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Animal Voice, Issue 9, September 2014
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01. Horrific cruelty to a fox in County Waterford
01. Horrific cruelty to a fox in County Waterford
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has this week called on the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, to reconsider his decision not to ban foxhunting with packs of dogs, after a horrific video was posted on the Facebook page of a traveller criminal, well known to the Gardaν, and operating in the Waterford City area.
The graphic and disturbing video may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLgjYbxILjU
The gruesome video showing the barbaric killing of a fox by a pack of dogs, urged on by a group of sadistic thugs, is utterly horrific and one would expect illegal in this supposedly civilised country. But scenes like this, although well hidden from public view, take place routinely in foxhunting, where packs of hounds pursued by mounted riders - some so-called pillars of the community - tear foxes apart, limb from limb, after a pursuit of many miles across countryside. See video footage at http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xnmvhc_fox-hunting-blood-sports-in-ireland_animals And it's all totally legal, compliments of our Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, who decided not to follow the example of the UK, and ban this barbarity last year, when passing the new animal welfare legislation.
For example, a hunting report in the Farmers Journal in recent years outlined how sixteen mounted followers of the Westmeath hunt, along with 29 hounds, found a fox that was caught and "chopped"). Later on, another fox was "overhauled before he managed to put any distance between himself and them." Both "chopped" and "overhauled," in hunting terminology, mean that the fox was caught by the hounds and brutally killed by being torn apart and disembowelled, just like the fox in the traveller's video posted online.
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is sending a copy of the video to Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, so that he can see the barbarism that he and his government continues to allow take place in our country.
ACTION ALERT
Join us as we implore Minister Simon Coveney and the Irish Government to show compassion and finally give foxes protection from cruelty. Contact them now and demand the removal of an exemption for foxhunting from Ireland's Animal Health and Welfare Act.
Simon Coveney, TD
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie
Sign our "Ban Blood Sports in Ireland" petition
Please join us in appealing to the Minister for Agriculture to give wild animals the same protection that is given to domestic animals. Tell the Minister that since all animals are capable of suffering, all animals should be protected from cruelty. Demand the removal of an exemption for foxhunting from Ireland's Animal Health and Welfare Act.
Simon Coveney, TD
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie
Contact the Taoiseach and Tanaiste. Ask them to show compassion for foxes and hares and ban hunting and coursing.
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny
An Tanaiste, Joan Burton
Appeal to all Irish politicians
Please join us in telling the Irish Government that it is now time to replace foxhunting with the humane alternative - drag hunting.
Drag hunting sees the hounds chasing an artificial lure instead of a live animal. This form of "hunting" is already practised successfully by a few groups in Ireland. In a modern and civilised country like Ireland, there should be no place for foxhunting, particularly when a transition to drag hunting would be simple.
Please contact all your local politicians and ask them to express their opposition to this blood sport. Encourage your friends, family and workmates to contact them too.
Write to your TD at:
Write to your Senator at:
02. Sickening clip of criminal 'blooding' fighting dogs
Thank you to the Sunday World for exposing horrific cruelty to a fox in Waterford. In its 14th September 2014 edition, the newspaper ran a front page report on a gruesome video showing a fox being fed alive to a pack of dogs...
A notorious mobster who is a target for the Criminal Assets Bureau has posted a sickening video of a captured fox being savaged by dogs as they are 'blooded' by their owners.
The shocking scenes show the terrified fox being torn limb from limb by seven blood-crazed dogs in front of a cheering crowd.
It is believed the dogs are being trained to kill by their owners - known as 'blooding' - for illegal dogfights or other blood sports.
The video was posted online by a Waterford-based gangster who is the reputed head of a mob involved in drug dealing, loan sharking and intimidation.
The traveller gang boss, who is currently facing serious criminal charges, is the number one target for Gardai in the south east, and his gang are responsible for a wave of violence in the area.
However, the Sunday World can reveal the vicious thug does not confine his love of violence to humans and is involved in unregulated blood sports.
