www.scribd.com/doc/121981437/When-hunts-attack-pets
Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12.
Telephone: 00 353 (1) 4500266
Fax: 00 353 (1) 4551043
Email: postmaster@ifa.ie
Tweet to @KilkennyNotices
Tweet to @AthyTownCouncil
Tweet to @westmeathcoco
Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
23 Kildare Street
Dublin 2
cc: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie
Tel: (01) 631 3804
Fax: (01) 661 1201
18A The Square, Listowel, Co Kerry
Telephone: 068-57446
Fax: 068-57805
8 & 10 rue d'Astorg
75008 PARIS
+ 33 (0)1 44 56 77 77
Email: relations.exterieures@groupama.com
RN7, ZI Les Plaines, 26780 Malataverne
Tel: 04 75 90 70 45
Fax: 04 75 90 73 64
Email: cbi@carrebleu.fr
Email from: http://www.francebleu.fr/contact/9753
Leave comment on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/France-Bleu/113434835339857
Send a tweet: @francebleu
Email from: http://www.stef.com/contact-info
11 rue du Peyrouat
40000 Mont de Marsan
Email: contact@radio-mdm.fr,anthony@radio-mdm.fr
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Radio-MdM/119895751382507
Tel: 05 58 46 46 46
Irish Times, December 5, 2013
(Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports)
Lower Coyne Street, Callan, Co Kilkenny.
Irish Independent, 10 December 2013
Callan, Co Kilkenny
Sunday Independent, 1st December 2013
Bishopstown, Cork
Dungarven Observer, 19th & 26th December, 2012
Campaigns Director, Association of Hunt
Saboteurs, PO Box 4734, Dublin 1
Fax: 01 661 1013 and 021 437 4862
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/minister-simon-coveney-don-t-allow-hunters-to-cut-off-dogs-tails
http://www.change.org/petitions/taoiseach-prime-minister-of-ireland-support-a-bill-to-ban-the-cruel-practise-of-live-hare-coursing-in-ireland
http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-sponsoring-hare-coursing-in-ireland#
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/protect-the-irish-hare
http://forcechange.com/30176/end-cruel-blood-sport-of-fox-hunting-in-ireland/#gf_1
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/limerick-racecourse-stop-hosting-cruel-hare-coursing
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/irish-forestry-board-ban-hunters-from-your-property
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/ban-fur-sales-on-ebay#
http://www.change.org/petitions/stormont-northern-ireland-assembly-ban-fox-and-stag-hunting-in-northern-ireland#
http://forcechange.com/24603/#gf_17
http://www.change.org/petitions/bishop-bill-murphy-stop-clergy-involvement-in-cruel-coursing
http://www.change.org/petitions/dunnes-supermarket-end-your-ban-on-animal-groups
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/145/615/024/lift-ban-on-animal-charities-fundraising-at-dunnes-stores/
http://www.change.org/petitions/arts-council-of-ireland-stop-funding-animal-circuses
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/dacian-ciolos-european-agriculture-minister-stop-the-eu-funding-bullfighting#
http://forcechange.com/64173/stop-torturing-bears-end-bear-bile-farming-in-china
http://www.change.org/petitions/irish-petition-against-badger-cull-to-minister-for-agriculture-simon-coveney-stop-badger-culling-in-ireland
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/add-report-option-animal-abuse-on-facebook.html
http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-toro-de-la-vega-2013
http://forcechange.com/94113/end-bullfighting-in-france
http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-toro-de-la-vega-2013
Top ways you can help the campaign •
Join our email list and respond to our Action Alerts
•
Become a campaign supporter and make a donation to help fund our efforts
•
Contact your local politicians and ask them to support a ban on blood sports
•
Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube
•
Sign up for our free text alert service and receive occasional campaign updates to your phone
•
Link to our website and display one of our banners
•
Monitor blood sports meetings in your area and provide us with photos, video and reports.
•
Write a letter to your local newspaper about the cruelty of blood sports
•
Sign and collect signatures for our petitions
•
Organise a fund-raiser to help raise funds for the campaign
•
Set up an online anti-blood sports group to cover your area.
•
Download, print and display our posters and leaflets
•
Set up an information stand at your school/library/youth group/adult group, etc
•
Introduce your friends to our website and encourage them to get involved.
•
Simply keeping your ear to the ground.
about any blood-sport related incidents in your area.
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