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adventure to the
north pole !!!
Dogs and Cats
who need a home
Some of
our
successful
rehoming !!!
News Archive
2009
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Ask the PRII to drop RISE from its awards shortlist
ICABS is calling on the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII) to drop the RISE campaign from its 2011 Awards shortlist. In an email to the group's CEO, we highlighted that the campaign was criticised for spreading misinformation and that the deerhunt ban it fought was widely welcomed by the Irish public.
In an email to PRII CEO, Gerry Davis, we questioned the inclusion of RISE on the shortlist for the so-called 2011 Awards for Excellence in Public Relations.
"The RISE campaign was a highly reprehensible campaign," we stated. "It attempted to block a ban on the Ward Union carted deer hunt - one of Ireland's worst examples of cruelty to animals. This internationally condemned activity, now thankfully illegal, involved taking out a pack of hounds and chasing a terrified, farm-bred deer across the countryside. Carted deer hunting was cruel from beginning to end. Among the victims of the Ward Union were a deer that died from fractured ribs, a deer that died as a result of 'dry drowning' having fallen into a quarry, a deer that dropped dead with a ruptured aorta, a deer choked to death in a wood and a deer that died from a ruptured aortic aneurism."
The RISE campaign aimed to convince the public and politicians that "Hunting is not cruel to the deer" and "is not a danger to the public". We have presented Mr Davis with evidence showing that both of these claims are untrue.
This includes details of an incident in December 2009 in which a hunted deer jumped on to a road, was struck by a car, smashed into its windscreen and suffered a fractured leg before hobbling away in agony. It was later caught and shot in the head. The occupants of the car were said to be badly shaken and lucky to be alive.
Referring to Section 7 of the Code of Lisbon to which the PRII subscribes ("Any attempt to deceive public opinion or its representatives is forbidden") and to the Code of Athens which discourages the circulation of information which is "not based on established and ascertainable facts", we pointed out that the RISE campaign was criticised for scaremongering and spreading misinformation.
Meath Councillor, Shane Cassells, is on record as saying; "I was very pleased to speak out against the MISTRUTHS which the RISE campaign are using to try and advance their cause."
Senator Ivana Bacik too was unhappy with RISE, describing their tactics as "UNACCEPTABLE" and stating that they engaged in scaremongering (Seanad debate, 30th June 2010).
Government Minister, John Gormley, was also very critical of the RISE campaign. In the Winter 2010 edition of Country Sports and Country Life magazine, he is quoted as saying "RISE's campaign was one not based on any foundation of respect. Its supporters and representatives continued to make a series of FALSE CLAIMS that the Greens' policy was opposed to shooting and angling, which is simply NOT TRUE. RISE supporters went to extreme lengths. For example cars outside a church belonging to people attending a religious service organised by Mary White TD were covered with leaflets saying Greens RIP. In another instance eggs were pelted at cars."
The Irish Times of June 29, 2010 reported that "members of the Rural Ireland Says Enough! (RISE!) campaign group...booed and jeered" Minister John Gormley and Minister of State Mary White as they attended the opening of a library in Borris. The report outlined that eggs were placed on the bonnet and inside the interior of the Minister's State car and that GardaI had to remove Rise! stickers which protesters attached to the state car. Minister Gormley described the protesters' behaviour as "MALICIOUS" and "UNACCEPTABLE".
In the Offaly Express of May 11, 2010, the then Councillor, and current TD, Barry Cowen, similarly criticised RISE. He stated: "Having recently attended a public meeting organised by RISE, I feel it necessary to re-affirm the Bills' contents and refute the claims by RISE that there is some wider agenda...RISE are WRONG to suggest there is some wider agenda. Minister Gormley recently confirmed the legislation will not have any implications for other country pursuits such as fox hunting, hare hunting, hare coursing or deer stalking. This bill only affects those involved in stag hunting, any suggestion otherwise by RISE is MISLEADING and FALSE."
ICABS has suggested that RISE could be replaced on the shortlist with the successful, positive, public relations campaigns by animal welfare groups which were instrumental in securing a historic ban on carted deer hunting.
"This campaign was based on an approach the Public Relations Institute would surely favour," we remarked. "This involved the presentation of evidence-backed facts, a respectful approach to lobbying politicians, good-natured demonstrations and helpful collaboration with members of the public negatively affected by hunting."
ACTION ALERT
Please lodge a complaint with the CEO of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland and ask them to drop the RISE campaign from their shortlist.
Mr Gerry Davis
Chief Executive
Public Relations Institute of Ireland
8 Upper Fitzwilliam Street
Dublin 2Tel: +353 1 661 8004
Mobile: 00353 (0)86 8274390
Fax: +353 1 676 4562
Email: gerry@prii.ieWith a copy to:
Barry Kenny, President, PRII National Council - barry.kenny@irishrail.ie
Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communications, of which the PRII is a member – info@globalalliancepr.org
****************************************************
National Feral Week 16th-23rd October
Question: You see them everyday; at work, on the streets, in your back garden - they run when they see you, and they are all over Galway, Ireland, the world. What are they??
Answer: Feral cats. To some people they are looked on as vermin, more see them as objects to abuse, and others see them as part of our habitat and a very important part of our Eco system. Yes folks like it or not without these little colonies we would actually be over run with rats and mice. They play a huge part in naturally keeping the rats and mice population under control.
Ferals are cats who through no fault of their own find themselves having to live on the wild side. The majority of feral cats started life a pets but found themselves living rough because their owners dumped them, yet again another example of man's inhumanity to animals. The population has grown to epidemic and lots of colonies suffer sickness, starvation, especially the kittens. A female cat in one year can form a colony of up to 30 cats.
The solution is very simple, it's called trap, neuter and return in short TNR. What happens - the adults are TNR and the kittens caught and socialized and homes found for them.
This year the Galway SPCA are joining with Galway Cat Rescue and are launching a joint appeal to help these cats. The cats and kittens caught by GCR and GSPCA will be neutered, vaccinated, wormed and brought back to where they live or new homes found for them. To do this we do need the councils, housing estates members farmers and people with stables and members of the public to row in and support us. How can you help? Firstly we need money, neither group have the money to undertake this project. Secondly we need farmers and people with stables to take some of the cats, (you will be required to offer shelter and food for them). Thirdly volunteers to help with the project.
We cannot do it without your help so let's all get together and work to help these wonderful cats****************************************************
Dog put down after fireworks savagery
WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES WHICH SOME READERS MAY FIND DISTURBING: A young dog has become one of the early victims of Halloween savagery, after its jaw was blown off when thugs apparently stuck a lit firework into its mouth.
Gardai are now trying to track down a group of youths behind the horrific incident which happened on Cardiffsbridge Road in Finglas, Dublin, about 6.30pm on Wednesday.
The small tan terrier, believed to be two or three years old, was probably somebody's pet, the DSPCA believes.
Operations manager Orla Aungier said it was difficult to judge the the dog's age because of the damage to its mouth. All its teeth were blown out.
"The female dog was in good body weight and appeared to be somebody's pet, but we still do not know who the owner is."
Horrified members of the public began ringing gardai and the society around the same time on Wednesday night. When a DSPCA inspector got to the scene gardai had managed to contain the dog.
"The entire bottom jaw was blown off. There was no bone left. It was just pulp. The injuries were horrific. She lost a huge amount of blood.
"She was taken to our veterinary surgeon who was on standby. There was no alternative but to put it to sleep," said Ms Aungier.
"It is deeply concerning particularly if it was a deliberate act. It is alleged that the fire work was put in its mouth. Our inspector took about seven quick calls from gardai and people looking for help. He was told the firework was put in the dog's mouth."
"We are in shock and appalled. It also highlights the danger of fireworks being so easily available, even though they are illegal.
"We are appealing to anyone that has any information to contact the gardai or the DSPCA."
- Brendan Farrelly
Irish Independent
Sign the Petition: Tougher Sentences for Animal Cruelty
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BUAV exposes kitten experiments at Cardiff University
The BUAV has uncovered the use of kittens in experiments at Cardiff University. The experiment is reported in the Wales on Sunday newspaper as part of an investigation by the paper on the rise in the number of animal experiments in universities in Wales, especially at Cardiff University. The paper has revealed that almost 200,000 animals – including cats, mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, birds, frogs and fish – have been used in experiments in the past four years. Cardiff University alone used 191,549 animals (96% of all animal tests at Welsh universities). The number of experiments carried out at the institution has risen 13% since 2006.
In the experiment, nineteen kittens, just two-six months old, were subjected to invasive surgery under anaesthesia in which their windpipes were sliced, catheters were inserted into blood vessels and parts of their brains exposed in order to implant electrodes. The fate of these kittens was not stated. In 2009, Cardiff University was responsible for using 46 cats, which accounted for 26% (over a quarter) of all those cats used in research facilities in the whole of the UK during that time period.
In four years Cardiff University experimented on 157,839 mice, 17,324 rats, 11,096 fish, 1,941 birds,
1,253 guinea pigs, 933 pigeons, 884 frogs, 207 cats, 54 rabbits and 18 tree shrews from the tropics of south east Asia. By comparison, Bangor University used 1,464 mice and 664 fish, Aberystwyth used 289 cattle, 153 mice and 102 sheep and Swansea used 1,208 fish.Much of the animal research carried out at universities is funded by taxpayers. The Medical Research Council supported the kitten experiment.
The Irish Anti-Vivisection Society
PO Box 13, Greystones, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Tel: 00353 1 2820154
Email: info@irishantivivisection.org
http://www.irishantivivisection.org
IAVS Facebook Official Fan Page <http://www.facebook.com/pages/IAVS-Their-pain-is-our-shame/278215275540>
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Dark Shadow over scenic wonderland
May 23rd 2010 Lower Coyne Street,
Callan,
Co. Kilkenny.
Phone: (056) 7725543
The Taking of Hares from Millstreet Country Park for use in Barbaric Blood Sport.
Millstreet Country Park is a 500-acre environmental nature park in County Cork, renowned for its lovely lakes, waterfalls, streams, moorlands, ornamental gardens, well-preserved wetlands, herb rich meadows, and inspirational picnic areas.
Its native deer, birds and other wildlife add to the scenic attractions. Its exquisitely designed arboretum and its important archaeological sites appeal to students of all ages and to casual visitors alike.
How sad then that a dark shadow has been cast over this breathtaking amenity, this "little piece of Heaven" that has done County Cork proud and that could indeed be offered as a prime example of the kind of life-enhancing heritage/environmental awareness project that ought to be encouraged nationwide.
Information obtained from the Parks and Wildlife Service by the Irish Council Against Bloodsports under FOI reveals that Millstreet Coursing Club in November and December of last year captured a total of 78 hares “in Millstreet Country Park and surrounds”.
These hares were taken for use in one of the most barbaric and utterly discredited blood sports ever devised by man.
