|
Animal Voice, Issue 02, February March 2015
Receive Animal Voice by email every month - Subscribe Now
01. Happy St Patrick's Day to all our friends and supporters
01. Happy St Patrick's Day to all our friends and supporters
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports wishes all its friends and supporters a very happy St Patrick's Day 2015. This weekend, join us in calling for protection for Irish hares and foxes. Thousands of hares are netted from the wild every year and forced to run for their lives from greyhounds. Foxes are chased to exhaustion and torn apart by packs of hounds. Together, we can rid Ireland of these obscenities.
Please respond to the action alerts below and become active in the campaign to win a ban on all bloodsports.
ACTION ALERT
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
Contact Minister Heather Humphreys now and urge her not to issue a licence for another season of hare coursing
Heather Humphreys, TD
Email "Save the Irish hare from cruelty - Stop licensing 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
Tel: (01) 631 3802 or (01) 631 3800
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 and hare coursing from Ireland's Animal Health and Welfare Act.
Simon Coveney, TD
Minister for Agriculture
Department of Agriculture
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie
Sign our "Ban Blood Sports in Ireland" petition
This weekend, please consider supporting our campaign with a donation of any amount. Click on the paypal button at www.banbloodsports.com Thank you.
02. Maureen O'Sullivan TD moves bill to ban cruel hare coursing
A big thank you to Maureen O'Sullivan TD who has moved a Private Members Bill which, if enacted, will make it unlawful to engage in live hare coursing. Speaking in Dail Eireann, Deputy O'Sullivan condemned the bloodsport, saying it "causes unnecessary cruelty every year to thousands of hares through stress, injury and death."
Read her Dail speech below and respond to our action alert...
Animal Protection (in relation to Hares) Bill 2015: First Stage
Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Wildlife Act 1976.
I rise today, as the late Deputy, Tony Gregory, did in 1993 when he introduced a Private Members' Bill on wildlife to ban hare coursing. He spoke then about "the welfare of the vulnerable and defenceless in nature's creation". While greyhounds today are muzzled, the cruelty continues for the hares. That is the reason the Bill I propose will make it unlawful to engage in live hare coursing.
Hare coursing involves the terrorising of one animal by another. It causes unnecessary cruelty every year to thousands of hares through stress, injury and death. It is a total contradiction that on the one hand the hare is protected under the Wildlife Act but the Act also protects hare coursing. The legislation states that it is illegal to trap and sell hares other than for the specific purpose of coursing them. On the one hand the hare is protected, except when it comes to coursing.
Let us examine the procedures involved in coursing. I am sorry, a Cheann Comhairle, but I just noticed that the clock is not running.
Seán Barrett (Ceann Comhairle; Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle) Okay. Deputy O'Sullivan is all right. I will let her finish her contribution.
Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) Thank you. Some time before each coursing meeting the club members go out into the countryside to collect the hares in a process that is known as netting. They shout and they yell as they herd the hares into the net and then the hares are put into boxes to be transported to the coursing venue. Netting and handling are cruel. The hare is a very timid and delicate creature and it is cruel to net an animal that is used to the freedom of nature. Hares have been injured and have died in this process. Then there is the training of hares, which must happen to produce what is considered to be better sport. The hares are familiarised in the field so that when the coursing does happen, they will run up the centre of the field, which makes for good coursing.
In the few weeks before the coursing event, the hares are kept herded in an enclosure, which adds more stress and cruelty because hares are strictly solitary creatures and they do not live together in groups. During the weeks of being herded, they are prone to disease which spreads very quickly due to them being enclosed. There is no doubt that the practice of blooding continues. Often it is hares but at other times it is rabbits and kittens. Some greyhound owners are against coursing but they must register with the Irish Coursing Club, which skews the level of support for coursing. Many independent surveys and opinion polls indicate that people are opposed to coursing. That position is not confined to urban Ireland because there are cases in urban areas of cruelty to animals but there are people in rural areas who do not like the practice of hare coursing.
All the animal welfare organisations are opposed to live hare coursing and only three countries in Europe in total, including Ireland, allow it. What is involved in both open and enclosed coursing is hares running for their lives. The hare does not know that the greyhound is muzzled and that it cannot be killed. Both Deputy Clare Daly and I raised a number of issues relating to coursing with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Humphreys, during Question Time this morning. As I have done previously, Deputy Daly pointed out that there have been breaches of the licences granted to the coursing clubs. They do not get a slap on the wrist or a fine and their licence is not revoked. People continue to get licences. We are told the welfare issues are a matter for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. If there are breaches of the licence conditions, surely the logical conclusion is that a licence would not be granted? If a pub, restaurant or nightclub breached licensing conditions their licence would be revoked.
Some months ago the weather prevented the last day of a coursing event. It is acknowledged that the event was being monitored and the ground was deemed to be unsuitable. Instead of it being a reprieve for the hares, they were kept in captivity for a further week until the weather improved. This is not about destroying the greyhound industry; it is about using live hares in this cruel way, which has led to injury and death as documented by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. There have been occasions when the staff of the NPWS have been intimidated and they have been inhibited in doing their work by coursing enthusiasts. This is a very clearly defined remit. There is an alternative to live hare coursing. In Australia and the United States they have drag coursing. I do not understand the attraction for men - it is mainly men - who get pleasure in seeing a defenceless animal running for its life.
There are also injuries to greyhounds. We know what happens to greyhounds who do not reach the mark in either coursing or racing, unless they are rescued by people involved in animal welfare. The greyhound is also a gentle creature, until it is introduced to blooding for coursing. This is one occasion - there have been others - when I wish the Bill introduced by Deputy Peter Mathews had been accepted, because I do not believe the majority in this House are in favour of coursing. If my Bill does proceed to Second Stage, I hope we can have a full and frank debate on this very cruel practice.
Seán Barrett (Ceann Comhairle; Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle) Is the Bill opposed?
Enda Kenny (Taoiseach, Department of An Taoiseach; Mayo, Fine Gael) No, the Bill is not being opposed.
Question put and agreed to.
Seán Barrett (Ceann Comhairle; Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle) Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.
Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."
Question put and agreed to.
https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2015-03-11a.300#g301
Get in touch with all your local TDs now and urge them to back a ban on hare coursing. Visit the Oireachtas website for names of TDs and their email addresses http://www.oireachtas.ie/members%2Dhist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=31&disp=const
Email TDs online at Contact.ie - http://www.contact.ie/contact-national-politicians
Write to your TDs at: Dail Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 337 889.
Express your support for a ban on coursing. Sign and share petitions
Stop Licensing Cruel Hare Coursing
Urge Minister Heather Humphreys to show compassion for the persecuted Irish Hare and revoke the coursing licence she issued.
Email "Stop the cruelty. Revoke the hare coursing licence" to Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie
SAMPLE LETTER
I am one of the majority who want hare coursing outlawed. I am writing to urge you to revoke the licence you issued to the Irish Coursing Club.
In coursing, hares suffer at all stages - during the capture, during the time they are kept in captivity and during the coursing meetings where they run for their lives in front of greyhounds. Among the injuries recorded are broken legs, damaged toes and dislocated hips. Every season, hare injuries and deaths are documented.
I ask you to please act on the wishes of the majority, show compassion and permanently revoke the licence.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
[Name/Location]
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.
Simon Coveney, TD
Email: Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie
Urgently contact An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and ask him to back a ban on hare coursing.
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny
03. Clare Daly TD moves Bill to ban coursing, close staghunt loophole
Clare Daly TD has moved the first stage of the Wildlife Amendment Bill 2015 to prohibit hare coursing and deer hunting with dogs. Deputy Daly presented the Bill in Dail Eireann on Wednesday 4th February.
A full transcript of Clare's presentation appears below. In order to succeed, this Bill requires majority support in Dail Eireann. Please join us in urging TDs to support this important bill and bring cruel hare coursing and stag hunting to an end in Ireland.
TRANSCRIPT: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2015: First Stage
Deputy Clare Daly: I move:
That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Wildlife Act 1976 and the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2010; and to provide for related matters.