The fox can be seen being dismembered while the dogs are lustily cheered on by a group of bloodthirsty men. In the background of the clip a group of men can be heard cheering and encouraging four dogs as they, literally, tear the fox to pieces.
One shouts: "Go on, ya stupid dog." And: "Go in der, go in der."
Dogfighting is currently illegal in Ireland but is believed to be widespread across the country - particularly in the border areas.
It is not illegal to kill foxes in Ireland but it is against the law to kill any animal in a cruel way.
However, the cruel gang boss displays none of these scruples and he can be seen bragging and joking about the fox's barbaric death on a social media site.
Underneath one photograph, he has written: "Good days hunting. Would say fox die haha."
When one Facebook user describes the video as sick, the sadistic gangster writes: "Didn't need you tell me that haha."
Last night, a spokesperson for the Irish Council Against Blood Sports said: "It is horrific to see an animal killed in this way. It is illegal to kill an animal in a cruel way but the fact is the law is very weak in this area. It would be very difficult to bring a prosecution because there is no protection for the fox."
In May, Minister Coveney said there are no plans to ban fox-hunting and hare-coursing.
However, he said the new Animal Welfare Act would lead to prosecutions against those who abuse animals, and would also regulate coursing and hunting.
Gardai are currently expecting to bring further charges against the Waterford gang boss, who is a target of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).
Members of the mob are involved in drug dealing, money lending, robbery and a variety of other criminal activities.
In June, gardai swooped on six members of an illegal money lending ring from the same family as part of an organised crime probe.
The arrests were carried out in the Ardmore Park and Ballybeg estates of Waterford city.
Officers held three men and three women from the same extended family who have bought up to 10 houses for cash despite being on social welfare.
It is believed the gang are giving loans to vulnerable people at extortionate rates and holding on to children's allowance and social welfare cards to force victims to pay.
The Sunday World has previously revealed how the south east mob burnt and forced families out of their homes as they attempted to take over neighbourhoods. More than 20 families were forced from their homes.
Earlier this year, the gang petrol-bombed a car belonging to local Sinn Fein Councillor John Hearne, who has bravely taken them on and helped victims stand up to the thugs.
He has said: "The fear is gone now with these arrests. They have to know they're going to lose."
Visit the Sunday World website to leave a comment on this report
03. Cruelty continues with start of coursing season
Thousands of hares are being violently netted from the countryside and on Saturday 27th September, to the Irish Government's shame, another season of cruel hare coursing will begin. Please spare a moment to send a quick email to the government, expressing your support for a ban on this disgusting bloodsport.
Email "I support an immediate ban on hare coursing" to Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie,ministers.office@ahg.gov.ie,taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie,joan.burton@oireachtas.ie,wildlifelicence@ahg.gov.ie,Gerry.Leckey@ahg.gov.ie,Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie
Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie
Send a tweet to @HHumphreysFG
Express your support for a ban on coursing. Sign a petition:
Stop Licensing Hare Coursing
Appeal to the Minister for Agriculture
Please appeal to the Minister for Agriculture to remove an exemption for hare coursing from the Animal Health and Welfare Act.
Minister Simon Coveney
An Tanaiste, Joan Burton
04. Coillte defends its hosting of barbarism
Coillte is defending its shameful decision to allow cruel hunters into its forests to terrorise and brutally kill foxes.
Responding to an Irish Council Against Blood Sports appeal for the forest wildlife to be spared the suffering, a company spokesperson said "Coillte aims to ensure that our forests are enjoyed by as many people as possible for legitimate and legal activities."
In response to an ICABS email in which we detailed the horrendous cruelty involved in foxhunting, Coillte's "Deer, Game and Sporting Rights Manager" Barry Coad had this to say: "Hunting and other field sports are among the oldest forms of forest pursuits in Ireland which continue to be legally enjoyed by many people across the country today."