CACS has contacted the park's management, asking it to review its position in relation to coursing clubs capturing hares in Millstreet Country Park. We pointed out that hare coursing is at odds with the whole ethos of the park itself, being a cruel and unnatural practise that is opposed by the majority of Irish people.
We asked the park management to have a look at the following brief film of live hare coursing, as practised in Ireland. www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFdjBy5S8k8
This is the activity for which the 78 hares referred to were captured “in Millstreet Country Park and Surrounds”…
If you have time, you might consider also asking the park to KEEP THE COURSERS OUT! You can contact them at: info@millstreetcountrypark.com
Thanking you,
Sincerely,
John Fitzgerald,
Campaign for the Abolition
Of Cruel Sports
****************************************************
Further information re Dog Breeding Establishments Bill
From: John Fitzgerald
Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 7:25 PM
Subject: Further information re Dog Breeding Establishments BillAn Oireachtas committee today met many groups concerned about aspects of the proposed Dog Breeding Establishments Bill. Worryingly, most of the groups represented were pro-hunting/coursing and wanted hunt kennels and the greyhound industry exempted from the provisions of the Bill. I’ve sent the following circular to all TDs and Senators to remind them the greyhound industry cannot be allowed to self-regulate where animal welfare is concerned…the film excerpt to which a link is provided shows one of the unacceptable practises associated with the industry…
Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports
May 11th 2010 Lower Coyne Street,
Callan,
Co. Kilkenny.
Phone: (056) 7725543 or 086-3271179
Re Dog Breeding Establishments Bill and the Greyhound Industry.
Dear Deputy,
Regarding the above matter, we wish to further remind you that the greyhound industry, contrary to misleading propagandistic correspondence being circulated by lavishly paid officials of the pro-blood sport lobby, is not animal welfare friendly or even remotely worthy of being trusted to self regulate.
In addition to the recent figures on the numbers of greyhounds put down annually in Ireland, and the appalling cruelty captured on video at the National Coursing Festival in February (the video, made by two foreign students who have since come forward and identified themselves, has been authenticated despite attempts by the ICC to discredit it); we would like to emphasise that blooding of greyhounds on live animals continues to be widespread in the industry.
We ask you to please have a look at a brief excerpt from a film made by respected award winning investigative journalist Donald McIntyre in 1994 in County Tipperary. This shows what happens at a typical greyhound blooding session and serves as a cautionary tale against any attempt to water down the very necessary and reasonable provisions of the proposed Dog Breeding Establishments Bill that is currently proceeding through the Oireachtas.
We are hopeful that Fine Gael in particular will adopt a more humane and responsible position on animal welfare and reverse its support for hare coursing and other unacceptable practises that shame and ultimately damage the greyhound industry.
The Fine Gael Senators and TDs who have savagely attacked the proposed legislation are either unaware of the cruelty and low standards of animal welfare in the greyhound coursing/track racing business, or completely indifferent to it. Either attitude must be a matter of concern to anyone who wishes to eliminate deliberate cruelty to animals from sport.
Here is the excerpt from Donald McIntyre’s expose (now on U Tube for all to see) of practises that are at the heart of this discredited industry.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q33yiORJfXs
Thanking you,
John Fitzgerald
Campaign for the Abolition
Of Cruel Sports****************************************************
Animal Voice: April 2010
Irish Council Against Blood Sports (ICABS)
PO Box 88, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Ireland
Website: www.banbloodsports.com
ICABS on Youtube: www.youtube.com/icabs
ICABS on Twitter: www.twitter.com/banbloodsports
ICABS on MySpace: www.myspace.com/banbloodsports
ICABS on Bebo: www.bebo.com/banbloodsports
ICABS on your mobile phone: www.banbloodsports.com/wap
RSS Feed: http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/27974637.rss
In this edition of Animal Voice:
01. What are your politicians saying about blood sports?
02. SUCCESS: Donedeal drops ads for dogs used in blood sports
03. Video shows struggling hare dying at Clonmel
04. ICABS criticises milk group over pro-hunting stance
05. Urge Labour and Fine Gael to back ban on staghunting
06. Another Ward Union deer chased into river
07. Cruelty of blood sports highlighted on RTE's Frontline
08. ICABS tells bishop: Clergy blessing hunt dogs is inappropriate
09. Farmer "angry that a hunt came across his land without permission"
10. "No Exemptions for Hunt Kennels": Farmers group
11. "Hare coursers are sick, bloodthirsty varmints" - Queen's Brian May
12. Queen star May launches bid to stop return of hunting
13. ICABS responds to Ruby Walsh's hunting statement
14. Mobile Phone Action Alerts
15. Queen's university's hare research criticised
16. Blood sports issues discussed on RTE TV and Radio
17. Galway TD urged to support Ward Union ban
18. Hunting horror for cousins: pet torn apart by hounds
19. New ICABS leaflet exposes deerhunting cruelty
20. Death by a Thousand Cuts - Act for Hedgerows
21. Hares killed in illegal hunting, man fined
22. Campaign Quotes
23. Parliamentary Questions and Answers
24. Petitions
25. Letters to Editors
26. Twenty Tweets
______________________________________
01. What are your politicians saying about blood sports?
______________________________________
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports' campaigns enjoy cross-party support. Please contact your anti-blood sports TDs/Senators to praise their efforts to get hunting and coursing banned. If your TD/Senator is in favour of animal cruelty, please let them know that their stance will affect your future voting decisions.
For an updated list of TD and Senator views, visit our Politicians page at www.banbloodsports.com
______________________________________
02. SUCCESS: Donedeal drops ads for dogs used in blood sports
______________________________________
Irish classified ads website, Donedeal.ie, has responded positively to an Irish Council Against Blood Sports appeal in which we called for a rejection of ads for dogs used in hunting, baiting, digging-out and terrierwork. A big thumbs up to the Wexford-based company for updating its dog policy and beginning the process of permanently removing such ads.
When ICABS originally contacted DoneDeal about a number of dog adverts on their website, we were assured that "all of us at DoneDeal are big animal lovers" who didn't want their site to be used by those involved in cruelty.
As part of our appeal, we highlighted videos which explicitly show the cruelty involved in hunting and related activities such as the digging out of foxes and the use of terriers to trap animals underground and viciously attack them.
Donedeal's updated dog policy now includes the paragraph: "No Killing or Digging: We do not like the idea of dogs killing prey (e.g. foxes, badgers, deer, etc), as it can be a cruel experience for the prey, or the dog, or both. Therefore we do not accept ads that imply that the dog could/should be used for such activity. Also, we do not accept ads that mention or imply 'digging'." You can read the policy in full at http://help.donedeal.ie/info/dog-policy
"We're absolutely delighted with the stand DoneDeal has taken on this cruelty issue," responded ICABS spokesperson Aideen Yourell. "We will now be stepping up our campaign to try and get legislation introduced in Ireland to ban this barbarism."
For more information about DoneDeal or to place/view adverts, please visit www.donedeal.ie
______________________________________
03. Video shows struggling hare dying at Clonmel
______________________________________
A video filmed by two Swedish students shows a hare desperately struggling within a coursing enclosure at Powerstown Park in Clonmel. The disturbing footage can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTi2k6nfJSo#t=2m40s
"We could easily see the hare enclosure from the other side of the fence. Anyone could see the hares from there," the film makers, Emelie and Patrick, say in a statement. "We filmed through the fence. We had no intention of filming a dying hare. If we hadn't filmed the dying hare nobody would probably have heard about it. It would probably not have
reached the media and people wouldn't know that there are hares dying because of hare coursing."
You can read the full statement at http://www.huntsabsireland.org
The Irish Daily Mirror described the footage of the dying hare as "sickening". In an editorial headed "Mindless cruel 'sport'" (31 March 2010), the editor comments that "you don't have to be an ardent animal rights activist to be touched by the plight of dying hares at a coursing meeting".
"The scenes are shocking and disturbing. This sickening 'sport' pits defenceless creatures against lightning fast dogs. But even when the prey escapes the bloodthirsty hounds, they are often too exhausted, shocked or injured to survive."
A report in Swedish paper, The Local, refers to the hare "writhing in agony before dying" and states that police in Clonmel are investigating.
The hare seen suffering in this shocking footage is just one of many victims of hare coursing in Ireland. Please demand an end to coursing now. Phone, fax, email your TDs and demand that they act to bring this cruelty to an end. Email "Stop Licensing Hare Coursing" to minister@environ.ie and taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie To find out the names
and contact details for your TDs, click on Politicians at www.banbloodsports.com
______________________________________
04. ICABS criticises milk group over pro-hunting stance
______________________________________
ICABS has expressed disgust to the Irish Creamery and Milk Suppliers Association after its president referred to carted deerhunting as a "humane country activity" and claimed that the ban on the Ward Union is "unwanted, uncalled for, unfair and unprecedented in terms of the bias it represents against traditional country pursuits". The group has been told about the cruelty of deerhunting and presented with the results of an opinion poll which show that a majority want the hunt banned.
The comments from president Jackie Cahill were made in an April 2nd, 2010 statement headed "Minister Gormley should 'cop-on' and drop Wildlife Bill".
"The President of the country's second largest farmers' organisation has given his association's full support to the RISE [pro-blood sports] campaign against the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010," the statement says. "We have here a perfect example of Minister Gormley acting on the advice of a tiny but vocal group and banning something that the silent
majority know to be a traditional and humane country activity."
"It is simply not acceptable to have perfectly legitimate pastimes banned," it adds.
In a letter to Jackie Cahill and ICMSA General Secretary, Ciaran Dolan, ICABS highlighted the suffering caused to deer by the Ward Union and rubbished claims that it was in any way "humane". Photos of terrified, exhausted, bleeding deer at the end of hunts, as well as links to our campaign videos, have also been forwarded to the organisation. We also
dismissed the claim that the ban was unwanted, pointing to the results of an opinion poll which shows that a two thirds majority in County Meath want the hunt banned.
ACTION ALERT 1
Contact the ICMSA and tell them that carted deer hunting is inhumane and that a ban is most definitely wanted.
Jackie Cahill, President
Ciaran Dolan, General Secretary
ICMSA Head Office
John Feely House, Dublin Road, Limerick
Tel: +353 (0)61 314532 or 314677
Email: info@icmsa.ie,policy@icmsa.ie
Forward a copy of your correspondence to your local TDs and urge them to reflect the wishes of the majority by voting in favour of legislation banning the Ward Union. Tell them that their attitude towards animal issues and their commitment to bringing animal cruelty to an end will be a major factor in your voting decision. Why not also arrange a meeting with your local politicians to discuss your concerns about animal cruelty and encourage them to take action.
Address your correspondence to:
Dail Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Find out the email address of your TDs at
http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=12684&&CatID=138
Dear Deputy
I am writing to urge you to vote in favour of the upcoming legislation which will outlaw the Ward Union deerhunt.