I am aware that my colleague, Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan, will introduce a similar Bill in the next period. My Bill proposes to address unfinished business concerning the 2010 ban on stag hunting and to deal with the barbaric practice of hare coursing. Since the imposition of the ban on stag hunting in 2010, there have been persistent and repeated attempts by the Ward Union Hunt to surreptitiously get around it by exploiting a loophole in the 2010 Act. The Act provided for one dog to hunt deer to facilitate a situation where a farmer might have to remove a wild deer from his or her land. Unfortunately, this provision has been abused by the Ward Union Hunt. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has confirmed that it has received numerous complaints from the general public about breaches of the 2010 legislation by the Ward Union Hunt. It has also confirmed that it can happen that, while on a drag hunt, hounds can come across a deer living in the wild and chase it for a short time until called off by the huntsmen. The Ward Union Hunt is aware of the rule that dogs should be withdrawn immediately in such instances. The problem, however, is that they are not.
It seems there is an incredible number of wild deer roaming around the area in which the Ward Union Hunt hunts regularly. We had the shocking situation last Friday where a frightened stag stampeded through the main streets of Ashbourne, County Meath, presenting a danger to itself and pedestrians. The Minister of State will be aware that road safety was one of the key reasons the 2010 legislation was passed. In December a stag was chased by the hunt in Summerhill, County Meath, with reports filed on the incident by National Parks and Wildlife Service officers and Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine vets.
The Bill also seeks to deal with the issue of prohibiting the practice of hare coursing, an activity to which there is growing opposition. It is a matter of fact that numerous Deputies would vote to have it banned if a free vote was allowed on the matter. It is timely that we are moving the Bill today, given the cancellation of the third day of the national hare coursing championships in Clonmel, County Tipperary. Unfortunately, they will be reconvened next Sunday. I appeal to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to intervene in this matter. The hares for the event will be kept for another week in Powerstown Park, Clonmel, in stressful and unnatural captivity. Next week they will be used as live bait, taken in boxes back to Clonmel, even more stressed and terrified. The Minister would do well to log on to the website of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports to examine some of the photographs taken by citizens of the coursing activity last weekend. They provide irrefutable evidence of massive cruelty, despite the muzzling of greyhounds, with hares pinned down, struck at high speed and tossed into the air by hyped-up dogs. It is not even a pleasant activity for the dogs. The guidance notes of the Irish Coursing Club state the dogs involved should be killed, rather than rehoused, when their time is up. They also allow for injured dogs to be raced at the behest of the stewards.
All in all, this is an incredibly unwelcome practice. The activity has already been banned in Britain, Northern Ireland, most of continental Europe and Australia. There is no need for this cruel treatment of animals. The European coursing championships were held recently, with thousands in attendance, and no hares were chased, as it was done on a mechanical and drag basis. It is important for animal rights and welfare and the protection of wildlife that the Bill be introduced.
An Ceann Comhairle: Seán Barrett Is the Bill opposed?
Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Paul Kehoe): No, the Bill will not be opposed, but, personally, I will not be supporting it.
Deputy Clare Daly: I hope the Minister of State will have an opportunity to explain his opposition.
Deputy Mick Wallace: There is a lot of coursing in Wexford.
Question put and agreed to.
An Ceann Comhairle: Seán Barrett Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.
Deputy Clare Daly: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."
Question put and agreed to.
ACTION ALERT
Get in touch with all your local TDs and urge them to back Deputy Clare Daly's Wildlife Amendment Bill 2015.
Visit the Oireachtas website for names of TDs and their email addresses
Email TDs online at Contact.ie - http://www.contact.ie/contact-national-politicians
Write to your TDs at: Dail Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 337 889.
04. Maureen O'Sullivan TD calls for ban on foxhunting
Maureen O'Sullivan TD (Independent, Dublin Central) has called for a ban on Ireland's cruel foxhunting.
Addressing the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney, she highlighted the cruelty of foxhunting and urged him to remove an exemption for the bloodsport from the Animal Health and Welfare Act. In response, Minister Coveney shamefully tried to defend his decision to allow this barbarity to continue. Watch the 17th February Dail exchange at https://youtu.be/Xc23Qx3KOAk
In foxhunting, foxes are chased to exhaustion by a pack of hounds and when caught, are bitten, mauled and torn apart. Foxes who try to escape underground into a drain or earth are dug out and brutally killed. Terriermen attached to the hunt send terriers after the foxes to attack and corner them while the clay is dug away from above.
05. Terence Flanagan TD calls for a ban on cruel coursing
Thank you to Dublin North East Independent TD, Terence Flanagan, for calling on the Agriculture Minister to outlaw cruel coursing. In a Dail question to Simon Coveney on 5th March, Deputy Flanagan asked "if hare coursing will be banned".
See the Dail Q&A at https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2015-03-05a.316
ACTION ALERT
Get in touch with all your local TDs now and urge them to back a ban on hare coursing. Visit the Oireachtas website for names of TDs and their email addresses
http://www.oireachtas.ie/members%2Dhist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=31&disp=const
Email TDs online at Contact.ie - http://www.contact.ie/contact-national-politicians
Write to your TDs at: Dail Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 337 889.
SIGN AND SHARE THE PETITIONS
Minister Coveney: Save Irish hares from cruel coursing
Minister Humphreys - Stop Licensing Cruel Hare Coursing
Please appeal to Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to remove an exemption for hare coursing from the Animal Health and Welfare Act. The exemption allows coursers to practice their shameful bloodsport without fear of being prosecuted for animal cruelty.
Simon Coveney, TD
Email: Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie
Urge Minister Heather Humphreys to show compassion for the persecuted Irish Hare and revoke the coursing licence she issued.
Email "Stop the cruelty. Revoke the hare coursing licence" 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
SAMPLE LETTER
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, feel free to send the short sample letter below. Be assertive, but polite, in all correspondence. Thank you.)
Dear Minister,
I am one of the majority who want hare coursing outlawed. I am writing to urge you to stop licensing this cruel activity.
In coursing, hares suffer at all stages - during the capture, during the time they are kept in captivity and during the coursing meetings where they run for their lives in front of greyhounds. Among the injuries recorded are broken legs, damaged toes and dislocated hips. Every season, hare injuries and deaths are documented.
I ask you to please act on the wishes of the majority, show compassion and stop licensing hare coursing.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
[Name/Location]
06. Mick Wallace calls for withdrawal of hare coursing licence
Wexford TD, Mick Wallace, has called on the Arts and Heritage Minister to withdraw the licence she issued which allows thousands of hares to be cruelly netted from the wild for use as live bait for greyhounds in coursing.
In his 10th February Dail Question, Deputy Wallace questioned Minister Heather Humphreys about "plans to revoke hare coursing licences here, particularly in view of figures from the National Parks and Wildlife Service which indicate that during the 2013 coursing season over 100 hares required assistance, due to injuries sustained during races".
In her response, Minister Humphreys shamefully defends the bloodsport, claiming "there is no current evidence that coursing has a significant effect on hare populations." She goes on to reveal that "during the 2012/13 coursing season some 107 hares were not released back into the wild after coursing meetings due to death" and that a further 35 hares were left dead during the 2013/14 coursing season.
ICABS believes that these figures represent just the tip of the iceberg for coursing-related hare mortality. We do not accept as reliable, hare death figures supplied by coursers themselves. Furthermore, the figures do not take into account the hares at risk of dying after they are released back to the countryside. A stress-related condition known as capture myopathy, makes hares vulnerable to death in the days, weeks and months after the coursing has ended.
See the full text of the Dail Q&A at
07. Urge Mullingar school to reject foxhunt’s fundraiser
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is appealing to Loreto College secondary school in Mullingar, not to associate with a Westmeath Foxhounds fundraiser planned for March 14th. The hunt which is involved in terrorising and cruelly killing foxes is organising a charity ride and have nominated the school as the beneficiary.