ICABS drew the company's attention to cubhunting activities in a Coillte forest and pointed out that fox cubs are brutally attacked and torn apart when foxhunting hounds are brought to fox earths for grisly blooding sessions. During the foxhunting season, hunters in Coillte forests pursue foxes with hounds. When foxes are caught during a hunt, they are torn asunder.
But these accounts of cruelty were not addressed by Coillte. Instead, Mr Coad referred to fox hunting as a "traditional, legal and long established pursuit" and said that Coillte allows it in "areas where it was continually undertaken prior to the formation of the company".
"It is very disappointing that Coillte is continuing to consider it appropriate to allow foxhunters in to its property - individuals involved in some of the most obscene acts of cruelty to animals," ICABS stated in reply.
"How can Coillte justify opening its doors to those who cause such appalling suffering and death to wildlife. It is indeed sad that Coillte continues to hide behind the "legitimate and legal activities" line when your company is aware of the cruelty and suffering involved and refuses to take the opportunity to reject it," we added.
ICABS does not accept that Coillte is in any way obliged to allow foxhunters on to its property in cases where a previous tradition of them hunting in the forest exists. This arrangement is a Coillte courtesy to accommodate cruelty.
With Coillte owned by the Irish people and with most Irish people opposed to animal cruelty, it is time for Coillte to show compassion for wildlife and put in place a ban on foxhunting on its property.
ACTION ALERT
Sign our petition: Coillte - Stop allowing hunters into Moyode Wood
Please join us in urging Coillte to hear the cries of the foxes and make all its forests off-limits to foxhunters.
Gerard Britchfield
05. Young cubs targeted by hunters ahead of hunting season
Appalling cub hunting cruelty is continuing around Ireland in the run-up to another season of foxhunting barbarity. Cub hunting involves foxhunters bringing inexperienced foxhounds to fox earths and training them to attack, chase and kill young foxes.
Knowing the overwhelming public opposition to animal cruelty, foxhunts refer to this merciless assault on defenceless cubs as "Autumn hunting" but their euphemisms do not change the fact it involves unimaginable suffering.
The following quote from a foxhunting book illustrates the shameful reality...
"The object of cub-hunting is to educate both young hounds and fox-cubs. As was said earlier, it is not until he has been hunted that the fox draws fully on his resources of sagacity and cunning so that he is able to provide a really good run....I try to be out cub-hunting as often as possible myself, and the ideal thing is for the Master to be out every day....Never lose sight of the fact that one really well-beaten cub killed fair and square is worth half a dozen fresh ones killed the moment they are found without hounds having to exert themselves in their task. It is essential that hounds should have their blood up and learn to be savage with their fox before he is killed." (Fox-Hunting. The Duke of Beaufort. Pub. David & Charles. 1980. Pages 68-69)
ACTION ALERT
Sign our "Ban Blood Sports in Ireland" petition
Please join us in appealing to the Minister for Agriculture to give wild animals the same protection that is given to domestic animals. Tell the Minister that since all animals are capable of suffering, all animals should be protected from cruelty. Demand the removal of an exemption for foxhunting from Ireland's Animal Health and Welfare Act.
Simon Coveney, TD
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie
Contact the Taoiseach and Tanaiste. Ask them to show compassion for foxes and hares and ban hunting and coursing.
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny
An Tanaiste, Joan Burton
Appeal to all Irish politicians
Please join us in telling the Irish Government that it is now time to replace foxhunting with the humane alternative - drag hunting.
Drag hunting sees the hounds chasing an artificial lure instead of a live animal. This form of "hunting" is already practised successfully by a few groups in Ireland. In a modern and civilised country like Ireland, there should be no place for foxhunting, particularly when a transition to drag hunting would be simple.
Please contact all your local politicians and ask them to express their opposition to this blood sport. Encourage your friends, family and workmates to contact them too.