The unacceptable suffering caused to animals by this hunt is clearly presented in a new Irish Council Against Blood Sports leaflet which can be viewed at http://www.scribd.com/doc/29287961
I also encourage you to watch the following ICABS videos which explicitly show the cruelty: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4fw00 AND http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4V9l4ChELo
Deputy, I am one of the majority of the electorate who abhor animal cruelty. I want to see the Ward Union banned. Please do the right thing and vote in favour of the legislation.
Thank you. I look forward to your positive response.
Yours sincerely,
Name/Location
ACTION ALERT 2
Please send "I support a ban on the Ward Union" to Environment Minister, John Gormley, and An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen - minister@environ.ie,taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie Ask all your friends, work colleagues, neighbours and family members who are against blood sports to support this action alert. Thank you.
______________________________________
05. Urge Labour and Fine Gael to back ban on staghunting
______________________________________
The Labour Party has said that it has "not yet taken any formal decision" in relation to the upcoming vote on banning the Ward Union deerhunt. Fine Gael, meanwhile, has reportedly said that it "will vote against the proposed ban and will repeal it if the party forms the next government". Please join us in urging both parties to show compassion and fully support the ban.
ACTION ALERT
Please contact the leaders of the Labour Party and Fine Gael today and urge them to fully support the upcoming ban on the Ward Union.
Eamon Gilmore, TD
Leader, The Labour Party
Leinster House, Kildare St, Dublin 2
Email: eamon.gilmore@oir.ie
Tel: 01 6183566. Fax: 01 6184574
Enda Kenny, TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Leinster House, Kildare St, Dublin 2
Email: enda.kenny@finegael.ie
Tel: 01 618 3105. Fax: 01 618 4502
______________________________________
06. Another Ward Union deer chased into river
______________________________________
A deer being hunted by the Ward Union in February ended up in the River Boyne, it has been reported. An article in the Irish Field describes how the unfortunate animal "entered the River Boyne to put the hounds off the scent". This is just the latest incident involving a deer jumping into a river to escape the pack of dogs. ICABS has brought it to the attention of Minister John Gormley.
The February 13th 2010 Irish Field report outlines that as the stag "retraced his way back down the river and returned to dry land" the hounds were called off and the animal was left to "remain at large as an outlier".
Previously, ICABS has highlighted an incident involving a deer being dragged out of the Broadmeadow River after being hunted for over two hours by the Ward Union. Another Ward Union deer was hunted for two and a half hours and "recaptured in the river at Burtonstown". On another occasion, a deer went into the Boyne near Navan during a chase which the Irish Times reported involved "50 huntsmen and huntswomen on horseback, in addition to some Ward Union staff...and a pack of hounds".
______________________________________
07. Cruelty of blood sports highlighted on RTE's Frontline
______________________________________
The cruelty of hunting in Ireland was highlighted to the nation in March on RTE's Frontline programme. The devastating impact trespassing hunts have on farmers was also featured.
Among those who highlighted the cruelty of carted deer hunting on the show were ICABS spokesperson, Aideen Yourell. Speaking on behalf of farmers negatively affected by hunts was Philip Lynch, chairman of Farmers Against Foxhunting and Trespass
You can watch Frontline online now at http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0322/thefrontline_av.html
[forward to the 14 minute, 20 second mark for start of debate]
ICABS thanks RTE/Frontline and Pat Kenny for covering this important issue.
______________________________________
08. ICABS tells bishop: Clergy blessing hunt dogs is inappropriate
______________________________________
In March, ICABS expressed disappointment to the bishop of Cloyne that a priest in his diocese was involved in a hunt blessing last season. We reminded then bishop of Cloyne, John Magee, about a previous statement from the Irish Bishops Conference that bishops "would not condone the practice of priests blessing foxhunts".
According to a report in the Irish Field of 12th Sept 2009, "hunt supporters and locals attended the blessing by parish priest, Fr Barry Flynn, of the United Hunt Club's new kennels in Clonmult, Co Cork last week." An accompanying photo shows the pack of hounds being blessed above the caption "Fr Barry Flynn blesses the hounds at the United Hunt
Club's new kennels." The United Hunt is a foxhunt.
Highlighting the cruelty of foxhunting, ICABS pointed to Paragraph 2418 of the Catechism which states that "it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly". We also quoted from Paragraph 2416 which outlines that: "Animals are God's creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they
bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals."
"We believe it is very inappropriate for members of the clergy to bless hounds that carry out cruelty to Irish wildlife," we added.
______________________________________
09. Farmer "angry that a hunt came across his land without permission"
______________________________________
A farmer on Liveline radio show expressed his anger that a foxhunt came on to his land without permission. Listen to what the farmer had to say by downloading and listening to the show.
Listen to the show on the RTE website
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/liveline/
["Liveline Podcast - hunts - Matt, a farmer who is angry that a hunt came across his land without permission"]
(Friday 26th February 2010)
Download the show
http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/8/26/2555237//pod-v-260210-24m25s-livelinehunt-1-.mp3
(24 minutes, 5.6Mb)
Keep hunters off your land: Further information
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. You may also wish to contact the Farmers Against Foxhunting and Trespass organisation which is happy to offer advice to landowners. Chairman, Philip Lynch, can be reached at 056-7725309. Visit the FAFT website at www.myspace.com/farmersagainstfoxhunting View the FAFT information leaflet at http://www.scribd.com/doc/17651383
______________________________________
10. "No Exemptions for Hunt Kennels": Farmers group
______________________________________
National farmers group, Farmers Against Foxhunting and Trespass (FAFT) has called on the government not to grant an exemption for hunt kennels under new dog breeding legislation. In a statement issued by the group, they describe foxhunting as anti-farmer and express support for a full ban.
Chairman Philip P. Lynch states: "Farmers Against Foxhunting and Trespass, representing thousands of farmers all over Ireland concerned about the havoc wrought by hunts on land (ripping up crops, scattering livestock, knocking fences, tearing domestic pets asunder in farmyards) wish it to be known that we wholeheartedly support Minister Gormley's
inclusion of hunt kennels in the proposed puppy farms legislation. We, the REAL voice of rural Ireland, say: foxhunting is anti-farmer and should be banned completely."
"We believe it is absolutely vital from the point of view of safeguarding the interests of farmers in every part of Ireland that the hunt kennels are made accountable for their conduct. We hope that every Dail Deputy and Senator is aware of the destructive potential of dogs at loose in the countryside. Have you ever seen a dog attack a flock of sheep? Have you ever witnessed a full pack of hounds, or strays from a pack, attack sheep or other livestock?"
"We farmers have endured more of this rural vandalism and emotional heartache from the hunts than we can tolerate."
You can read the full statement at
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=301677077&blogId=529359871
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11. "Hare coursers are sick, bloodthirsty varmints" - Queen's Brian May
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Queen's Brian May has described hare coursers as "sick, bloodthirsty varmints". The guitar legend was reacting to a pro-hare coursing video on Youtube in which a Queen song is used without permission.
"It's hard to imagine a more despicable 'fun' activity," Brian says in a blog post. "I was sent this link [to the video] by someone who was appalled that they have used a Queen track as the soundtrack. They asked me if I could get it taken down from YouTube. Well, I nearly did... and maybe I will eventually. But, you know...maybe there is a better idea. I
want to show it to anyone who seems to think it would be cool to repeal the Hunting Act...Perhaps it's worth seeing, to be clear just how low these people can stoop...I have a feeling that, given enough rope, these bloodthirsty varmints will hang themselves."
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12. Queen star May launches bid to stop return of hunting
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The following article from the Scotsman appears on Brian May's official website http://www.brianmay.com/whatsnew.html
Queen Star May Launches Bid To Stop Return Of Hunting The Scotsman - 14 April 2010
Queen star Brian May has launched an effort to stop the return of hunting by financing his own poster campaign.
The guitarist is urging voters to find out how their candidates would stand if MPs have a free vote on the matter after the General Election.
Chart-topping May unveiled a giant poster in west London to raise awareness of his Save Me campaign, named after one of his band's hits.
The Tories have pledged to introduce a free vote on overturning thehunting ban in England and Wales, which was introduced by the Hunting Act in 2004. This made it illegal to hunt wild animals using dogs.
May said yesterday: "For me it's a very important issue. I think most of the issues we talk about are purely selfish; the money in our pocket and whatever. I've always felt that our relationship with animals is seriously not right, so this is an attempt to put things back."
May is asking members of the public to support animal welfare by signing up at www.save-me.org.uk and hopes to recruit a million supporters by polling day.
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13. ICABS responds to Ruby Walsh's hunting statement
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ICABS has responded to a claim by jockey Ruby Walsh that going hunting is "the best way to learn to ride". Galloping after a pack of dogs as they push a frightened animal across the countryside would undoubtedly be viewed by most as the least desirable way to learn, we stated.
Quoted in the Irish Times of March 15, Mr Walsh went on to speak out against a ban on the Ward Union and to express fear that it could lead to a ban on other blood sports. "This is a bigger issue than stag-hunting and has to be stopped before it gathers momentum," he said.
He told the Times that he "occasionally rode out with the Ward Union Hunt" and went foxhunting in Limerick and Wexford.
"Ruby Walsh seems to be blinkered to the cruelty of hunting when he praises deplorable hunting as the best way to learn to ride," ICABS stated in response. "Galloping after a pack of dogs as they push a frightened, desperate animal across the countryside would undoubtedly be viewed by most as the least desirable way to learn."
We added: "Mr Walsh expresses concern that a ban on blood sports would result in job losses but it's more likely that it would act as a major stimulant for the rural horse scene. Taking cruelty out of the equation and transitioning to drag hunting immediately opens cross-country equestrianism to the compassionate majority who value a clear conscience. Drag hunting is the future for hunting in Ireland."
Read the full Irish Times report:
Leading jockey says proposed ban on stag-hunting 'has to be stopped'
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0315/1224266294048.html
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Please make a donation to ICABS
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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 "Shop" at www.banbloodsports.com for more details or send a cheque to ICABS, PO Box 88, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Ireland. Thank you very much.
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14. Mobile Phone Action Alerts
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Please download an Irish Council Against Blood Sports' action alert image on to your mobile phone and forward to your friends by MMS or email. Sending the image will help bring our important action alerts to a wider audience. Thank you for your help.
Note: The images are free but please check with your mobile phone operator for internet access/MMS/email charges.
Stop the Ward Union
Dimensions: 240x320. File Size: 49kb
Download link: www.tinyurl.com/mobilewu
Help the Hares
Dimensions: 240x320. File Size: 34kb
Download link: www.tinyurl.com/helpthehares
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15. Queen's university's hare research criticised
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Research carried out by Queen's University Belfast has been criticised by the League Against Cruel Sports in Northern Ireland. The research which claims that coursers benefit hare numbers has been described by ICABS as "a promotion for the Irish Coursing Club".
A statement issued by the League criticised the Queen's report for "failing to adequately consider vital issues" and went on to highlight that the Irish hare can "suffer from injuries and fatality at all stages of the coursing process including capture, handling, transportation captivity, during the coursing event and also after release."