At the November 2014 meeting of the Loreto College Parents Advisory Council, it was stated "Westmeath Hunt has allocated its annual charity ride to Loreto College this year and it is hoped to raise substantial funds to refurbish the library in the spring. A venue, sponsors and volunteers will be needed to ensure the success of this major event."
ICABS has written to the Principal, Marese Bell, appealing to her not to allow the school to be associated with the Westmeath Foxhounds. In our letter to Ms. Bell, we outlined the horrendous cruelty engaged in by the hunt, twice a week, when they take a pack of hounds out into the Westmeath countryside to hound and kill foxes for “sport”.
In our letter, we outlined instances of cruelty perpetrated by this hunt club, which had been documented in hunt reports in the Farmers Journal and the Irish Field. For example, a 2011 report in the Farmers Journal revealed that 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 pack of hounds, torn apart and disembowelled.
In 2007, the Irish Independent reported that there was a probe into allegations that during a Westmeath Foxhounds hunt, a rope was tied to the leg of a fox and that it was pulled out of a burrow and fed alive to the dogs. In 2008, an Irish Field report revealed that the Westmeath Hunt chased a fox into the freezing water of the Royal Canal. And in another report in the Irish Field in 1991, it was reported that a fox was dug out by Westmeath Foxhounds as follows: “Terriers were some time coming as car followers were the wrong side of the wind for hearing. A quick dig followed and two foxes were dispatched. Eamon had a brush for Clarissa and a fox’s tongue which he intends pickling in vinegar to cure warts and draw thorns.”
Hopefully, Loreto College Mullingar, will show compassion for Irish wildlife and reject this cruel hunt’s fundraiser.
UPDATE: Shame on Loreto College Mullingar. They have not only chosen to accept funds raised by Westmeath Foxhunt at a charity function due to take place tomorrow, but we have discovered that among the prizes they are auctioning tomorrow in Castletown-Geoghegan, Co. Westmeath, are a "set of passes for the hunting season with the [Westmeath] Harriers" - another group who hound our vulnerable wildlife. Loreto College were at pains to point out that no hounds or foxes would be in evidence at the event but now they have nailed their colours to the mast in no uncertain terms by accepting a fundraiser which offers hunting passes and are thus effectively promoting foxhunting. What kind of message is this sending to their student body, that it is okay to hunt wild animals for “sport”.
ACTION ALERT
Urge Loreto College to show compassion for Irish wildlife and reject the fundraiser.
Email "Loreto College - Please reject cruel foxhunt's fundraiser" to mbell@loretomullingar.com,loretooffice@eircom.net,loretoeducationcentre@eircom.net
Phone +353 (0} 44 93 42055.
Suggest a readathon as an appropriate alternative fund-raiser, given that funds are being sought for the school's library..
Sign the Petition: Loreto College Mullingar - Please reject foxhunt's fundraiser
08. Disturbing Westmeath Foxhunt video emerges
A disturbing video showing the Westmeath Foxhunt in action at the end of last month has emerged. The video, filmed in Dysart Mullingar, provides an insight into the deplorable attitude hunters hold towards animals. At the beginning of the video, one of the hunters can be heard calling his horse a c***.
In another scene, a female rider whips her horse 5 times in quick succession (see 03:00 minute mark)
The video which was posted on Facebook and shared on the Westmeath Foxhunt's page, shows mounted hunters forcing horses to jump a wide and difficult ditch. The animals are clearly reluctant to jump and several land awkwardly and dangerously. In one upsetting scene, a horse can be seen landing on his front leg and tumbling backwards into the ditch (see 3 minute 25 second mark).
There has been much negative comments left in response to the video, including: "This made me sick...especially when the horse ended up in the ditch at the end", "I don't know much about horses but clearly none of them were very keen on jumping that ditch. People shouldn't do that", "Can't stand seeing this! Poor horses", "Can't watch any more", "unnecessary, pointless and stupid".
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has brought the video to the attention of Loreto College Mullingar as part of a renewed appeal to management to disassociate from a Westmeath Foxhunt-organised "charity ride" fundraiser planned for this weekend.
"We are sure that the vast majority of students and staff at Loreto would find this treatment of horses and the use of such vulgar language to be obscene and unacceptable," we stated in a message to Loreto College principal, Marese Bell. "We are confident that most would also abhor the cruelty to wildlife perpetrated by foxhunts. Are these the type of people Loreto College Mullingar management is happy to associate with for a fundraiser?"
09. Urge Sinn Fein to end its support of cruel hare coursing
Urge Sinn Fein to end its support of cruel hare coursing and back a ban. Sign and share our petition at https://www.change.org/p/sinn-fein-support-a-ban-on-cruel-hare-coursing
The Sinn Fein party, while it has opposed stag hunting in Ireland and backed an anti-bullfighting motion in the European Parliament, has a policy of supporting hare coursing. Despite the suffering, injury and death caused to Irish hares and the fact that many party representatives are in favour of a ban, Sinn Fein's current stance is that they "oppose an outright ban". Please sign and share this petition and urge the party to change its policy and come out strongly in favour of a ban on hare coursing.
Hare coursing is illegal in most countries, including England, Scotland, Wales and also in Northern Ireland. It continues in the Republic of Ireland, even though the vast majority of citizens want it outlawed. In coursing, hares are forcefully netted from the countryside, kept in captivity for weeks or months and eventually forced to run for their lives in front of pairs of greyhounds. Using live animals as bait for dogs would normally be a serious offence of animal cruelty but the government has provided immunity from prosecution for those involved by inserting an exemption for coursing into animal welfare legislation. It is time for hare coursing to be ended in Ireland.
Witness the cruelty of hare coursing at http://youtu.be/4LrFGNrL0rA
10. Minister Simon Coveney admits to participating in cruel foxhunting
The Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, has admitted that he has participated in the shameful bloodsport of foxhunting.
During a Dail debate in February, in which he defended the cruel activity, Minister Coveney revealed: “I have hunted”.
Despite acknowledging that he is “sure” that foxes get pulled apart by packs of hounds during foxhunts, Coveney is continuing to refuse to ban it.
“When I have hunted, I have never seen a fox being pulled apart,” he said. “I am sure, however, that it happens and I am not saying it does not.”
Dismissing an impassioned appeal from Irish Council Against Blood Sports president, Maureen O’Sullivan TD, to embrace drag hunting and outlaw the hunting of live animals with packs of dogs, Coveney outlined that he and his colleagues are aiming to accommodate those who get their kicks from cruelty.
“Our policy decisions try to strike a balance for those who derive great enjoyment from hunting,” he said.
This included inserting an exemption into the Animal Health and Welfare Act which gives fox hunters immunity from prosecution for what would otherwise be an offence of animal cruelty.
In his Dail speech, Minister Coveney went on to demonise foxes and make a false claim that the animals “do significant damage to farm animals, poultry and so on”. This is completely untrue. Foxes are not a significant agricultural pest. Regarding lambs, the top causes of mortality are abortion, still-birth, infectious disease, exposure and starvation. Wildlife experts agree that if a lamb is taken by a fox, it is most likely to have been already dead when the fox arrived. The National Parks & Wildlife Service have confirmed this, saying “No matter what people think, foxes seldom kill and eat young lambs.” Many farmers consider foxes to be, not a pest, but a beneficial ally as they keep down the numbers of rabbits and rodents as part of their natural diet.
Minister Coveney has in the past condemned terrierwork and the digging out of foxes as involving “undue cruelty” and therefore “unacceptable” but now seems to accept it. The u-turn came after a meeting with terriermen in which the Minister was apparently convinced that sending terriers underground to corner and attack foxes (encounters which leave both foxes and terriers with horrific injuries) is somehow acceptable, despite being unquestionably cruel.
Referring to a plan to introduce “rules and codes of conduct” – which will do nothing to eliminate the inherent cruelty – Minister Coveney ludicrously claims that he is trying to “make sure foxhunting will be as acceptable as possible from an animal welfare perspective.” The only way this could ever be achieved would be to ban foxhunting.