Write to your TD at:
Write to your Senator at:
06. Over 1,000 sign new anti-coursing petition
Over 1,000 people from Ireland and around the world have signed a new ICABS petition which calls on Minister Heather Humphreys to stop licensing hare coursing. A copy of the petition will be forwarded to the Minister along with a renewed appeal for her to show compassion for hares and withdraw the licence she issued last month.
Thank you to everyone who signed at https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Minister_Heather_Humphreys_Dont_License_Cruel_Hare_Coursing/
Please share the petition on Facebook, Twitter, etc and encourage all your friends and family to sign.
07. The video they don't want you to see
Blood sports enthusiasts try to keep their shameful activities out of the public eye. Unauthorised photography is prohibited at hare coursing meetings while cameras are unwelcome at hunt meetings, particularly during incidents involving cruelty and suffering.
Despite this, the Irish Council Against Blood Sports has obtained extensive video footage of hare coursing and hunting activities in Ireland. This short film illustrates the difficulties we sometimes experience - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO-0KOvc7qw
Please join the campaign for a ban on blood sports. Visit our website at www.banbloodsports.com for more information.
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/banbloodsports
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. 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.
Watch more of our campaign videos on Youtube www.youtube.com/icabs
08. Protest against fur farming, Saturday 20th Sept
The National Animal Rights Association will hold a protest against fur farming this Saturday 20th September outside 'Vasa Ltd.', Ireland's largest fur farm, in County Laois. Footage filmed at this location during the summer shows the permanently imprisoned mink desperately throwing themselves against the bars of their cages. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=artr7qwCLLk
More details about the protest can be found at
Protest location: 53°02'15.7"N 7°05'19.8"W
www.google.ie/maps
09. Rally to urge Cllrs to back ban on animal circuses
Source: Limerick Post
Animal rights campaigners will descend on the city centre this weekend to rally support for a motion before Limerick City and County Council that would prohibit any animal-act circus using local authority-owned land.
Limerick founder of the Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN), John Carmody explains, "Next Monday councillors in Limerick have an opportunity to progress this City of Culture; with a city of compassion and kindness."
"In this day and age there should be no animals in chains and cages all to entertain people for an hour or so, Victorian times yes when we knew no different, but not in 2014. Councillors need to be on the right side of history for this issue is absolutely indefensible when it comes to animal suffering in circuses. We would urge councillors to do the right thing, and that is to vote yes, because we cannot be a city of culture without being a city of compassion and kindness," said Mr Carmody.
Dozens of people are expected to turn out on Bedford Row this Saturday, September 20 at 2pm, led by ARAN's giant 'elephant' in order to rally public support for Fine Gael councillor Daniel Butler's proposed motion. The campaigners will also hold signs featuring an image of a caged tiger with the tagline, 'A Life of Misery to Entertain You.'
http://www.limerickpost.ie/2014/09/15/animal-rights-campaigners-to-rally-in-limerick-this-weekend/
10. Meath Cllr says "No" to anti-bloodsports motion
"No - I would not support [a council motion expressing support for a ban on bloodsports]". So says Meath County Councillor Alan Tobin (Fine Gael). His terse response follows correspondence from ICABS asking: "Do you share the majority view that hare coursing and foxhunting should be banned in Ireland? Would you propose/support a council motion expressing support for a ban?"
Mr Tobin is previously on record as saying that Ashbourne would welcome the Ward Union hunt with open arms. Quoted in the Forum newspaper in December 2013, he said "The hunt is a spectacle not to be missed...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."
Are you in the Meath / Ashbourne Constituency? Contact Alan Tobin and urge him to reconsider his stance on bloodsports - Tel: 087-6117669 Email: alan.tobin@members.meathcoco.ie
Several councillors from around the country have contacted ICABS in recent weeks to say they are supportive of a ban on bloodsports. See some of the latest comment below or read our updated list of political views.
"I support a ban on hare coursing and foxhunting" - Cllr Cian Prendiville (Anti Austerity Alliance, Limerick City and County Council) in a tweet to ICABS, September 2014.