"Of particular concern is the impact of a stress based syndrome 'capture myopathy'," League spokesperson Mary Friel added. "The syndrome leads to a compromise in the immune system and consequently death to hares which have appeared to initially survived a coursing event. This syndrome is thought to vastly increase the number of mortalities by the 'sport' and its effects on the local population are unknown."
Quoted in the Irish Examiner of February 25, 2010, Aideen Yourell of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports said the Queen's study "seems to be a promotion for the Irish Coursing Club".
"Hare preserves were merely places where coursers go to trap the animal rather than organised preserves," she said. "I would have no faith in any data that was supplied to this study by the ICC."
She also said clubs routinely struggle to trap enough hares.
Referring to their findings, the authors of the report concede that "we cannot rule out the role of habitat" and that the claimed level of hares recorded could be "because [coursing] clubs select areas of high hare density". On its website, it also adds that "it is necessary to evaluate the impact of removing hares from the source population and of returning
coursed hares to the wild before the wider impact of coursing on wild hare populations can be determined."
According to the "Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland" report (2008), the overall conservation status of the Irish Hare is "poor" and "factors likely to reduce hare numbers locally include loss of refuge areas, change from grassland to silage growing, increased urbanisation and HUNTING." The report confirms that the main pressures and threats to the hare include "trapping, poisoning, poaching" and concludes that the overall assessment of the hare is
"unfavourable" and "inadequate".
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16. Blood sports issues discussed on RTE TV and Radio
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Blood sports and puppy farming were among the issues discussed on Prime Time on 15th April. Appearing on the show were Trevor Sargent of the Green Party and Nuala Donlon of the Campaign Against Cruel Sports.You can watch the show online at http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0415/primetime_av.html?2737166,null,230
RTE Radio's Sunday Forum Show on April 11 included discussions about blood sports and vivisection
You can listen to the show online at http://www.rte.ie/radio1/thesundayforum/
The show features Green Party deputy leader, Mary White, TD and UCD sociology lecturer Roger Yates.
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17. Galway TD urged to support Ward Union ban
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Galway West TD, Padraic McCormack, has been urged to show compassion and vote in favour of a ban on the Ward Union deerhunt. The call is in response to a statement from the Fine Gael TD that his party will "oppose any change to existing licensing arrangements for stag hunting". The hunt is due to be banned this year.
In an email to an ICABS supporter, Deputy McCormack stated: "Fine Gael will oppose any change to existing licensing arrangements for stag hunting and will reverse any changes made by the present Government in that regard."
ICABS has appealed to him to reconsider his stance on the Ward Union issue.
"It is an extremely poor reflection on your party that it is unashamedly backing animal cruelty," we stated. "We urge you and Fine Gael to show compassion and side with the majority who want despicable activities like deer hunting, foxhunting and coursing outlawed in Ireland."
ACTION ALERT
Please contact Padraic McCormack, TD and urge him to vote in favour of legislation banning the Ward Union.
Padraic McCormack TD
Leinster House, Kildare St, Dublin 2
Email: Padraic.McCormack@finegael.ie
Tel: 01 618 3767 (Leinster House)
Tel: 091 568688/753992 (Constituency Office)
Fax: 01 618 4513 or 091 569204
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18. Hunting horror for cousins: pet torn apart by hounds
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BBC News has reported that a pet dog in Newry was torn apart by a pack of hounds as two cousins looked on in horror.
The boys were out walking their dog, Pip, in a field when the hunt arrived. The out-of-control pack tore him to bits in what is the latest hunt-related mauling of a pet.
According to the March 18th report, the boys said a member of the hunt got off his horse and examined what was
left of Pip - "He then threw the various parts into the hedge. When the boys asked him if their dog was dead, he replied 'yes', got back on his horse and rode off."
"The shock of what happened seems certain to remain with the boys for a long time to come," the BBC report concluded.
Source of information: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8575497.stm
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19. New ICABS leaflet exposes deerhunting cruelty
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A new leaflet published by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports documents some of the horrendous suffering caused to deer by the Ward Union hunt. The leaflet has been brought to the attention of all Ireland's TDs as part of our appeal to them to support legislation banning the hunt.
The leaflet shows how deer suffer during Ward Union hunts and details casualties and fatalities based on data obtained from the NPWS and Veterinary Inspectors from the Department of Agriculture.
"We hope that having read the leaflet and watched our video footage evidence that you and your party will support the legislation to outlaw the Ward Union," ICABS stated in an email to TDs. "Your support will be welcomed by the majority of the electorate who abhor animal cruelty and want blood sports ended in Ireland."
Download the Leaflet
http://banbloodsports.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/thecrueltyofcarteddeerhunting.pdf
[pdf, 2.1 Mb]
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20. Death by a Thousand Cuts - Act for Hedgerows
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Please help protect Ireland's hedgerows and their resident wildlife by reporting illegal hedge cutting. The following article from the Irish Wildlife Trust website [http://www.iwt.ie] provides more information on what you can do to help...
Illegal hedgerow cutting is detrimental to Irish wildlife and the Irish Wildlife Trust are appealing to land managers to stop. Hedge cutting typically starts around now and continues well into the summer months but, unless for reasons of health and safety, this practice is prohibited by the Wildlife Act from the 1st of March to the 31st of August every year. At this time of year birds and mammals are breeding and flowering is providing seeds for the next generation. Despite this
it seems that Local Authorities in Ireland only start cutting hedges in the summer months, creating eye-sores and causing untold destruction to wildlife.
Hedgerows are essential in providing habitats and corridors for maintaining wildlife diversity, supporting species such as badgers, owls, hedgehogs, stoats, blackbirds and innumerable plants, butterflies and other insects. Not only are they an invaluable reserve for much of our wildlife they are important in providing pollinators, cleaning our air, defining our landscape, storing carbon and by holding back the flow of water off land they can alleviate flooding.
"In spite of all these benefits, the Irish hedgerow is suffering 'death by a thousand cuts'. They are frequently mismanaged, flayed to within an inch of their existence, or simply removed during the construction of one-off houses and replaced with invasive alien cherry laurel - a plant of no value to wildlife." Commented Padraic Fogarty - IWT Chairperson.
Each year the IWT encourages the public to report instances of illegal hedgerow cutting to the IWT, which are followed up with letters to the relevant county council and the Minister for Environment. Just email the date, location, and if possible the name of the land manager involved and a photo to enquiries@iwt.ie
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21. Hares killed in illegal hunting, man fined
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The following article was published in the Anglo Celt of 10th March, 2010
http://www.anglocelt.ie/news/roundup/articles/2010/03/10/3995467-hares-killed-in-illegal-hunting
Hares killed in illegal hunting
Bilgun Argana, Kilnatruhan, Killoe was fined Euro300 for concealing wild mammals from conservation officer Michael Hackett, contrary to the Wildlife Act of 1976 at Rossduff, Moyne on May 5, 2009.
He was fined a further Euro300 for failing to comply with a requirement by Mr. Hackett and or impeding or obstructing him in the exercise of his powers, conferred by the Wildlife Act.
The defendant was fined a further Euro300 for not being the owner or occupier of lands and entering such lands at Rossduff to hunt wild animals without permission. He was also fined Euro300 for hunting exempted wild mammals on the occasion without a licence.
Mr Hackett, replying to Mr. Tory Hayden, SS, told the court he was on duty in the area on the date in question. At around 2.20pm he was informed that a person known to them was hare-hunting in the area. Witness went to the location and met Mr. Argana and two local men, who notified him about the activity.
Witness identified himself to Mr. Argana and he knew who witness was. He admitted that he did not have permission to be on the land.
Asked what he was hunting, the defendant told witness he was training puppies. Asked on what, the defendant said rabbits, hares, foxes and any damn thing.
Witness searched his vehicle and found two lurcher dogs and a greyhound. He found a roll of black bin liner in the front seat of the car.
Witness asked the defendant about a pool of blood where his vehicle had been parked, he said he was not responsible for it. He denied killing hares. A follow-up search uncovered two dead hares in a black bin liner.
Mr. Argana took off at speed in his vehicle. Witness later made contact with the gardai and went to the garda station in Arva, where he met Mr. Argana. Sergeant William Ward and Garda Linda Harkin were present.
He admitted that his dogs had killed the hares and he had put them in the bin liners. He apologised and asked to be given another chance.
Witness had not encountered the defendant before but other staff members had received complaints. He pointed out that one of the hares killed on this occasion was a female with dependant young.
Defending solicitor Ms Brid Mimnagh said her client, a Turkish national, had no previous convictions. He was not working and did not receive any income from any source. Her client instructed her that he did not own the dogs, but was looking after them for someone else.
Judge MacBride noted that the accused had been training young pups to hunt: "That tells me all I need to know about your client and his attitude to the law. He's lucky he's not going to prison - if he had not gone back to the garda station and copped himself on, I would have been giving him two months," said the judge.
He added that the picture of the dead hares handed into court was nauseating and terrible.
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22. Campaign Quotes
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"Former chairman of Meath County Council and Fianna Fail councillor Nick Killian [nkillian@members.meathcoco.ie] said the proposed ban was 'the Green tail wagging the Fianna Fail dog' and he was 'disgusted' with his party for supporting the ban." Irish Times, December 15, 2009 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1215/1224260713599.html
"Foxes aren't so different to us. They have children that they love and families they have to feed. Therefore, it can be said that fox hunting is completely unnecessary and is animal cruelty at its worst. The people who participate in this disgusting pastime are devoid of any compassion towards animals and are stamping cruelty all over the countryside. I am
passionate in my belief that the government should make fox hunting illegal." from Ban Fox Hunting in Ireland by popgirl14, http://www.spunout.ie/mag/Rant-your-rage/Ban-Fox-Hunting-in-Ireland)
"Stag Hunting - If these blood thirsty heartless scum think it's such fun and that the stags/foxes are not terrified, why don't they take it in turns to get their sorry arses off the horses, give them a 10 minute headstart and let them run off into the fields then let the dogs loose after them." [From a comment on the rollercoaster.ie website,
23/03/2010 - http://www.rollercoaster.ie/boards/mc.asp?forumdb=1&order=0&g=37&ID=325743&page_num=2]
"Foxes are very good parents. Unlike some other wild animals, the dog-fox is an excellent father. He provides food for the vixen and her cubs and helps his mate to rear the family. The cubs begin to leave home in late summer. They soon go their separate ways for foxes are solitary animals and prefer to be on their own. Foxes do a very important job of
controlling the numbers of pests like rats and mice." From a poster on the Ask About Ireland website -
http://www.askaboutireland.ie/aai-files/assets/Environment/Environment%20for%20Kids/Posters/Animated_Posters-1.pdf
"There are not so many hares left"
(http://www.askaboutireland.ie/learning-zone/primary-students/subjects/environment/furry-friends/rabbithare)
"The Minister [Michael Finneran, Fianna Fail] does not propose to change his mind and does not respect or accept the bona fides of the Irish Coursing Club or greyhound industry." Paul Bradford (Fine Gael) Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage, 9 March 2010
"I have no doubt that the ban on coursing in England will be lifted" Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage, 9 March 2010
"The Minister of State is a reasonable man and he will accept how well regulated is the coursing industry." Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage, 9 March 2010
"As a very young girl I saw how well run coursing was and how the integrity of the industry was protected at all times." Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail) Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage, 9 March 2010
"Those involved in these rural pursuits are not breaking any law; they are only doing what previous generations did. They are concerned that the Bill will affect the viability of these pursuits, in the process threatening their existence. I can appreciate their concerns, which is why we have tabled amendments to protect an indigenous industry that dates back many generations." Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael), Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage, 9 March 2010
"A number of months ago, the website of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals stated that the society's long-term objective is to have greyhound racing banned in Ireland...The ISPCA wants to close down the greyhound industry. It wants to close down the industry." Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) Dog Breeding Establishments Bill
2009: Committee Stage, 9 March 2010
"Ban Blood sports.. It's bad enough we kill animals for meat but for sport is unacceptable...Keep up the good work." Pete Mac, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of Irish based alternative rock/grunge outfit band Paradox. http://www.myspace.com/petemacparadox March 3, 2010
"It's only with the good will of the landowners that we are allowed out...our hunt along with several hunts in the country do a huge amount of work to raise funds for local schools and local benefits and it's that that generates the goodwill for the landowners and because of that farmers are very good to us and we really appreciate that." A member of a foxhunt speaking on RTE's Liveline, February 26th 2010. The link between hunt fundraisers and gaining access to farmers' lands - ICABS will be highlighting this quote as part of our appeal to charities to refuse money from hunts.