“There was a time when we were hunters and gatherers and had to hunt animals for food, but we do not have to do this anymore,” Deputy O’Sullivan told Minister Coveney during the exchange. “It is a shame on us as a nation that we tolerate barbarity and cruelty to animals in the name of what is supposed to be a sport. It is hard to believe we continue barbaric practices.”
Due to the cruelty involved, foxhunting is an illegal activity in England, Scotland and Wales.
ACTION ALERT
Contact Agriculture Minister, Simon Coveney, and demand that he removes an exemption from the Animal Health and Welfare Act which currently allows hunting with packs of dogs.
Simon Coveney, TD
Email: Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie
11. Anti-fur protest - 14th March, Dublin
The National Animal Rights Association will hold an anti-fur protest on Saturday 14th March (1pm-3pm) outside Barnardo Furs, 108 Grafton Street, Dublin 2. More details at https://www.facebook.com/events/1635280063361562/
On Friday 20th March, 12:30pm-2pm, NARA will hold a 'Ban Fur Farming' leafleting event outside the Department of Agriculture, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 as Minister Coveney is directly responsible for allowing fur farms to continue operating in Ireland.
Witness the cruelty of Ireland's fur farming in which over 200,000 animals are cruelly caged and gassed to death every year: https://youtu.be/artr7qwCLLk
ACTION ALERT
Sign and share the petition: Ban fur farming in Ireland
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-fur-farming-in-ireland-please-sign-and-share-our-petition
Demand a ban on fur farming in Ireland. Email Simon Coveney now.
Email: Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie,AnimalHealthAndWelfareAct@agriculture.gov.ie
12. Deer narrowly avoids collision with car during hunt in Ashbourne
A deer ran through the grounds of a hotel, jumped over a wall and narrowly avoided colliding with a vehicle during a hunt in Ashbourne last Friday (January 30th). If you were in Ashbourne on the day and witnessed this deer being hunted, please get in touch with us now.
A video posted online - https://youtu.be/ca0rtgdByHg - shows the terrified animal jumping over the Ashbourne House Hotel's beer garden wall and emerging on to a busy road before leaping alongside a car that was driving past the adjacent Garda station.
Comments posted on social media confirm that a hunt was taking place in Ashbourne at the time. Witnesses say they saw hunters in the town and the deer dangerously running into the path of traffic.
Speaking in Dail Eireann this week, Deputy Clare Daly described the incident as a "shocking situation".
"A frightened stag stampeded through the main streets of Ashbourne, County Meath, presenting a danger to itself and pedestrians," she stated. "The Minister of State will be aware that road safety was one of the key reasons the 2010 legislation was passed."
This incident is truly shocking from the point of view of both animal welfare and road safety. Some years ago, a hunted deer which jumped onto a road in County Meath, was struck by a car and had to be put down due to its injuries. The occupants of the car were left badly shaken and "lucky to be alive".
According to the Wildlife Amendment Act 2010, "a person who hunts deer with two or more dogs shall be guilty of an offence." ICABS is calling on the Gardai to investigate this and take appropriate action.
The Ashbourne House Hotel has in the past been used as a meeting point for the Ward Union Staghounds, the only mounted deer hunt in the Republic.
Were you in Ashbourne on Friday, 30th January 2015? Did you see the hunters and deer? Please get in touch with us now with details of what you saw - info@banbloodsports.com Thank you.
13. Former farm leader has cruelty sentence suspended
Former farm leader has cruelty sentence suspended
The former head of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association has had a jail sentence for animal cruelty suspended.
John Deegan Snr, from Shillelagh in Co Wicklow, had been sentenced to five months in prison last summer after pleading guilty to animal cruelty at his farm.
He appealed and today at Carlow Circuit Court the sentence increased from five to six months but was suspended on the basis that he looks after his animals properly.
Afterwards, Mr Deegan said he was happy to see the matter now concluded.
Barbara Bent of the ISPCA had described the cruelty as one of the worst cases she had seen in her 45 years involved in animal welfare.
14. Easons urged to act against graphic hunting magazines
Easons is being urged to stop displaying hunting magazines on the bottom shelves of its stores and to ensure that they are not sold to under 18s.
“We believe that it is highly inappropriate for publications which contain very graphic and violent images to be positioned in a way that makes them so accessible to youngsters,” ICABS stated in an email to Easons. “Often these publications present images of dogs or wildlife on the covers, which could entice unsuspecting children to open and look through them. The horrific images inside – including bloodied carcasses of foxes, deer and birds hunted to their deaths – could prove very upsetting and traumatic.”
These offensive publications glorifying violence and killing should not be accessible to minors. Easons should move them to the top shelf or behind the counter and certainly never sell them to under 18s.
15. Le Boat thanked for removing bullfights from "Top 10 secret gems" list
Europe’s top boating holiday company, Le Boat, has been thanked for removing bullfights from its list of "Top 10 secret gems" of France's Canal du Midi.
Following an ICABS appeal, in which we highlighted the cruelty involved, the West Sussex-based company replaced “bull fights” in the list with Cathédrale St-Nazaire.
We are very grateful to Le Boat for this compassionate response.
Le Boat operates the largest fleet of self-drive cruisers on Europe's waterways (including Emerald Star in Ireland). Find out more about its holiday offers at http://www.leboat.co.uk
Le Boat joins a growing list of companies which have responded positively to ICABS appeals and removed references to bullfighting or bullrings. These include American Airlines, 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, Escape Trips, Charter Travel, NY.T.Roma Hotel, Exclusive GP, Just Resorts, IceLolly.com, Burleigh Travel, Abercrombie & Kent, Holiday Transfers, Iglu Cruise, Oliver's Travel's, StagWeb, Joe Walsh Tours, Budget Travel, Osprey Holidays, AlphaRooms and Hays Travel.
16. 8 hounds shot dead by sheep farmer following sheep attack during hunt
8 hunting dogs have been shot dead by a farmer in County Clare after they attacked and killed sheep during a hunt. The Irish Examiner has reported that the dogs - beagles and cross-breeds - "broke away from the pack and attacked sheep on two separate farms in Broadford."
Read the full story at http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/sheep-farmers-shot-dogs-dead-313655.html
URGENT ACTION ALERT
Contact Agriculture Minister, Simon Coveney, and demand that he removes an exemption from the Animal Health and Welfare Act which currently allows hunting with packs of dogs.
Simon Coveney, TD
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie
Sign our "Ban Blood Sports in Ireland" petition
17. Hunters threaten violence against farmers who shoot hounds
Violence and criminal damage is being threatened against farmers who shoot hunting hounds found attacking sheep.
Members of an online hunting forum have said farmers would suffer a burned-down home or physical assault if hounds were shot.
The comments, posted on a UK "fieldsports" website, follow a report in the Irish Examiner which revealed that eight hunting dogs were shot dead by farmers in County Clare last month. The Examiner reported that the dogs - beagles and cross-breeds - "broke away from the pack and attacked sheep on two separate farms in Broadford."
"I'd set the c***s house on fire if he shot my dog," was the threat from one hunter.
Another poster suggested a physical attack on the farmer, saying "a crack around his head one night with a rounders bat probably be more realistic".
He went on to say that dogs who chase sheep should be "given a good hiding" and if they do it again, they should be shot.
Another hunter menacingly insinuated grave consequences for any farmer who killed his dogs, saying: "I`d like the opportunity to pay for any damage my dogs caused rather than someone make the decision my dog was bad and deserved to die. That would really f**k me off and cause me to make life changing decisions."
Reference is made on the forum to other incidents involving suffering being caused to animals on farms. An Irish-based hunter describes how a pack of hounds ran through a farm, scaring cattle into stampeding out a gate which a woman was closing at the time, knocking her down. "The husband went out and followed the lad hunting the dogs and asked him to stay away from the yard as the cattle were in and there were calves about," he said. "Long story short the hounds doubled back after a while and ran straight past a shed full of calves, two of the calves ended up getting caught in the bars they put their head through to eat silage...they both had to be put to sleep as they destroyed themselves. Farmer was delirious."