"Most definitely in favour of a ban" - Cllr Sarah Holland (Sinn Fein, South Dublin County Council), from a tweet to ICABS, 12th September 2014.
"I am against blood sports and I would support a motion expressing support for a ban" - Cllr Michael Kilcoyne (Independent, Mayo County Council) in an email to ICABS, 10th September 2014.
11. Battle to save bats at Kilkenny's Green's Bridge
Kilkenny County Council is threatening to destroy a wall which houses a colony of protected bats.
As highlighted in the Kilkenny Reporter newspaper, a local campaigner has pointed out that the wall in question "has for generations contained colonies of bats and that the nocturnal creatures also inhabit spaces under the road on either side of the wall."
Stephen Mullally stated: "This entire stretch of wall, extending to at least 20 yards, is home to scores of bats and will be swept away as part of the Central Access Scheme project unless the County Council either decides to leave it intact or is prevented from knocking it."
"It would represent a severe blow to part of Kilkenny's wildlife heritage if the bat roosts and havens for hibernating bats were to disappear," he added.
ACTION ALERT
Contact Kilkenny County Council, the National Parks & Wildlife Service and Arts & Heritage Minister Heather Humphreys to demand protection for the Green's Bridge bats.
John Mulholland
12. New badger book to be published in October
A new book about badgers is set to be published in October.
"Badger" by Daniel Heath Justice will appeal to "anyone interested in a deeper understanding of these much misunderstood and often maligned creatures".
The 224-page paperback contains 100 illustrations and features many kinds of badgers from the iconic European badger to the African honey badger, the hog badger of Southeast Asia to the North American badger. It is heralded as the "first truly global cultural history of the animal in over 30 years".
"It spans centuries, cultures, continents and species and considers badgers' lives and lore, from their evolution and widespread distribution to their current and often imperilled status throughout the world," the book's publishers outline. "It travels from natural history and life in the wild to the myths, legends and spiritual beliefs badgers continue to inspire, as well as their representation and exploitation in industry, religion and the arts."
Badger is due for release on 13th October.
ISBN-10: 1780233361
13. Ask EU to stop Spain's cruel Toro de la Vega
Source: Humane Society International
Chasing and then spearing an innocent animal to death is cruel spectacle that has no place in modern European society.
Later this month, in the Spanish town of Tordesillas, a bull will be chased by men on horseback and on foot brandishing long spears. He will be taunted and goaded and then stabbed to death, all in the name of entertainment. His tormentors will be cheered and the "winner" rewarded.
Now the European Parliament's Petitions Committee has agreed to examine a complaint against this terrible event.
Ask the Committee to thoroughly investigate the Toro de la Vega bull fiesta and take the strongest possible action against this brutality to bulls.
Sign the petition at
14. Cruel bull run replaced with cool ball run
Spanish town swaps bull run for 'ball roll' after locking horns with animal activists
A Spanish town has decided to steer itself away from its traditional running of the bulls festival after protests from animal rights campaigners.
Like many cities and towns all over the country, the bull run in Mataelpino, in central Spain, saw daring locals run through the streets ahead of angry and tormented bulls.
Many locals and visitors alike were injured and gored during the annual festival, and it never turned out well for the bulls either.
After animal activists demanded that the festival be stopped - claiming unnecessary animal cruelty - town hall officials rolled out a novel idea: replace the bulls with large polystyrene balls.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mkeAsqwhU3I
The new festival sees runners trying (and mostly succeeding) to outpace the giant balls as they race downhill to the town's old bull ring.
The risk of being run into by a polystyrene ball does not get the adrenaline pumping quite as much as the thought of being gored to death by a one-ton angry Sunday roast, as can be seen below.
But town hall spokesman Tiago Cedillo said anyone participating in a ball roll still had to be on their toes, adding: 'You still have to look out because some of those bigger balls can weigh 125kg and go pretty quickly.'
