Ward Union deer choked to death in wood 19 October 2007 A Ward Union deer was choked to death in a wood, the Irish Farmers Journal has revealed. The death occurred at the end of a hunt and is one of the fatalities caused by the Ward Union "over the last few years", the newspaper reported. The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is trying to establish when this choking incident took place. The Farmers Journal statement that it took place during a recent hunt season may make this the second instance of a deer being choked by the hunt. The last known choking took place a decade ago during the 1997/98 season. A Department of Agriculture report obtained by ICABS at the time highlighted how a deer was choked to death while being captured by hunt members. The woodland choking was one of the deer deaths raised during a recent meeting between the Ward Union and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Others mentioned were the hunted deer which died of an aneurysm after being returned to the hunt's deer farm and the deer which died from "dry drowning" after being chased into a quarry. Photos: carted deer hunting cruelty Ward Union "deer handlers" wrestle the deer head-first into the ground at the end of a hunt. Animals are at great risk during this merciless move and at least one has been choked to death. Please help us to stop the Ward Union hunt by responding to our action alert below. One of the Ward Union hunt's "deer handlers" prevents an exhausted and injured deer from escaping by grabbing hold of its mouth and ear. Another handler attempts to hide the head injury by holding his hand over it. This photo was taken at the end of a Ward Union hunt in County Meath. Ward Union hunt members push the injured and panting deer back towards the deer cart at the end of a hunt. Videos: Carted deer hunting cruelty Ban the Ward Union Deer Hunt Duration: 00:30 Carted deer hunting Duration: 04:51 ACTION ALERT 1 Please contact Environment Minister, John Gormley, and appeal to him to stop carted deer hunt cruelty by firmly refusing a licence to the Ward Union. Sample Letter (Please compose your own personal letter if possible. If you do not have time to do this, please send the short sample letter below. Be assertive, but polite, in all correspondence. Thank you.) Minister John Gormley Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Custom House, Dublin 1. Email: minister@environ.ie Tel: 01 888 2403. Fax: 01 878 8640. Dear Minister Gormley, I am writing to express my support for a total ban on the Ward Union hunt. This hunt has been condemned not only by animal welfare groups but also by farmers, landowners, motorists, parents, householders and even hunters. Refusing the Ward Union a licence will be welcomed by a huge cross-section of people across Ireland and the world. We all eagerly await your decision to ban this loathsome blood sport. Thank you. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] ACTION ALERT 2 Please contact your local TD and Senator and ask them to make an appeal to Minister Gormley on your behalf. For the names of your TDs, please click on your county on the Irish Government website (http://www.oireachtas.ie/members%2Dhist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=30&disp=const) Contact your TD at: Dail Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 337889 (1890 DEPUTY). For a list of Senators, please visit the Irish Government website (http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=1&HouseNum=24&disp=mem) Contact your Senator at: Seanad Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 732 623 (1890 SEANAD). More information about carted deer hunting Carted deer hunting: Leaflet | Photos | Videos | Petition News Menu | Join | Top | Home