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is bringing these disturbing comments to the attention of Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney as part of a renewed appeal for him to ban hunting with hounds. If Minister Coveney won't do it to save animals from appalling cruelty, he must do it for the landowners who are being persecuted, intimidated, verbally assaulted, physically assaulted and threatened by those who get their kicks from cruelty.
ACTION ALERT
Please send a message to Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, urging him to ban foxhunting with packs of hounds, terrierwork, digging-out and the use of lurchers to chase and attack foxes. If you have suffered at the hands of hunters, please provide details to the Minister and urge him to act.
Simon Coveney, TD
Email: Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie
18. Labour senator Denis Landy shamefully commends cruel coursers
A Labour Party senator has shamefully praised the organisers of the recent hare coursing cruelty festival in Clonmel and described the chasing of live hares with greyhounds as “fantastic sport”.
Speaking in Seanad Eireann on 12th February, Senator Denis Landy stated: “I congratulate and commend all those involved in the running of the 90th national coursing meeting in Clonmel” - https://youtu.be/yyOkxiWYOZI
Most people recognise that netting hares from the wild and using them as live bait for greyhounds is contemptible animal cruelty but Senator Landy sees it differently. Rather than condemning those involved, the Tipperary politician chose to “commend those involved in hare husbandry” before adding that “fantastic crowds turned out and fantastic sport was to be seen.” On his Labour Party profile page, Landy describes himself as “a great lover of the outdoor life and in all field sports”.
Senator Landy’s stance on this issue is all the more reprehensible, given the fact that he is a Labour Party spokesperson on environment and sport.
In a complaint to the Labour Party, ICABS stated: “The coursing meeting which Senator Landy considers worthy of praise is the culmination of a season of cruelty which sees hares being forcefully netted from the wild, thrown into boxes, kept in captivity for weeks/months and eventually forced to run for their lives in front of greyhounds. Sickening photographs taken at the Clonmel event, showing hares desperately trying to escape from the dogs https://www.flickr.com/photos/icabs/sets/72157650567627832/ have drawn international condemnation.”
“We find it disgraceful that an individual acting as a Labour Party spokesperson on environment and sport deems it appropriate to defend one of Ireland’s worst forms of animal cruelty,” we added. “We call on the Labour Party to clarify its stance on hare coursing and to urge Senator Landy to stop defending an activity which most Irish people want made illegal (as it already is in all our neighbouring jurisdictions).”
ACTION ALERT
Make a complaint to Senator Landy and the Labour Party about this pro-bloodsports statement. Tell Senator Landy that he should condemn, not commend, cruel hare coursers.
Tel: 051-641 641
19. Minister Humphreys "received numerous representations" for coursing ban
In reply to a Dail Question from Clare Daly, TD on March 11th, Minister Heather Humphreys, who licenses cruel hare coursing, has acknowledged that she has "received numerous representations in the last few months requesting me to revoke the licences issued to the Irish Coursing Club and asking me not to issue any further licences to the Club". Deputy Daly also asked the Minister if she is "satisfied that the number of National Parks and Wildlife Service officers is sufficient to protect our wildlife". See Dail Questions and Answers below...
Clare Daly TD: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of representations that she has received objecting to the granting of licences to coursing clubs; and if she will meet some of the groups who have concerns regarding this practice. For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 11th March, 2015.
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Ms. Heather Humphreys, T.D.): The control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings, is carried out under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Hare coursing is administered by the Irish Coursing Club, which is a body set up under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958.
Licences were issued by my Department in August 2014 under the Wildlife Acts to the Irish Coursing Club, on behalf of their affiliated clubs, to facilitate the tagging and capturing of hares for the purpose of hare coursing for the 2014/15 coursing season.
I have received numerous representations in the last few months requesting me to revoke the licences issued to the Irish Coursing Club and asking me not to issue any further licences to the Club. I understand that the majority of these representations have been prompted by an online campaign organised by an anti-blood sports organisation urging people to make such representations to the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine and myself. I have not received any requests for meetings on foot of these recent representations.
ICABS Note: Contrary to the impression given by Minister Humphreys, the Irish Council Against Blood Sports has previously sought a meeting with her but was told her diary was full. Further to this latest Dail Q&A, we will again be requesting a meeting with her to present the case for a ban on cruel hare coursing.
Clare Daly TD: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is satisfied that the number of National Parks and Wildlife Service officers is sufficient to protect our wildlife. For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 11th March, 2015.
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Ms. Heather Humphreys, T.D.): My Department directly employs some 565 staff, who operate across a broad range of functions within my Department’s programme areas – Arts, Culture and Film; Heritage; Irish Language, Gaeltacht and Islands; and North/South Co-operation. As the Deputy will appreciate, the staff of my Department are allocated to these functional areas on the basis of need, having regard to a number of factors, including overall resource availability. The majority of administrative staff are based in departmental offices in Dublin, Killarney, Na Forbacha, Co Galway, and Wexford, with regional and field staff (mainly at professional, technical and industrial grades) dispersed across the country.
Of the total Departmental staff, 283 work in the area of natural heritage through the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department. In addition, approximately 50 further seasonal staff are engaged during the year to assist the NPWS with its activities. The staffing requirements in this area, as with all other areas of my Department, is the subject of ongoing consideration in light of the overall business needs and within the pay framework approved for 2015. Within this context, I am satisfied that the NPWS continues to fulfil a comprehensive and valuable role in the conservation and protection of our natural heritage and delivers an excellent service to the public.
20. TG4 News highlights cruelty of hare coursing
Go raibh maith agait to Nuacht TG4 for highlighting the cruelty of hare coursing. TG4 featured as its top story, a protest outside Powerstown Park and renewed efforts to secure a ban on the bloodsport.
Watch the news coverage at https://youtu.be/sUBdNh5GozU
21. Rescued hen savaged to death by hunting hounds
A hen enjoying a life of freedom after being saved from the cruel egg industry has been savaged to death by a pack of hunting hounds.
The attack occurred earlier this month in Cork after a private garden was "invaded by hounds from the local hunt".
The hen was one of thousands saved from slaughter by Kildare-based LittleHill Animal Rescue & Sanctuary after a year of misery in egg industry battery cages.
"All her life in a cage, she'd just grown back all her feathers and had settled in, and now this," the Newmarket woman who adopted the hen wrote in a message posted on Facebook. She was left distraught after witnessing the hounds entering her garden during a hunt and killing the defenceless bird.
"I am so angry that this has happened," she stated. "After screaming and yelling at them, I called the Gardai but of course all they get is a caution and I get a desultory offer of financial compensation. I don't want their money, I'd much prefer it if they just stopped this barbaric 'sport'."
Responding to news of the hen's violent death, LittleHill Sanctuary patron, Pauline McLynn (Fr Ted, Shameless, Eastenders) said she was "so sad and angry", adding that "you are now a victim of the hunt too". She advised the woman to email Simon Coveney's office to protest at the continuation of hunting.
In a statement, LittleHill Animal Rescue & Sanctuary described the incident as "so so sad and unnecessary", disputing the hunt's claim that the hounds were under control at the time.
"They had the 'hounds under control'? Clearly not if they were in your garden! These little hens lived in hell and then came to your lovely home and after all of your hard work and tlc, the local Hunt kills her. I hope you follow it through...they have NO right to come onto your land."
Before being killed by the hunt, the hen had endured "a year in hell" in the egg industry. Her and thousands of other birds had been permanently "squashed together in tiny dark barren desolate cages with no quality of life, they have NEVER seen the outside world, the sunshine, felt a kind hand or tasted grass."
She and the other rescued hens were said to be in very poor condition when they arrived at the sanctuary. Their bodies were "broken and painfully thin", they had no feathers and their combs were pale and anaemic.