The good news is that revenue from visitors to Mataelpino has risen since the town scrapped the use of live bulls.
And now children can test their skills against smaller balls (some painted like bulls - even with tails), which was not possible in the old days.
One local said: 'It was the tradition but it was a dying one. People don't want to see frightened animals running for their lives any more. Many of the animals were hurt or traumatised and it wasn't fair on them.
Source: http://metro.co.uk
"Lovers of fieldsports are bombarded on a regular basis with negative commentary about their chosen pastimes...They are pastimes which we should be able to proclaim without such widespread censure. Sadly however, that is not the reality of the situation and most of us learn to keep mum." from an editorial in Irish Country Sports and Country Life (Game Fair edition 2014).
Fourteen activists from radical animal rights group Sea Shepherd have been arrested in Denmark's Faroe Islands while trying to halt a traditional dolphin hunt, their organisation said today. The activists were detained yesterday on the island of Sandoy while attempting to save a pod of 33 pilot whales - members of the dolphin family - which were being driven toward shore to be slaughtered...Large numbers of pilot whales are slaughtered each year on the Faroe Islands, an autonomous territory within the kingdom of Denmark. The method involves the mammals being forced into a bay by flotillas of small boats before being hacked to death with hooks and knives. from Animal rights activists arrested for trying to stop 'traditional' dolphin hunt, Journal.ie, 30th September 2014.
Animal welfare officers and gardai are trying to trace someone who dumped a bag of live kittens outside a house during the All-Ireland semi-final. Gitte McMullan says her decision to stay at home to watch the game rather than travel to Croke Park probably saved the lives of the three animals. She says she was horrified to find three terrified kittens sealed inside a plastic sheep-feed bag dumped by her door in Donegal town on Sunday. The bag had no air-holes or ventilation and was tied tightly at the top with a plastic cord meaning that there was no chance of escape for the kittens. from Garda probe after kittens dumped and left for dead during Dubs game, Irish Independent, 2nd September 2014
"The object of cub-hunting is to educate both young hounds and fox-cubs. As was said earlier, it is not until he has been hunted that the fox draws fully on his resources of sagacity and cunning so that he is able to provide a really good run....I try to be out cub-hunting as often as possible myself, and the ideal thing is for the Master to be out every day...Never lose sight of the fact that one really well-beaten cub killed fair and square is worth half a dozen fresh ones killed the moment they are found without hounds having to exert themselves in their task. It is essential that hounds should have their blood up and learn to be savage with their fox before he is killed." (Fox-Hunting. The Duke of Beaufort. Pub. David & Charles. 1980. Pages 68-69)
Was out again this evening to have a look about as was out on Monday and I got two foxes with the shotgun on Monday. One was walking along a ditch and I waited for him to get closer before dropping him. Nice dog fox. Second one just happened to be sniffing about beside a ditch with her back turned to me at about 20 yards. So I gave a squeak and dropped her as she looked at me. A vixen this time. from a discussion about wildlife shooting, Boards.ie
NARA took part in the 'Peoples Day of Action' at the Dail today, to highlight the issue of fur farming in Ireland - and even got a chance to tell Minister Coveney just what we think of him, as he walked by. from the NARA Facebook page, September 17th 2014. Watch a video of Gardai manhandling anti-fur protesters at the demo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TwHVoDS-IQ
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.
Time to act on hare coursing
The Minister for Arts and Heritage, Heather Humphreys, has a peculiar attitude to the preservation and protection of wildlife.
On August 13, she condemned the illegal shooting of a protected peregrine falcon. She stated: "It is intolerable for birds of prey and other wildlife to be persecuted, poisoned or shot". She also expressed concern that the incident might impugn our international image as a nation that treasures its wildlife heritage.
Less than 48 hours later, Ms Humphreys issued a licence permitting the capture of hares for coursing, in which they will serve as live bait for greyhounds. Thousands of the timid creatures will be netted in the Irish countryside. A percentage will die in the struggle to break free and others will perish in captivity. And on coursing day a percentage will be mauled or forcibly struck by the muzzled but hyped-up greyhounds.
