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Fox hunters are the pests
10 May 2007 ICABS responds to an inaccurate claim made by a spokesperson for the Hunting Association. We reaffirm that a majority of Irish people want foxhunting banned and that the suffering and damage caused by foxhunters make them the pests. The following is our response, published this week as a letter to the editor in the Irish Independent.
Fox hunters are the pests
Dickie Power of the Hunting Association (letters, Independent, 18th April 2007) claims that a recent survey, which shows that a majority of Irish people want foxhunting banned, was "not taken in this jurisdiction". He's entirely wrong. The survey was conducted by Millward Brown at 62 randomly selected sampling points throughout the Republic in conformance with the Code of Conduct of the Market Research Society. As regards the digging out of foxes, this appalling cruelty certainly does happen - it's an integral part of foxhunting which occurs when the terrified fox endeavours to find refuge underground. The "protocol" referred to by Mr Power makes no attempt whatsoever to deny that cowering animals are dug out of the ground and killed during hunts. This widely condemned document even points out that "reasonable efforts shall be made to ensure that digging out will not become a public spectacle." Obviously, the digging out of a fox, using terriers to drag it from its earth, is so grotesque that hunts make every effort to keep it under wraps. If anyone has the stomach for it, however, footage of such a dig may be seen on our video channel at youtube.com/icabs. Mr Power also attempts to portray foxhunters as the friend of sheep farmers even though there is no evidence that foxes pose a major threat to lambs. Routinely trespassing on farmlands, poaching lands, crashing through boundaries, dangerously scattering livestock (sometimes fatally) and terrorising Ireland's favourite mammal, it's actually the foxhunters who are the major pests. It's no surprise that this latest opinion poll confirms the huge desire for this blood sport to be banned.
Aideen Yourell
ACTION ALERT 1 Please contact An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and urge him to update Fianna Fail's policy in relation to blood sports. Tell him that a majority of the electorate want these cruel activities banned.
SAMPLE LETTER
Bertie Ahern
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.irlgov.ie
Dear Mr Ahern, I am one of the majority of Irish people who want blood sports banned. I urge you and Fianna Fail to pledge to bring these extremely cruel activities to an end in Ireland. Thank you. I eagerly await your positive response. Yours sincerely, Name/Location ACTION ALERT 2 Contact Minister Dick Roche and urge him to amend the Wildlife Act so that foxes are free to live safe from the cruel barbarity of foxhunting.
Sample Letter
Minister Dick Roche
Dear Minister Roche, I understand that are one of the majority of Irish people who do not support foxhunting. In order for this horrendous activity to be banned in our country, we need people in power such as yourself to take action. Please urgently do everything in your power to spare foxes the cruelty of foxhunting. With a major opinion poll confirming that most of Ireland wants foxhunting outlawed, now is the ideal time to act. Thank you. I look forward to your reply. Yours sincerely, Name/Location ACTION ALERT 3 Urge the Minister for Agriculture to amend the Protection of Animals Act so that foxes and all wild creatures are protected from unnecessary cruelty.
Minister Mary Coughlan
ACTION ALERT 4 Please vote for election candidates who pledge to support legislation banning blood sports in Ireland. Visit our Political Views page to find out the opinions of various TDs. If your TDs are not listed, contact them today and ask them for their stance on blood sports.
Write to your TD at:
For the names and contact details of politicians, please visit the Irish Government Website at:
More information: Foxhunting
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