"Whether it's an apology or not, it's irrelevant because they ruined his land. Someone said they [the hunters] offered him alcohol. So what? You need to dig up the whole land, resow it...[Hunting] absolutely destroys land. Three or four horses going all across land absolutely ruins it." A former huntswoman describes the destruction caused by hunts, RTE's
Liveline, February 26th 2010.
"On Monday morning, three local Fianna Fail TDs, Mary Wallace, Johnny Brady and Thomas Byrne, visited the Ward Union kennels at Greenpark in Skryne to see for themselves how it operated and how the hunt operated health and safety and other measures. Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey has already indicated his support for John Gormley's proposals
to ban the hunt." (Meath Chronicle, 10th February, 2010)
"In recent years, a neurological condition of greyhounds has been observed at University College Dublin (UCD).
This condition occurs in young dogs aged between four and 18 months, of both sexes, and often affects multiple animals in the same litter. The clinical signs vary in severity and type, but include any combination of dullness, weight loss, head tilt, unsteady gait, circling, blindness, aggression and vocalisation. The condition is invariably fatal despite treatment, and can be confirmed only by post-mortem examination." From the Irish Coursing Club website, February 2010
"Fox hunting has been banned in the UK for several years now. The industry suffered for a while but recovered. I worked in Equestrian manufacturing too for 8 years and saw it happen and people worked around it and drag hunting came in to play. No reason why it could not be banned here, drag hunting has also existed for decades here already."
[From a comment on the rollercoaster.ie website, 23/03/2010 -
http://www.rollercoaster.ie/boards/mc.asp?forumdb=1&order=0&g=37&ID=325743&page_num=2]
"Still watching Frontline & I cannot understand these people's mindsets...All these animals have a right to be treated well & cruelty of any form is just unacceptable. I say fair play to anyone who gets in the way of these so called traditional hunts or any kind of animal cruelty. It's just sick imo & beyond my comprehension altogether!" [From a comment on the rollercoaster.ie website, 22/03/2010 -
http://www.rollercoaster.ie/boards/mc.asp?forumdb=1&order=0&g=37&ID=325743&page_num=2]
"I've just been watching Frontline & they were on the topic of the Stag hunt. They showed a clip of a hunt in session & my God, my stomach was turning at all the dogs surrounding the Stag & grown men holding onto the terrified thing.I've never witnessed a hunt in my life & I'm left wondering why the hell people would do this??" [From a comment on the
rollercoaster.ie website, 22/03/2010 -
http://www.rollercoaster.ie/boards/mc.asp?forumdb=1&order=0&g=37&ID=325743&page_num=2]
"On Saturday 13th March 2010, I was appalled to see over 100 meters of ancient and biologically rich hedgerow destroyed outside Tullamore...It is all the more disturbing as this happened during Ireland's 'National Tree Week'-a nationwide event run annually by The Tree Council of Ireland to help us all to appreciate our native trees and associated
biodiversity." (Tom Roche, Just Forests, Rhode, Co Offaly. Extract from letter on Irish Environmental Network website)
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23. Parliamentary Questions and Answers
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Question 507 - Answered on 26th January, 2010
Maureen O'Sullivan, TD: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a deer was killed during a hunt (details supplied) on 29 December 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr John Gormley): The hunt which was organised by the club in question on 29 December, 2009 was monitored by a team from my Department. No deer was killed and the hunt passed off without incident. However, my Department's monitoring team had attended a hunt meeting held on 11
December, 2009 where a deer collided with a motor vehicle. The deer was examined by two veterinary surgeons, including the veterinary surgeon employed by my Department, and it was decided to euthanise the deer on account of its injuries.
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24. Petitions
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Ban Blood Sports in Ireland Now
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/784506550
Hare coursing will start again if protection is lifted
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/392804410#signatures
Help India's monkeys
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/only-performing-monkeys-left-unattendedwhy
Stop Burning Live Bulls - End Sadistic Festivals
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/firebull---stop-the-burning-of-live-bulls
Live bull to be set on fire in Spain - action needed
http://animalrights.change.org/actions/view/live_bull_to_be_set_on_fire-spain-action_needed
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25. Letters to Editors
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MCGURK VIEW ON FOX HUNTING
Sunday Business Post, April 11 2010
Tom McGurk (28/3/2010) attacked the Green Party's views on animal welfare issues, and called them ''our own homegrown suburban Taliban''.
McGurk says he was struck by the arrogance and moral self-righteousness of the Greens and others who appeared on RTE's Frontline programme seeking to advance the issue of the prevention of cruelty to animals.
He goes on to say that animals reared to feed man are subjected to suffering in their lives and deaths.
His article is typical of the type of argument one gets each time one seeks to address the glaring issue of animal abuse.
Hunting a wild animal with hounds for fun and entertainment is a well-organised form of animal abuse: comparing it to other animal abuses is neither here nor there.
Those of us concerned for the welfare of animals in general are well aware of other animal welfare issues. We do not need Tom McGurk to remind us through his efforts to defend the Ward Union Hunt and others like them.
Brendan Purcell Rathkeale, Co Limerick
TAKE THE CRUELTY OUT OF COURSING
Irish Independent, April 12 2010
The Irish Coursing Club has offered a reward of 20,000 Euro for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever caused a hare to be ill-treated in an incident caught on film by two Swedish students who attended the National Coursing Meeting in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, in February.
While commending any initiative that advances the cause of animal welfare, I cannot help reflecting that such proactive concern and compassion for the plight of Irish hares used in coursing has not been evident in the past.
To my knowledge, no coursing club has ever previously offered a reward in relation to any one of the many thousands of hares that have been terrorised, injured, or killed at coursing events over the decades.
Still, I welcome this new-found solicitude for the inoffensive hare in the higher echelons of the politically well-connected coursing fraternity.
Can I suggest that the ICC might now take the next logical humane step and consider replacing the live hare in coursing with a mechanical lure, with the aim of eliminating all cruelty from coursing?
John Fitzgerald, Callan, Co Kilkenny
DRAG-HUNTING SHOULD BE THE COMPROMISE
Meath Chronicle, 7th April, 2010
Dear sir - After watching the recent RTE 'The Frontline' programme which dealt with the subject of hunting in Ireland, I was compelled to write this letter to outline my disgust and abhorrence at this so called form of 'sport'.
I listened to apologist after apologist claim that the animals involved, be they stags or foxes, did not suffer during this barbaric activity. These people claim to be animal lovers, however they have no problem sitting in their comfortable fleece lined saddles chasing defenceless animals to the point of exhaustion. A film clip was shown in which a stag gasping and on the point of collapsing was cornered by some of these brave 'animal lovers' and manhandled back into captivity. Surely
not the actions of people professing to love and care for animals.
Some tried to justify their existence by claiming that stag and fox hunting is a tradition in this country. This does not necessarily make it right. Perhaps in olden times when people were hunting for food for their families there may have been some justification but not any more. Others tried the age old argument that urban dwellers are ganging up on
country folk and trying to spoil their bit of so called fun. These days most of the hunting fraternity come from rich middle class urban society so this does theory not wash either.
It was also suggested that if hunting was banned, other pastimes such as fishing would follow suit. This is nonsense. Unlike hunting, fishing is a skill. The fisherman uses his knowledge to find where fish are located and uses his skill to find which bait is required to catch the fish. Only a very small amount of the catch is ever kept and those that are kept are instantly killed ensuring that they do not suffer.
If these people really care about the well being of animals they would change to drag-hunting. They could still spend their days galloping around the fields, blowing their horns, shouting 'tally ho' and jumping across briar filled ditches content in the knowledge that no animal was suffering unnecessarily in their pursuit of enjoyment. Surely this would be an acceptable compromise for all concerned.
Yours, Jimmy Rafter, Hill of Tara.
HUNTING IS NOT AN URBAN V RURAL DEBATE
Sunday Tribune - February 14, 2010
Resistance by the hunting fraternity to this government's attempt to improve animal welfare through the proposed Puppy Farming Bill is hardly surprising - after all, hunters and coursers routinely frighten, hurt and kill animals for fun. It is annoying though, that these same people have been allowed to turn the current discourse on this bill into a 'rural v urban' debate.
As someone who grew up on a farm and still resides in rural Ireland, I resent the implication that common decency and compassion is somehow the preserve of city dwellers. It is particularly galling, by the way, when this message is delivered in the Dublin 4 accent of some of hunting's most prominent spokespersons.
If these gentlemen were to get off their horses or out of their four-wheel drives for longer than it takes to kill a fox, then they would soon discover that the great majority of us who are of rural Ireland deplore animal abuse, whether it is perpetrated for profit or for fun. I don't know anyone in my rural community who has a problem with dog-breeding establishments of any kind being subject to inspection. How could anyone with a genuine concern for animal welfare
have a problem with that?
Could it be that if the practices of hunt breeding kennels were at last exposed to public view, then the hunting fraternity would have to answer some very awkward questions indeed? Questions such as, where do all the hounds who have outlived their five-seasons hunting career go? Hunting hounds have a natural life span of 12-14 years. Yet, on the admission of the hunters themselves, these animals are not homeable, and would have to be killed should hunting be banned. What happens to the dogs who are bred to surplus and never make it into the hunting pack? Or the ones who
have failed to make the grade during the cub hunting season when fox cubs are used as live bait to blood the hounds? It is, perhaps, no wonder that the hunters are afraid of the Puppy Farming Bill.