The minister issued the hare coursing licence despite numerous appeals from animal protection and conservation groups not to do so.
John Fitzgerald
Hare licence approval is wet of Humphreys
I nominate the Minister for Arts and Heritage, Heather Humphreys, to undertake the ice-bucket challenge and get a drenching.
After all, she has poured cold water on the idea of Ireland becoming a civilised country, in terms of its treatment of its natural heritage, with her approval of the 2014/2015 live-hare coursing licence.
Hare coursing is unalloyed animal cruelty. It causes immeasurable suffering and death to thousands of Irish hares, as well as to greyhounds; and for what?
So that a morally diseased layer of Irish society can get its kicks from gambling on the outcome of a chase between a live hare and two greyhounds.
Ireland remains one of the few countries that still permit the live baiting of greyhounds.
Our nearest neighbours, the UK, have banned this activity and have effective legislation to curb any transgressions of the law.
Irish political life has yet to produce a minister who understands that live-hare coursing has no social merit, is anti-wildlife, and shreds Ireland's reputation abroad.
Where is the political courage to refuse the application for this annual hare-abuse licence and to consign live-hare coursing to history? By renewing the hare-coursing licence, Minister Humphreys has passed up an opportunity to give direction on the Government's policy in protecting animals and our natural heritage.
It is time to let the cold water flow over Minister Humphreys' head.
At least, it will remind her that she has the political backbone of an ice cube.
John Tierney
Ban Blood Sports in Ireland Now
Minister Humphreys - Stop Licensing Cruel Hare Coursing
Minister Coveney: Save Irish hares from cruel coursing
Irish Government: Save foxes and dogs from horrific cruelty
Minister Simon Coveney: Ban ALL Tail Docking - No Exemptions
Stop badger snaring cruelty NOW
Petition to Ban horrific Hare Coursing Cruelty in Ireland
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
National Trust - stop allowing hunters and terriermen on your land
Ban Fur Sales on eBay
Stormont Northern Ireland Assembly: Ban Fox and Stag Hunting in Northern Ireland
Ban Torturous Hanging of Greyhounds in Spain
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
Add report option "Animal Abuse" on Facebook
End Bullfighting in France
STOP Spain's cruel and barbaric Toro de la Vega
Protect Pygmy Rabbit from Extinction
Save the Wild Tigers of Vietnam
Demand an End to Civet Coffee Bean Farming
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
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Make a donation to ICABS
Please consider making a 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. Sickening clip of criminal 'blooding' fighting dogs
03. Cruelty continues with start of coursing season
04. Coillte defends its hosting of barbarism
05. Young cubs targeted by hunters ahead of hunting season
06. Over 1,000 sign new anti-coursing petition
07. The video they don't want you to see
08. Protest against fur farming, Saturday 20th Sept
09. Rally to urge Cllrs to back ban on animal circuses
10. Meath Cllr says "No" to anti-bloodsports motion
11. Battle to save bats at Kilkenny's Green's Bridge
12. New badger book to be published in October
13. Ask EU to stop Spain's cruel Toro de la Vega
14. Cruel bull run replaced with cool ball run
15. Campaign Quotes
16. Letters to the Editor
17. Petitions
Minister for Agriculture
Department of Agriculture
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Tel: 01-607 2000 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Sign Now
Minister for Agriculture
Department of Agriculture
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Tel: 01-607 2000 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Fax: 01-661 1013.
Department of the Taoiseach,
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion Street,
Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-6194020
Fax: 01-6764048
Office of the Tanaiste
Iveagh House,
80 St. Stephens Green,
Dublin 2.
Tel: 01 6183566 (Dail)
Tel: 01 408 2000 (Iveagh House)
Fax: 01 408 2400
Email Enda Kenny and Joan Burton: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie,joan.burton@oireachtas.ie
Dail Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 337 889.