Kind-hearted Pauline McLynn was one of a group of people around the country who knitted jumpers for the birds. Speaking to RTE News late last year, she said: "Their beaks are clipped, they've never stretched their wings and their feathers haven't grown because they've just been involved in laying eggs for their entire little lives. When they come out they are bald and it's really cold so I'm knitting jumpers for them."
This hen is the latest in a long line of victims of Ireland's cruel hunting. In addition to the countless foxes, hares and rabbits killed by hunters, other animals such as dogs and cats have lost their lives after being mauled and torn apart by hounds. See our report "When hunts attack pets" - https://www.scribd.com/doc/121981437/When-hunts-attack-pets Also, this month hunting hounds were found attacking a field of sheep in County Clare during a hunt. Eight of the dogs were shot dead by farmers.
ICABS advises anyone who experiences hunt hounds coming on to their property to call the Gardai and urge them to act. Quote the Control of Dogs Act which makes it clear that dogs must be kept "under effectual control". Hunt hounds coming on to property where they do not have permission to be constitutes an offence.
22. Horrendous greyhound industry blooding uncovered
Appalling video footage has emerged in Australia showing the use of live piglets, rabbits and possums as bait to train some of the country's most successful greyhounds. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's secretly filmed blooding footage shows greyhound trainers laughing and joking as animals are attached to mechanical lures and dragged along for greyhound to chase and attack. In one scene, there is laughter among the greyhound trainers when it's revealed that an unfortunate possum - snapped in half with its spinal cord exposed - "wouldn't have much go in it, its guts are ripped out".
The sickening expose of Australia's greyhound industry presents an opportunity to consider the situation here in Ireland.
We have no reason to believe that blooding does not take place in Ireland as a training method for greyhounds used in hare coursing and track racing. It is illegal and therefore certainly kept well hidden from public view.
In 1994, John Martin, a leading greyhound commentator and journalist, wrote in the Irish Independent: "The bald truth is that greyhound racing would not continue to exist without blooding. It follows that, with a constant greyhound population of close on 30,000, blooding must be widespread. Do not expect an admission of that from Bord na gCon." See his article 'Why They Can't Halt the Blooding' https://www.flickr.com/photos/icabs/16372753588/
The article was in response to a BBC documentary by Donal McIntyre < http://youtu.be/woj1XE1pZdo > which featured secretly filmed footage of dozens of rabbits being used to blood greyhounds at a training track in Donaskeagh, Tipperary. The ensuing court case resulted in the son of a top Irish trainer being found guilty of cruelty to animals.
More recently, in a June 2004 Irish Independent report, John Martin wrote that there were allegations of 6am trials at an Irish Greyhound Board-licensed racing track in Dundalk involving the use of live hares to blood greyhounds. A staff member was fired but management denied it was connected to blooding allegations. During an Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee meeting, Bord na gCon's Chief Executive said that blooding is not condoned. However, responding to a statement from then Green Party TD Dan Boyle that it could happen without their knowledge, the CEO conceded that "anything can happen without one's knowledge".
The shocking footage from Australia shows live animals being dragged along for greyhounds to chase and tear apart. RSPCA Australia chief executive Heather Neil refers to blooding as an "entrenched culture" where animal cruelty is seen as an accepted cost in the greyhound industry.
"If it is this widespread in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, it would be naive to think it isn't happening elsewhere," she said in a statement.
How widespread is blooding here in Ireland? In his Irish Independent report, John Martin suggested that blooding is integral to the Irish greyhound racing industry. "Privately, those in authority who know about greyhound racing, believe they will never stamp it out," he wrote. "They also know that the elimination of blooding would lead to the collapse of the whole industry."
See the RTE News report "Live piglets, rabbits used as bait to train Australian greyhounds"
23. Westmeath Council urged to prosecute hunt
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is calling on Westmeath County Council to prosecute foxhunters who damaged a canal pathway for pedestrians and cyclists.
The newly laid path was left torn up after foxhunters ploughed through it last weekend. Running alongside a scenic stretch of the Royal Canal near Ballynacargy, the path was developed as an amenity for locals and tourists. But after mounted members of a foxhunt galloped over it, the surface lay churned up, pockmarked with hoofprints and littered with horse droppings.
The Westmeath Topic newspaper has identified the hunt as the Westmeath Foxhounds and reported that the damage was discussed at a Municipal District Council meeting in Mullingar. At that meeting, Cllr John Penrose was told by the Director of Services that the matter is being followed up.
The paper reported that local walkers and cyclists were dismayed to witness the destruction the hunt left in its wake. "More than half of the newly laid surface was torn up and not easily cycled on, and walkers found that grit was going into their shoes," it outlined, quoting a cyclist as saying: "The council will have to roll this stretch of the pathway again, because of what happened."
In a letter to Westmeath County Council, ICABS stated: "We urge you to prosecute the hunt responsible for the damage caused, prohibit them from using this path in the future and seek the full cost of repairing the damage done. This path is an important and valued new amenity for locals and tourists and it must be protected from incursions by hunts."
Not only do hunters damage the surface (negatively impacting pedestrians and cyclists), the sudden appearance of hunters on horseback and a pack of hounds proves intimidating to members of the public using the path - particularly those with children or out walking dogs. There have been incidents around Ireland involving hunt hounds brutally attacking and killing pets. Fears have also been expressed in the past for the safety of children in the vicinity of packs of dogs trained to kill.
Urging the council to make this and all of its properties off-limits to hunters, we pointed out that this route presents a wonderful experience for wildlife watchers with numerous birds and animals waiting to be seen.
"The presence of a hunt, synonymous with the destruction of wildlife, is offensive and upsetting to those who value our wildlife heritage," we added.
24. Greyhound suffers broken leg at Clonmel coursing event
A greyhound suffered a broken leg at the recent hare coursing crueltyfest in Clonmel, it has emerged.
A report in the Irish Independent has revealed that "Breska Lantern broke her leg when clear up the field yesterday [Sunday 1st February - the second day of national coursing meeting]".
The meet had been delayed due to frost on the ground and, with numerous withdrawals of greyhounds by owners, it was clear that the conditions were considered particularly dangerous for animals running at high speeds. Despite this, however, the shameful show went on and before long had claimed this casualty.
A greyhound owner quoted in the Independent said that "there were wholesale withdrawals and then Breska Lantern broke her leg," adding "we took the decision it wouldn't be appropriate to run the dogs with the Irish Cup coming up". The JP McManus sponsored Irish Cup takes place at the end of this month.
The conditions were creating even greater danger for the hares. The quoted owner described "a reflection which was causing hares not to go home at the escape".
ICABS spokesperson Aideen Yourell commented: "These latest revelations further shatter ludicrous claims by the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney that the Irish Coursing Club 'goes to great lengths to ensure that the highest standards of hare and greyhound welfare are adhered to'."
"It is clear that despite greyhound owners withdrawing their dogs, the organisers failed to call a halt before a greyhound inevitably sustained a serious injury. From both the perspective of dog and hare welfare, there is no doubt that Coveney's latest excuses for the coursers are entirely baseless and ill-founded."
Photos taken during the first day of the Clonmel meet show the unmistakable suffering of the hares as they desperately run for their lives - https://www.flickr.com/photos/icabs/
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is renewing its call on the government to show compassion and remove an exemption from the Animal Welfare Act which gives immunity from prosecution to hare coursers.
25. Anti-coursing photographer threatened with removal from Powerstown Park
The photographer who captured sickening images of hares running for their lives during the coursing crueltyfest in Clonmel last week was threatened with removal from the venue if she didn't stop taking photographs.
Speaking on the Tipp Today show on Tipp FM Radio, she told of how a coursing supporter, who became suspicious as she filmed the terrorised hares, ordered her to get out.
"You need to leave now," he said. "I'm getting security to remove you now."
Speaking to presenter Seamus Martin, the freelance photographer commented: "I can go to rugby matches, football matches or any other event and I've never been asked to leave with my camera."
"You have to be on their side to get photographs," she added. "If you're not on their side, they don't want you there...The coursing clubs are not going to show the other side of coursing. They're always going to try and keep that side of coursing a secret." Please visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/icabs/sets/72157650567627832/ to see the photos.