It is way past time that those of us who live in rural Ireland and are opposed to wanton cruelty to animals (and make no mistake, we are in the majority) had our voices heard by both the media and our public representatives. Rural Ireland has had enough of hunters creating an urban-rural divide where none exists, in an effort to divert attention from the fact that the vast majority of Irish people oppose killing animals for fun.
Nuala Donlon, Watervale, Rooskey, Co Roscommon.
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Top ways you can help the campaign
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• Join our email list (and encourage friends to join) and respond to our Action Alerts. Email "Subscribe" to info@banbloodsports.com
• Become a campaign supporter and make a donation to help fund our efforts. Click on "Join ICABS" at www.banbloodsports.com for more information.
• Contact your local politicians and ask them to support a ban on blood sports. Click on "Politicians" at www.banbloodsports.com for contact details and a sample letter.
• Be our friend on MySpace, Bebo, Twitter and Youtube -
http://www.myspace.com/banbloodsports,
http://www.bebo.com/banbloodsports,
http://www.twitter.com/banbloodsports, http://www.youtube.com/icabs
• Sign up for our free text alert service and receive occasional campaign updates to your phone. To subscribe to this free service, simply text the word GO to our textline on 00 353 86 038 6617.
• Link to our website and display one of our banners. Click on "Links" at www.banbloodsports.com for linking options.
• 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. Click on "Petitions" at www.banbloodsports.com for online and printable petitions.
• Organise a fund-raiser to help raise funds for the campaign
• Set up an online anti-blood sports group (Myspace, Bebo, Facebook, etc) to cover your area.
• Download, print and display our posters and leaflets - click on "Leaflets" at www.banbloodsports.com now.
• 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. Email ICABS about any blood-sport related incidents in your area.
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Please make a donation to ICABS
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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 "Shop" at www.banbloodsports.com for more details or send a cheque to ICABS, PO Box 88, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Ireland. Thank you very much.
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Keep hunters off your land
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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. You may also wish to contact the Farmers Against Foxhunting and Trespass organisation which is happy to offer advice to landowners. Chairman, Philip Lynch, can be reached at 056-7725309. Visit the FAFT website at: www.myspace.com/farmersagainstfoxhunting
Download the FAFT leaflet from: http://www.scribd.com/doc/17651383
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Tune in to the ICABS Channel
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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.
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Animal Voice - subscribe/unsubscribe
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Help us to highlight our campaigns to even more people. If you have friends who would like to receive "Animal Voice", please ask them to send an email to info@banbloodsports.com with "Animal Voice - Subscribe" in the subject line.
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Vital to get Irelands Labour Party to back Staghunting Ban
….URGENT APPEAL….!!
Before the end of this month, the Bill to ban carted stag hunting in Ireland comes before our country’s parliament, the Dail.
While it is expected that this long awaited proposed legislation will pass, and that the horrific cruelty of carted stag hunting will indeed be made illegal, the Fine Gael Party has pledged to repeal the ban if and when it forms the next government.
To prevent that from happening, we need to persuade Ireland’s Labour Party, which will be in coalition with Fine Gael in that future government (within two years from now) TO GIVE ITS FULL BACKING TO THE BILL TO BAN STAG HUNTING.
If Labour supports the Bill, this will send a very powerful message to its future coalition partner that the stag hunting ban is here to stay.
The Labour Party, which has twenty seats in the Dail (parliament) will meet within the coming week to decide whether to vote for the Bill or otherwise.
Can you please email Irish Labour Party leader, Eamon Gilmore, requesting that his party support the abolition of stag hunting?
His email address is
eamon.gilmore@oireachtas.ie
Or you may wish to contact, or email, Deputy Joanna Tuffy, who, we are informed, is “coordinating party policy on stag hunting”, requesting support for the Bill. You could perhaps draw her attention to the film footage of stag hunting on this Irish website: www.banbloodsports.com
Ms. Tuffy can be contacted at 01-6183822 or emailed at joanna.tuffy@oireachtas.ie
Thanking you,
John Fitzgerald,
Campaign for the Abolition
Of Cruel Sports
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1,286 minke whales could die this year. Will you help them?
When the Norwegian whaling season begins in April 2010, over 1,200 minke whales will face death by exploding harpoon and rifle shots.
I’ve just taken action to protect them: I’ve written to the Norwegian Prime Minster, asking that the country cease whaling. Signing the letter takes just a minute – please help end this cruelty!
http://e-activist.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=24&ea.campaign.id=6187****************************************************
Views of some Galway TD's on hare coursing
Ulick Burke, TD (FG, Galway East):
"FF back bencher Noel Treacy made good his support for fieldsports, as did East Galway FG TD Ulick Burke." (From a report in the Irish Horse section of the Irish Famers Journal, 26 January 2008 about a hunt meeting in Galway)Noel Grealish, TD (Independent, Galway West):
"I fully support your quest to ban live hare coursing." (September 2003)Michael D Higgins, TD (Labour, Galway West):
Michael D Higgins is a former vice-chairperson of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports.Noel Treacy, TD (FF, Galway East):
According to a report in the Sunday Times (November 18th, 2007), one of the few TDs who defended the Ward Union deerhunt was Noel Treacy, TD. The Galway SPCA criticised the TD for his stance and encouraged Galway people to lodge complaints.At a pro-hunt meeting in January 2008, Deputy Treacy spoke in favour of hunting, suggesting that the biggest threat it faced was complacency. "When I was in charge of the Wildlife Service," he announced, "I got constant letters from ICABS to ban hunting and in all my time there only ever got one letter pro hunting." (Galway Independent - 23 January 2008)
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Please put your money in local animal welfare
It has come to our attention that people think that giving street donations to 'Paws' and 'Ash' is supporting Galway SPCA.
This is completely untrue , your donation does not help one animal in Galway. We have one street collection a year and one church gate collection that's it, and if it does not state GSPCA then it is not us.
With the recession we are being hit with reduced donations so please give and support your local animal welfare groups who are in need of it.
We hate having to say this, but neither Ash(Wicklow) or Paws(Tipperary) do anything for the welfare of Galway animals. Indeed they will tell you they do because the GSPCA don't do anything. But please bear in mind these are professional sellers who get paid as do the company they work for out of your donation.
We know from other welfare groups who are as fed up as we are of these people coming in to their towns and cities and collecting money which the local welfare groups badly need and with total disregard to the local welfare group.
Finally we would like to thank all our loyal supporters who keep helping us , its you who are keeping us afloat and enabling us to help the abused, distressed, abandoned animals of Galway city and county and the islands.****************************************************
Good News: UK Circus Consultation Brings Hope for Animals in UK Circuses
Dear ARAN Supporters,
Recently we wrote to you asking you to fill in a UK government conslutation on the use of animals in UK circuses. The consultation ended earlier this month and the results have spoken! Of the 10576 responses recorded, it has now being revealed that:-
· 94.5% believed a ban on the use of wild animals in traveling circuses was the best option to achieve consistently better welfare standards for these animals.
· 95.5% believed that there are no species of wild animal, which it is acceptable to use in traveling circuses.
· 96% believed traveling circuses should be prevented from obtaining any further wild animals.
According to Jim Fitzpatrick, UK Animal Welfare Minister, "I agree with the clear view emerging from the huge response to the government's consultation that keeping wild animals to perform in traveling circuses is no longer acceptable. So, I am minded to pursue a ban on the use of these animals in circuses."
Outside of the UK online consultation, a further 2300 postcards from ADI supporters have been received by DEFRA, but, these have not yet been included. In Ireland, huge numbers of ARAN supporters nationwide filled in the online consultation and some sent postcards – it what we would agree has probably to date been the greatest response yet to any of our appeals to help animals. This consultation was prompted by a long time campaign by our campaign partners at Animal Defenders International (ADI) along with being supported by ARAN and others.
We are continuing to work with ADI in the UK in order to support their campaign to end the use of animals in circuses.
In Ireland ARAN is working hard across the country to bring about an end to the use of animals in Irish circuses as part of our joint campaign campaign with ADI called ‘Stop Circus Suffering in Ireland’ and is currently working on the following:-
· Working with two new towns to bring in new motions to ban animal act circuses.
· Coordinating national demonstrations wherever the circus pulls up and just recently we targeted circuses in Waterford, Cork, Limerick and Newcastlewest.
· Working to strengthen the new and revised upcoming Irish animal welfare bill to bring in national legislation. Although we are not confident about this going ahead, our ultimate goal now is to bring about local city and town ordinances.
· Public education – urging people to boycott animal act circuses.
· Working with the Irish press and bringing our media campaign into various towns and cities across Ireland.
· School education, with our respected volunteers who work with children and students across the country in a friendly manner.
ARAN would like to thank each and every supporter in Ireland that took part in our Irish appeal for the UK circus consultation. Together your efforts will go on to ensure that a future without the use of animals is most now hopeful.
Thank you for all you do to help animals and for your loyal ongoing support of ARAN. We simply could not be the voice we are for animals without you, and, together we will end all forms of animal abuse and establish much needed rights for all innocent animals.
ARAN
‘Fighting against animal abuse across Ireland’
www.ARAN.ie
Ps, ARAN continues to promote our campaigns in a professional and peaceful manner. Since our inception, we continue to oppose the use of violence and intimidation towards humans and animals and strive to work in a mainstream manner that the public will understand and to be apart of.
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Dear all,
Please take a moment and sign my petition urging the Canadian government to include animal rights into the constitution.
Currently, there is no federal protection for animals in Canada, and our provincial laws are extremely lax.
This means people can and literally do get away with murder, because animals are still regarded by most as "things" not beings.
This has to change!
Be the change you want to see, speak for those who can't!
And ask others to also sign this groundbreaking petition.Lastly, if you can, please post the link to the petition on your websites, in order for as many people as possible to see it and sign it.
Thank you.
Micol Kates animal activist,
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/put-animal-rights-into-the-constitution
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Sarah Palin on Discovery?
Dear Wildlife Supporter,Can you believe it?
Discovery Communications -- the parent company of The Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, TLC and others, and known for their wildlife-focused programs -- is planning to produce an 8-part TV show on Sarah Palin’s Alaska!
Discovery says it regards Palin as being “one of [Alaska’s] proudest daughters.”
Never mind that the former governor was an unabashed champion of Alaska’s brutal and bloody aerial wolf-slaughter program. According to reports, she’ll earn about $1 million per episode from the nature-focused series.
Sarah Palin’s Alaska is a “reality TV” show that aims to showcase the “powerful beauty of Alaska,” according to Discovery’s TLC website.