Seanad Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 732 623.
[Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie,ministers.office@ahg.gov.ie,taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie,joan.burton@oireachtas.ie,wildlifelicence@ahg.gov.ie,Gerry.Leckey@ahg.gov.ie]
Tel: (01) 631 3802 or (01) 631 3800
Leave a comment on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/heather.humphreysfg
Phone the Minister's Office: +353 (0)1 631 3800
Save Irish hares from cruel coursing
Minister for Agriculture
Department of Agriculture
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie
Tel: 01-607 2000 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Fax: 01-661 1013.
Urgently contact An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tanaiste Joan Burton and ask them to back a ban on hare coursing.
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny
Department of the Taoiseach,
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion Street,
Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-6194020
Fax: 01-6764048
Office of the Tanaiste
Iveagh House,
80 St. Stephen's Green,
Dublin 2.
Tel: 01 6183566 (Dail)
Tel: 01 408 2000 (Iveagh House)
Fax: 01 408 2400
Email Enda Kenny and Joan Burton: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie,joan.burton@oireachtas.ie
Contact all your local TDs now. Demand that they urgently push for a ban on hare coursing and all bloodsports. Tell them you are one of the majority who want coursing banned. Remind them that coursing is already illegal in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. Urge them to respect the wishes of the majority of the electorate and back a ban.
Acting CEO, Coillte
Dublin Road,
Newtownmountkennedy,
Co. Wicklow
Tel: +353 (0)1 2011111
Email: pr@coillte.ie
[pr@coillte.ie,info@coillte.ie,Gerard.Britchfield@coillte.ie,Mick.Donnellan@coillte.ie,Barry.Coad@coillte.ie]
Sign Now
Minister for Agriculture
Department of Agriculture
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Tel: 01-607 2000 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Fax: 01-661 1013.
Department of the Taoiseach,
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion Street,
Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-6194020
Fax: 01-6764048
Office of the Tanaiste
Iveagh House,
80 St. Stephen's Green,
Dublin 2.
Tel: 01 6183566 (Dail)
Tel: 01 408 2000 (Iveagh House)
Fax: 01 408 2400
Email Enda Kenny and Joan Burton: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie,joan.burton@oireachtas.ie
Dail Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 337 889.
Seanad Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 732 623.
https://www.facebook.com/events/379947978819677/
Director of Services
Kilkenny County Council
Tel: 056-7794070
ISBN-13: 978-1780233369
https://action.hsi.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=104&ea.campaign.id=31621&ea.tracking.id=email
Note: When signing the petition, please put n/a in the postal code box if you do not have a postal code
Irish Independent, 1st September 2014
Callan, Co Kilkenny
Irish Examiner, 4th September 2014
Campaigns Director
Association of Hunt Saboteurs
PO Box 4734
Dublin 1
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland
https://www.change.org/p/minister-heather-humphreys-don-t-license-cruel-hare-coursing
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/minister-simon-coveney-replace-hare-coursing-with-drag-coursing
Irish Government: Save foxes and dogs from horrific cruelty
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/irish-government-save-foxes-and-dogs-from-horrific-cruelty
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/irish-government-save-foxes-and-dogs-from-horrific-cruelty
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/minister-simon-coveney-don-t-allow-hunters-to-cut-off-dogs-tails
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/irish-agriculture-minister-simon-coveney-stop-badger-snaring-cruelty-now
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/the-national-trust-the-national-trust-stop-supporting-illegal-hunting-on-national-trust-land-2
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/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.gopetition.com/petitions/add-report-option-animal-abuse-on-facebook.html
http://forcechange.com/94113/end-bullfighting-in-france
http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-toro-de-la-vega-2013
http://forcechange.com/127886/protect-pygmy-rabbit-from-extinction
http://forcechange.com/132544/save-the-wild-tigers-of-vietnam
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/931/941/945/?z00m=21512698&redirectID=1466634482
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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