Earlier, on the same Tipp FM show, ICABS spokesperson Aideen Yourell described how she was dragged from Powerstown Park last year by the president of the Irish Coursing Club http://www.banbloodsports.com/ln140207.htm for filming the cruelty.
Coursers are desperate to keep the ugly reality of their bloodsport from the public. Every coursing fixtures booklet prominently displays the phrase "No unauthorised photography" and anyone who dares break that rule is verbally abused, threatened and/or physically removed. The reason is that coursers don't want the shocking scenes of hare hits or maulings be publicised.
In January, when ICABS was filming hare coursing cruelty in Millstreet Town Park in County Cork, several coursing supporters tried to stop us. "Why don't you go somewhere else?" a man identifying himself as a member of Millstreet Town Park Committee asked, before adding: "Because you'd have the s**t kicked out of you." Previously, an ICABS cameraman was dragged from the roof of a car while filming over the wall of a coursing venue - see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO-0KOvc7qw
26. Foxhunter runs over hunt protester: 7 broken ribs, no prosecution
The UK's Crown Prosecution Service has caused outrage by announcing that it has decided to drop a case against a foxhunter who ran over a peaceful protester last August. The force of the impact left the hunt saboteur suffering 7 broken ribs, a collapsed lung and trauma to her shoulder. She had to be airlifted from the scene and hospitalised for two weeks.
The CPS says it has dropped the case due to "insufficient evidence" - despite the entire incident being filmed. Watch the video at http://vimeo.com/118537772
The Dorset Hunt Sabs are asking people to contact the CPS to ask them why this case has been dropped.
Email: victimliaison.southwest@cps.gsi.gov.uk
Sign the petition CPS: Reverse your decision to not prosecute
Snaps show truth of hare coursing
This year's "showpiece" National Hare Coursing Festival has been overshadowed somewhat by photos taken on the opening day of the event.
An animal welfare activist managed to capture dramatic images of hares being struck and pinned down by greyhounds.
I note that the pictures taken on Saturday have been uploaded to Flickr, because the public has a right to see the truth about hare coursing, as distinct from the fawning, distorted and rigorously censored nonsense that appears elsewhere at this time of the year.
When it comes to visual or pictorial representation of coursing, the media should let readers/viewers see exactly what happens to the unfortunate hares.
John Fitzgerald
Fox hunting is cruel and disruptive of rural life
In County Clare, eight hunt hounds that savaged sheep to death were then shot by farmers. This is further shocking and incontestable evidence of the havoc hunting inflicts on the countryside.
Fox hunting is immensely cruel and would be a serious criminal offence had it not been exempted from prohibition under the Animal Health and Welfare Act.
But fox hunting can also be cruel to farmers. Horses and hounds in full flight rip up fields of winter crops; knock down fencing that farmers are obliged by law to keep intact; scatter flocks and herds, and, as in County Clare, out-of-control hounds can kill or horribly injure farm livestock.
Domestic pets, such as cats and small dogs, have also been eviscerated by hounds.
The answer to this rampant, rural vandalism and indefensible animal cruelty is drag hunting: in addition to eliminating cruelty to foxes, the laying of a false trail for hounds, along a pre-determined route, would protect farmers and other landowners from this medieval, unprovoked assault on their properties and livelihoods.
John Fitzgerald
Free vote needed to pass Daly’s Wildlife Bill
The killing of a hen harrier in County Kerry was greeted with shock and sadness, not just by the conservationists but by thousands of people who posted messages on social media or phoned radio stations.
Unfortunately there are other threats to Ireland’s wildlife heritage; among them, the Irish hare. This iconic sub species is unique to Ireland and provides a living link with the Ice Age fauna of 10,000 years ago.
In recent years it has been in decline, mainly due to the unintended ravages of modern farming techniques and urbanisation. But the other threat to the Irish hare is no mere side-effect of farming or the expansion of towns or cities. Thousands of the animals are netted each year for coursing, and although a relatively small percentage die during the chase, many are mauled or otherwise injured by the muzzled dogs.
Dr Donald Broom, a Professor of Animal Welfare Studies at Cambridge, has asserted the hunted hare will show physiological changes associated with extreme fear which will reduce its life expectancy, whether it is injured or not.
Clare Daly TD last week moved the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2015 which will, if passed, outlaw this blood sport in Ireland.
This will be first Dáil bill to tackle hare coursing since the late Tony Gregory’s 1993 attempt. That Bill was defeated when party whips ensured TDs could not vote for a coursing ban. We hope all the political parties will allow a free vote.
John Fitzgerald
"I think that my passion for the animals and against animal abuse is based on the knowledge that these creatures who feel and think can't speak for themselves and they're dependent on us for that." 'Simpsons' creator (and saviour of Mayo bull, Benji) Sam Simon who passed away on March 8th. In December 2014, Sam made a donation to help save Benji the gay bull from slaughter. Commenting on Benji's plight, he said: "It thrills me to know that his fate is in a sanctuary rather than a sandwich. For Benji to have been killed because of his sexual orientation would have been a double tragedy."
“What is wrong with this country that we are prepared to let animals be treated this way?” It appears the mare and foal were dumped by their owners after the year-old foal was injured while being raced, probably on a public road. It had a severe gash after probably having crashed into some object or fallen while being raced. It was unable to stand and ‘lame fore and aft’, Barbara Bent, WSPCA president said. from an Irish Independent report on the savage mistreatment of ponies and foals by Traveller ‘sulkie’ gangs and renewed calls for the activity to be banned. 28th February 2015
"One wonders how Simon Coveney and Heather Humphreys can feel comfortable about this cruel activity. Is it not past time that greyhound folk who live to run their dogs find other outlets for their enthusiasm? I was once such a soldier, I confess. But many years back I ceased killing wild creatures, left my gun club, stopped fishing. I kept my springer spaniel and its Jack Russell pal which still set to flight rabbits and pheasants as they ran in the snipe grass, but nothing was killed." Joe Kennedy, Country matters: Terror trials of timid hares, Irish Independent, 8th February.
"'Do we care about the planet or don’t we?' she asks. Murphy’s cares include animals. There is an anti-hare coursing banner on her window." from an Irish Examiner article about travel writer, Dervla Murphy, November 26th, 2011. http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/features/travelling-a-different-path-174952.html
"Hounds found a fox in Walsh’s Bog by the banks of the Craan River and pushed him on through the plantings and marked to ground in Anthony Dorceys...The huntsman drew the Christmas tree plantation and found a smashing bright red fox that ran on... The fox ran through Peg’s Wood where they left him and washed off in the river at Saint Patrick’s Shrine." from a report on the Shillelagh Hunt, Irish Field, 13 February 2015
"Hounds drew a small covert near the church. Almost immediately first season litter siblings Treason and Tracer opened and a dog fox was away. Here the fun started as the bank off the road was as narrow as a scalpel with a good trench to the rear. The first victim was Finbarr Feehan, only to be followed by meet manager Tadhg Egan, whose horse turned upside down and remained thus for quite a while." from a report on the Duhallow Foxhounds, Irish Field, 13 February 2015
"Aideen says it's a diabolical disgrace that the government see fit to give 68 million euro to dog and horseracing while people go hungry." Comment read out on the Sean O'Rourke Show following a discussion about poverty in Ireland. January 2015.
"I was tagging the fawns in the Phoenix Park a few summers back when we got a call about a stag that had been hunted out onto the main road out there. He had been in two separate collisions with cars and one of his front legs had literally snapped off below the knee. The poor animal kept running until our vet caught up with him and had to shoot him. One of the most upsetting things I've ever witnessed." comment left on ICABS Facebook page in response to a report about a deer nearly colliding with a vehicle in Ashbourne during a hunt. February 2015.