But the real Sarah Palin’s Alaska is an ugly reality. As governor for only two-and-a-half years, Sarah Palin escalated a bloody aerial wolf-slaughter campaign that continues to this very day. She even planned to offer a $150 bounty for the severed forelimb of each killed wolf.
Palin also fought against increased protections for endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales and America’s dwindling populations of polar bears.
It seems ironic that Sarah Palin will now earn millions hosting a nature show after spending years fighting against Alaska's natural heritage!
It’s surprising that Discovery Communications, parent company of such cable television channels as Animal Planet, The Discovery Channel and TLC -- and known for their stunning wildlife-focused shows -- would chose to embrace such a controversial and anti-wildlife persona as Sarah Palin.
Please join me in calling on Discovery Communications to drop Sarah Palin’s new show.
Sincerely,
Rodger Schlickeisen
President
Defenders of Wildlife****************************************************
Warning about Charity Collectors in Galway
We would ask the people of Galway not to support collectors collecting for ASH. Your money will not support Galway animal welfare or Galway animals. We are also a registered charity and all our funds go directly to the animals in our care. We look after the abused, ill and lost animals around Galway city, county, and the islands.
We do not like having to say this but a collector said to a GSPCA member that they collect the dogs in Galway because the GSPCA do nothing.
The collectors get a 30% commission we were told, as does the company they work for.****************************************************
Action Alert (Galway) - support the upcoming ban on the Ward Union
Dear Galway Supporter,
We would be grateful for your help with the action alert below. It relates to Galway TD, Padraic McCormack (Fine Gael), who has said that his party will oppose efforts to ban the cruel Ward Union hunt. Thank you for your support.
With best wishes.
Yours sincerely,
Philip Kiernan
Irish Council Against Blood Sports
PO Box 88, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Ireland
Email: info@banbloodsports.com
Website: www.banbloodsports.com
ICABS on YouTube: www.youtube.com/icabs
ICABS on Bebo: www.bebo.com/banbloodsports
ICABS on MySpace: www.myspace.com/banbloodsports
ICABS on your mobile: www.banbloodsports.com/wap
ICABS on Twitter: www.twitter.com/banbloodsportsGalway TD urged to support Ward Union ban
4 March 2010
Galway West TD, Padraic McCormack, has been urged to show compassion and vote in favour of a ban on the Ward Union deerhunt. The call is in response to a statement from the Fine Gael TD that his party will "oppose any change to existing licensing arrangements for stag hunting". The hunt is due to be banned this year.
In an email to an ICABS supporter, Deputy McCormack stated: "Fine Gael will oppose any change to existing licensing arrangements for stag hunting and will reverse any changes made by the present Government in that regard."
ICABS has appealed to him to reconsider his stance on the Ward Union issue.
"It is an extremely poor reflection on your party that it is unashamedly backing animal cruelty," we stated. "We urge you and Fine Gael to show compassion and side with the majority who want despicable activities like deer hunting, foxhunting and coursing outlawed in Ireland."
ACTION ALERT
Please contact Padraic McCormack, TD and the leader of Fine Gael and urge them to fully support the upcoming ban on the Ward Union.
Padraic McCormack TD
Leinster House, Kildare St, Dublin 2
Email: Padraic.McCormack@finegael.ie
Tel: 01 618 3767 (Leinster House)
Tel: 091 568688/753992 (Constituency Office)
Fax: 01 618 4513 or 091 569204Enda Kenny, TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Leinster House, Kildare St, Dublin 2
Email: enda.kenny@finegael.ie
Tel: 01 618 3105
Fax: 01 618 4502
The cruelty of carted deer hunting
The following list conveys just some of the cruelty of carted deer hunting and the suffering caused to the deer.
"In January 1999, Irish Council Against Blood Sports monitors obtained the first ever photographic and video evidence of the cruelty of the Ward Union carted deer hunt. Available to view in the videos and gallery pages of www.banbloodsports.com, it shows a terrified and exhausted stag, having been pursued across countryside for one and a half hours and cornered in a field by a pack of hounds. An ICABS cameraman raced to the scene and managed to film the terrified stag under pressure from hounds and being bitten. A number of hunt supporters manhandled the stag to the ground, and the exhausted animal with blood on its mouth and its tongue hanging out, was dragged away down a laneway through a farmyard and pushed into a cart." (Irish Council Against Blood Sports report, 1999)
During a Ward Union hunt in December 2009, a hunted deer jumped on to a road, was struck by a car, smashed into its windscreen and suffered a broken leg. The animal was put down. The occupants of the car were left badly shaken according to a relative speaking on RTE's Liveline radio show. The Irish Times of December 19, 2009 reported on the collision as follows "An incident occurred last Friday week which will only strengthen Gormley's view that it should be banned. At 1.30pm a stag collided with the windscreen of a car on the Slane-to- Ashbourne road near Ashbourne. The animal broke a leg and was put down."
On 25 November 2008, a National Parks and Wildlife Service ranger monitoring the Ward Union hunt reported that he was forced to "brake hard" to avoid a collision with a hunted deer. The ranger said he "narrowly avoided killing" the animal.
In a veterinary report submitted to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, a veterinary surgeon monitoring a hunt at Scurlogstown, County Meath during the 2006-07 season, reveals that a deer "died as a result of 'dry drowning' having fallen into a quarry." The vet mentioned other deer that suffered injuries during the season. Five deer had "slight lameness" and two had "skin abrasions", he said.
In an official report dealing with the 2004-05 Ward Union season (obtained by ICABS under the Freedom of Information Act), details are provided about an 8-year-old deer that dropped dead after trying to escape. The death occurred after the creature was hunted for approximately one and a half hours. The following provides a harrowing glimpse into the deer's final minutes of life... "the stag...jumped over a 5 foot in height wall into the cottage garden, following which 3 nominated handlers entered the garden through a side gate. The stag, in full view of two of the handlers then attempted to escape from the garden by attempting unsuccessfully to scale a higher wall (approximately 8-9 feet high) before being captured on his feet by the three nominated handlers...The stag was held for approximately five minutes by the handlers as they waited for the deer cart to arrive, following which he suddenly dropped dead...The cause of death was due to a ruptured aorta."
A report in the Irish Times revealed that a stag being pursued by the Ward Union hunt was forced to swim across the River Boyne in a desperate bid to escape. The stag went into the river near Navan during a hunt on December 30th 2008 during a chase involving "50 huntsmen and huntswomen on horseback, in addition to some Ward Union staff...and a pack of hounds". (from "Stag escapes from Meath hunters by swimming river", Irish Times, December 31, 2008)
A farmer who phoned in to RTE's Liveline show following the chasing of a Ward Union deer into a school playground, said he had never before seen "an animal so shook looking". "I pitied him," the farmer said. "He was covered in a lather of sweat and his tongue was hanging out." When he questioned the hunt about their behaviour, he said they told him to "F*** off." (Liveline Radio Show, RTE, January 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. (From a report highlighted on the Irish Council Against Blood Sports website, 2007)
Two deer were hounded to their deaths by the Ward Union hunt during the 2004-05 season. The deer deaths were recorded in a Department of Agriculture report obtained by ICABS under the Freedom of Information Act. A veterinary inspector from the Department highlighted in the report how one deer died from fractured ribs while another died from a ruptured aortic aneurism.
According to a Department of Agriculture report obtained by ICABS, a deer hounded by the Ward Union Deerhunt died when recaptured at the end of a hunt. Following a post mortem, it was found that the deer had died from a ruptured aneurism. The report concluded that it was "most likely that the physiological stress of hunting led to the rupture". (From an article in ICABS newsletter, Animal Watch, Issue 1, 2003)
A report from a Department of Agriculture Veterinary Inspector revealed that a deer "accidentally choked" while being captured.
"As a young Irish man living in Dunshaughlin County Meath in the 1950's as a groom, I saw many a deer put down after breaking his back as a result of having to make a jump because the hounds were at its heels. I can honestly say it was not a pretty sight. Whilst at home a few years ago the hunt came by and to see the reaction of the huntsmen on the Dublin / Navan road galloping up and down was unbelievable." (From a comment on the Irish Times website, Joe Dowd, United Kingdom, December 2009)
The quotes in this section are extracts from the Kane Report on the Ward Union The conclusions of Veterinary Inspector, Kieran Kane are utterly damning of the Ward Union..."The transportation of the stags in the cart is inhumane in its manner and in the design of the cart. The enlargement of the stags is inhumane in that they are ejected suddenly into a strange environment and alone. A stag which has been hunted previously appears, before the hunt starts, to be distressed and aware that he is about to be hunted again. Stags being hunted appear to be terrified of the hounds. A stag is aware when he is being hunted and continues to flee even when the hounds are far behind. Stags are sometimes wounded or injured during hunts by physical incidents or by the hounds. Stags are terrified by people and motor vehicles during the hunt. Stags are apparently distressed and exhausted towards the end of hunts and will hide and lie down at this stage. At the end of the hunt the fact that a man can catch and hold him would seem to be adequate evidence of physical exhaustion by the stag. The handling of the stag when taken at the end of a hunt must be terrifying and stressful to the animal." (Kane Report)
"Nervousness of stags in the cart prior to hunts was variable...with some appearing very nervous or stressed. At one hunt it was notable that of the two stags in the cart, one which had been hunted previously was showing body tremors, excessive salivation and panting."
"A farmer who saw, at very close range, the stag at bay on 7th February told me that it was bleeding from one leg; also I was informed by Hunt staff that some stags are given antibiotic treatment after hunts if they have injuries such as wounds or swollen limbs." (Kane Report)
"On two hunts on which the route of the stag was traced well on a half inch map, it was calculated that one stag had run at least 8 miles and the other at least 12 miles." (Kane Report)
"A stag which has been hunted before is, presumably, aware that he is about to be followed by hounds and runs from fear: indeed it is notable that the stag runs although the hounds are not yet on his trail. In the early stages of the hunt the stag runs constantly but as the hunt progresses he may stop running and hide or even lie down and it is at this stage that the hounds may catch up with him." (Kane Report)
"A major hazard encountered by stags is barbed wire. One stag was seen attempting to jump a very fence and getting his front leg caught on a top strand of barbed wire and hanging, thus suspended, for some seconds before his struggles and/or weight tore him free." (Kane Report)
"Stags are frightened by people and motor vehicles when they cross public roads, which they frequently do during hunts.