The hunt currently numbers 50 riders and among them are farmers, teachers, builders, plumbers, delivery men and gardaí. The members’ backgrounds may have changed, but the hunting remains the same … well, almost! John said that mobile phones are now used to communicate the position of the fox, while Google maps also prove useful on those long rides. “Farmers have taken out ditches or coverts, but a lot of the fields are the exact same. Nothing has changed. You’re still using hounds; you’re still hunting foxes,” said John. from a report on the Carlow Farmers’ Hunt, The Nationalist, January 28, 2015
"There has been a significant increase in the practice of badger baiting in Offaly and Laois since 2011 and in particular in the Tullamore area. Places worst affected include Ballard and Charleville Wood. However, because the cruel blood sport is normally clandestine, very few people are prosecuted. Normally when the Wildlife rangers come across a 'persecuted badger sett', the badger has either been killed or taken, and the sett filled back in. Conservation Ranger with the Parks and Recreation Service, Mr Noel Bugler, explained that Badger Baiting involves digging out a badger sett. Then often a dog such as a terrier is sent into the hole to locate the badger which is a protected species. The dog can be equipped with a locator or beeper which allows the owners to know where the dog is under-ground." from Badger Baiting On The increase In Tullamore Area, Tullamore Tribune, November 2014.
29. Petitions - please sign and share
Ban Blood Sports in Ireland Now https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland Minister Humphreys – Stop Licensing Cruel Hare Coursing https://www.change.org/p/minister-heather-humphreys-don-t-license-cruel-hare-coursing Stop cruel hare coursing in Millstreet Town Park Minister Coveney: Save Irish hares from cruel 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 Minister Simon Coveney: Ban ALL Tail Docking – No Exemptions Ireland: Stop badger snaring cruelty NOW Petition to Ban horrific Hare Coursing Cruelty in Ireland Stop sponsoring hare coursing in Ireland http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-sponsoring-hare-coursing-in-ireland# Protect the Irish Hare http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/protect-the-irish-hare End Cruel Blood Sport of Fox Hunting in Ireland http://forcechange.com/30176/end-cruel-blood-sport-of-fox-hunting-in-ireland/#gf_1 Limerick Racecourse: Stop hosting cruel hare coursing https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/limerick-racecourse-stop-hosting-cruel-hare-coursing Stop the mass torture and murder of dogs and cats in South Korea Coillte – Ban hunters from your forests http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/irish-forestry-board-ban-hunters-from-your-property Drogheda Borough Council: Do not legalise urban 10 seater horse-drawn carriages in County Louth Ban Fur Sales on eBay https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/ban-fur-sales-on-ebay# Stormont Assembly: Ban Fox and Stag Hunting in Northern Ireland Ban Torturous Hanging of Greyhounds in Spain http://forcechange.com/24603/#gf_17 Dunnes Stores: Lift Ban on Animal Charities Fundraising http://www.change.org/petitions/dunnes-supermarket-end-your-ban-on-animal-groups Arts Council of Ireland: Stop funding animal circuses http://www.change.org/petitions/arts-council-of-ireland-stop-funding-animal-circuses Stop the EU funding bullfighting Stop Torturing Bears: End Bear Bile Farming In China http://forcechange.com/64173/stop-torturing-bears-end-bear-bile-farming-in-china Petition – Add “Report Animal Abuse” option on Facebook http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/add-report-option-animal-abuse-on-facebook.html End Bullfighting in France http://forcechange.com/94113/end-bullfighting-in-france STOP Spain’s cruel and barbaric Toro de la Vega http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-toro-de-la-vega-2013 Protect Pygmy Rabbit from Extinction http://forcechange.com/127886/protect-pygmy-rabbit-from-extinction/#.U6wPl5vscDQ.twitter Save the Wild Tigers of Vietnam http://forcechange.com/132544/save-the-wild-tigers-of-vietnam Demand an End to Civet Coffee Bean Farming http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/931/941/945/?z00m=21512698&redirectID=1466634482 Stop upcoming wolf hunt in Wisconsin Stop Barbaric Bear Baiting in South Carolina
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 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. Maureen O'Sullivan TD moves bill to ban cruel hare coursing
03. Clare Daly TD moves Bill to ban coursing, close staghunt loophole
04. Maureen O'Sullivan TD calls for ban on foxhunting
05. Terence Flanagan TD calls for a ban on cruel coursing
06. Mick Wallace calls for withdrawal of hare coursing licence
07. Urge Mullingar school to reject foxhunt’s fundraiser
08. Disturbing Westmeath Foxhunt video emerges
09. Urge Sinn Fein to end its support of cruel hare coursing
10. Minister Simon Coveney admits to participating in cruel foxhunting
11. Anti-fur protest - 14th March, Dublin
12. Deer narrowly avoids collision with car during hunt in Ashbourne
13. Former farm leader has cruelty sentence suspended
14. Easons urged to act against graphic hunting magazines
15. Le Boat thanked for removing bullfights from "Top 10 secret gems" list
16. 8 hounds shot dead by sheep farmer following sheep attack during hunt
17. Hunters threaten violence against farmers who shoot hounds
18. Labour senator Denis Landy shamefully commends cruel coursers
19. Minister Humphreys "received numerous representations" for coursing ban
20. TG4 News highlights cruelty of hare coursing
21. Rescued hen savaged to death by hunting hounds
22. Horrendous greyhound industry blooding uncovered
23. Westmeath Council urged to prosecute hunt
24. Greyhound suffers broken leg at Clonmel coursing event
25. Anti-coursing photographer threatened with removal from Powerstown Park
26. Foxhunter runs over hunt protester: 7 broken ribs, no prosecution
27. Letters to the Editor
28. Campaign Quotes
29. Petitions - please sign and share
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
Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
23 Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Tel: 01-607 2000 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Fax: 01-661 1013.
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimonCoveney
Tweet to: @simoncoveney
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland
Save Irish hares from cruel coursing
Ban horrific hare coursing cruelty in Ireland
Stop sponsoring hare coursing in Ireland
[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
Tweet to Heather Humphreys: @HHumphreysFG
Tweet to @HHumphreysFG
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, feel free to send the short sample letter below. Be assertive, but polite, in all correspondence. Thank you.)
Dear Minister,
Minister for Agriculture
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Tel: 01-607 2884 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
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie
http://www.oireachtas.ie/members%2Dhist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=31&disp=const
http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/Members_emails/document1.htm
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/minister-simon-coveney-replace-hare-coursing-with-drag-coursing
https://www.change.org/p/minister-heather-humphreys-don-t-license-cruel-hare-coursing
Minister for Agriculture
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Tel: 01-607 2884 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Fax: 01-661 1013.
Tel: (01) 631 3802 or (01) 631 3800
Leave a comment on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/heather.humphreysfg
Tweet to Heather Humphreys: @HHumphreysFG
https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2015-02-10a.54&s=hare+coursing
Sign Now
Tweet
Minister for Agriculture
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Tel: 01-607 2884 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Fax: 01-661 1013.
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimonCoveney
Tweet to: @simoncoveney
Tel: 01-607 2884 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Fax: 01 661 1013 and 021 437 4862
RTE NEWS, 13 February 2015
Minister for Agriculture
Department of Agriculture
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Tel: 01-607 2000 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Fax: 01-661 1013.
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimonCoveney
Tweet to: @simoncoveney
Tweet to @simoncoveney
Sign Now
Minister for Agriculture
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Tel: 01-607 2884 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Fax: 01-661 1013.
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimonCoveney
Tweet to: @simoncoveney
Email: denis.landy@oir.ie,info@labour.ie
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denis.landy.3
http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0217/680774-australia-greyhound/
Tel: 0117 930 2800 (Bristol, UK)
Tweet to: @AGO_UK
Belfast Telegraph, 05 February 2015
Campaign Against Cruel Sports
Lower Coyne Street, Callan, Co Kilkenny
Irish Examiner, February 24, 2015
(Campaign for the Abolition Of Cruel Sports)
Irish Examiner, February 10th 2015
(Campaign for the Abolition Of Cruel Sports)
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.
Top | Newsletters | Home