"A stag observed, down to 30 yards range through binoculars, having run at least 8 miles in 90 minutes showed extreme physical distress, panting through its mouth and with a lather of white foam around its muzzle." (Kane Report)
"I was informed by two eye-witnesses that hounds, although chary of a stag at bay, will attempt to bite him." (Kane Report)
"Stags are hunted until about 9 years of age at which time they may get "stiff" or fail in condition and I was told that they are then sold or exchanged with commercial deer farms or slaughtered for venison." (Kane Report)
"Domesticated Red Deer are obviously completely unfit for a prolonged chase by hounds. A recent scientific report in England has concluded that wild Red Deer are physiologically unable for a prolonged chase by hounds." (Kane Report)
In December 2003, ICABS monitors filmed and photographed a Ward Union deer at the end a hunt. The injured animal was seen panting for breath. There was blood on its head. Photos taken on the day can be viewed in our Gallery Page, including this one showing an injured deer with blood on its head
"Of course the stag suffers. I saw the hounds attack the hind quarters of the legs of the poor, unfortunate animal. It's horrific to see the end of the hunt." (Fianna Fail Meath Councillor, Noel Leonard, on his opposition to the Ward Union hunt, Meath Chronicle, 9th January 2010)Campaign leaflet
Please print our leaflet and distribute among friends and family. Thank you.
The Facts About Carted Deer Hunting - Download Now (pdf, 85Kb)
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Campaign against blood sports in Ireland
We would be grateful if you could help highlight our current anti-blood sports action alerts by sending a link to our latest Animal Voice magazine to your supporters and displaying a copy of the magazine on your website...
Direct link to magazine
http://www.scribd.com/doc/27343241/Animal-Voice-Issue-1-2010
Download link
http://banbloodsports.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/av2010-01.pdf
(pdf, 1.8 Mb)
Animal Voice - Issue 1, 2010Thank you very much for your support.
With best wishes.
Yours sincerely,
Philip Kiernan
Irish Council Against Blood Sports
PO Box 88, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Ireland
Email: info@banbloodsports.com
Website: www.banbloodsports.com
ICABS on YouTube: www.youtube.com/icabs
ICABS on Bebo: www.bebo.com/banbloodsports
ICABS on MySpace: www.myspace.com/banbloodsports
ICABS on your mobile: www.banbloodsports.com/wap
ICABS on Twitter: www.twitter.com/banbloodsports
ICABS RSS Feed: http://blog.myspace.com/blog/rss.cfm?friendID=201867779
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Join our mailing list: Send "Subscribe" to info@banbloodsports.com along with your name and location.
Receive occasional campaign updates to your mobile phone:
Text GO to 086-0386617 (this is a free service)
Sign our "Ban Blood Sports" petition at www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/784506550
Keep hunters off your land: Click on Farmers at www.banbloodsports.com
Download posters and newsletters from www.scribd.com/banbloodsports
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Latest Animal Voice magazine published
Irish Council Against Blood Sports
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is pleased to announce the publication of the latest edition of our popular Animal Voice magazine (Issue 1, 2010).
The 24-page online magazine features news about our campaigns against blood sports as well as updates, successes and action alerts.Read the magazine now at
http://www.scribd.com/doc/27343241/Animal-Voice-Issue-1-2010
Download from
http://banbloodsports.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/av2010-01.pdf
Request a pdf copy by email
Email us now at info@banbloodsports.comPlease support our work: make a donation today
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 or renew your support today - click on "Shop" at www.banbloodsports.com for more details or send a cheque to ICABS, PO Box 88, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Ireland. Thank you very much.
In the latest edition of Animal Voice magazine:
The end of the Ward is nigh: Legislation banning the Ward Union hunt will be published “as soon as possible”
Renewed appeal to Minister John Gormley: Cancel the coursing licence extension
FG challenged on blood sports stance
Species “Protection” Unit quizzed over coursing recommendation
Minister Dempsey thanked
Westmeath Senators criticised for defending hunters and coursers
Revoke hunt’s licence "before someone gets killed"
Deputy O'Sullivan raises issue of public safety
Dublin hospital will no longer associate with Ward Union
Kidney Assoc rejects deer hunt’s offer
Appeal to Minister Gormley: No fee exemptions for killer hunting hounds
Hunt dogs are kept in disturbing conditions
Green TD's astounding suggestion to deerhunt: Hunt foxes or hares instead
The animals get my vote
Taxpayers’ cash funding squirrel killing contests
I support ban on Ward Union: FF Councillor Noel Leonard
Matador is removed by travel company
“I'm no fan of coursing”: Pat Kenny
Cruelty to horses in county Waterford: Renewed appeal for information
Clonmel 2010: Protestors call for ban on cruel coursing
Get active at a local level
Letters to Editors
Winter Wildlife Photos
NPWS cull considers terriers and digging out baby mink
Trevor Sargent defends badger snaring
Water Disgrace - Say NO to the Faroe Island’s bloody barbarism
Campaign quotes
Bullring cards removed by card company
MySpace thanked for removing hunt advertisement
Shop fined for unlawful glue traps
Response to Carberry hunt ban comments
Vet praises coursers
Pet food company stops coursing pup competition
Grotesque hunt will be outlawed
Help us protect foxes
Follow ICABS on Twitter at www.twitter.com/banbloodsports
Irish Council Against Blood Sports
PO Box 88, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Ireland
Email: info@banbloodsports.com
Website: www.banbloodsports.com
ICABS on YouTube: www.youtube.com/icabs
ICABS on Bebo: www.bebo.com/banbloodsports
ICABS on MySpace: www.myspace.com/banbloodsports
ICABS on your mobile: www.banbloodsports.com/wap
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Receive occasional campaign updates to your mobile phone:
Text GO to 086-0386617 (this is a free service)
Sign our "Ban Blood Sports" petition at www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/784506550
Keep hunters off your land: Click on Farmers at www.banbloodsports.com
Download posters and newsletters from www.scribd.com/banbloodsports****************************************************
Superdrug and Argos - Now Cruelty Free!
The IAVS is pleased to announce that both Superdrug and Argos have been approved as animal testing free cosmetics and toiletries retailers under the BUAV’s internationally recognised Humane Cosmetic Standard <http://www.irishantivivisection.org/crueltyfree.html> (HCS).
Superdrug’s entire own brand toiletries product range now carries the globally recognised leaping bunny logo and Argos’ own brand make-up and cosmetic product range is now cruelty free.
There are currently 5 Superdrug branches in The Republic of Ireland.
* The Square SC, Tallaght, Dublin 24
* Omni Park SC, Santry, Dublin 9
* North Main Street, Wexford Town
* William Street, Limerick City
* Letterkenny, Co DonegalThe Irish Anti-Vivisection Society
PO Box 13, Greystones, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Tel: 00353 1 2820154
Email: info@irishantivivisection.org
http://www.irishantivivisection.org
****************************************************
Fine Gael are opposed to a ban on stag hunting, we ask all animal lovers not to vote for Fine Gael
Subject: [All Senators] banning of stag hunt
We the members of Galway spca ask you to give your full backing to the proposed stag hunting ban. We look forward to hearing your answer
Margaret O Sullivan
P.R.O.
Galway SPCA--------------- Please see responses below ---------------
I support you in this matter.
Michael D Higgins TD
----------
Dear Millie,
Thank you for your email.
The renewed programme for Government includes a commitment to ban the practice of stag hunting. There is now only one hunt club in the State which continues to hunt deer using a pack of hounds and horses.
I continue to believe that this particular hunting practice should cease for animal welfare and public safety reasons. I believe a large proportion of the public consider such activity is no longer acceptable. A few years ago there was an incident when a deer pursued by a pack of hounds entered a school yard during the school day. I find an incident like this totally intolerable. Since then, there have been other public safety incidents involving deer in flight leaping through hedges onto public roads. Most recently where a couple were treated for shock after an accident involving a stag leaping in front of their car. The Stag later had to be put down.
Therefore, I recently obtained Government approval to the drafting of legislation to prohibit the hunting of deer by a pack of hounds.
Best wishes,
John Gormley
--
Follow me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Gormley/36544850925----------
Dear Millie,
Thank you for your email. I support your views and have spoken on the bill
and am attaching a copy for your interest.
Best wishes
David Norris(See attached file: Dog Breeding Bill second stage debate.pdf)
(See attached file: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009 committee stage.pdf)
----------
Dear Margaret,
Thank you for your email. Rest assured the proposed ban on stag hunting has my full support.
Regards,
Mary WhiteMary White T.D.
Green Party Deputy Leader
Leinster House
Kildare Street
Dublin 2
Ph: 01 - 6183865 Fax: 01 - 618 4126
www.marywhitetd.com----------
Dear Margaret,
Thank you for your email as regards stag hunting.
Fine Gael will oppose any change to existing licensing arrangements for stag hunting and will reverse any changes made by the present Government in that regard.
Thank you for contacting me in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
Padraic McCormack, T.D.----------
I will not be supporting any ban on stag hunting.
John Paul Phelan
----------
Dear Millie,
Thank you for your e mail. The Socialist Party is opposed to stag hunting and will vote accordingly whenever the opportunity arises.
Yours sincerely,
Michael O'Brien
On behalf of Joe Higgins MEPOffice of Joe Higgins MEP
Socialist Party
150 Pearse Street
Dublin 2
00 353 1 6795030----------
Dear Margaret
I fully support the call for a ban on stag hunting.
Best wishes
IvanaSenator Ivana Bacik
Dublin University Panel
Seanad Eireann
Leinster House
Dublin 2
Tel: (+353 1) 618 3136
www.ivanabacik.com--------------------
February 28th 2010
Lower Coyne Street,
Callan,
Co. Kilkenny.
Phone: (056) 7725543
Re Stag Hunt Ban
Dear Sir/Madam,
As you know, the government has promised to bring forward legislation in the near future to ban the cruel practice of carted stag hunting. The ban was agreed between the Green Party and Fianna Fail in the re-negotiated Programme for Government last October.
However, some TDs in the larger government party may seek to delay or frustrate the passing of this humane legislation owing to their personal sympathy for blood sports. This potential threat to the Bill came to light yet again today (Sunday); when some politicians indicated on an RTE radio programme their intention to use any tactic they can devise to prevent the ban from seeing the light of day.
We therefore appeal to you to contact your local TD, and if possible all TDs, and ask them to give their full backing to the proposed stag hunting ban.
If you wish to lobby TDs, I recommend an Irish website called Contact.ie which enables you to send messages to all members of the Oireachtas...TDs, Senators, MEPs etc.
The site can be found at www.contact.ie
You will need to register, which is free, and the site is then easy to use any time you wish, at no cost whatsoever, to contact your public representatives. Many voluntary groups and individuals already avail of the site.
The success of the Bill to ban stag hunting will depend on the measure of support it receives from the public, especially from animal protection groups.
We ask all groups dedicated to the welfare and protection of animals to remind the politicians that stag hunting involves deliberate cruelty to animals and that the government must honour its pledge to outlaw this practise before June of this year.
Thanking you for your kind attention,
Sincerely,
John Fitzgerald
Campaign for the Abolition Of Cruel Sports
For further information on stag hunting, including a brief film, see www.banbloodsports.com
****************************************************
UK Animal Act Circuses Could be Banned - With Five Minutes of Your Time
Dear GSPCA supporters,
In 2006, the UK government promised to ban wild animal-act circuses travelling the UK. Today that legislation to outlaw animals in circuses has of yet, not being enacted. Right now, the government are holding a three month public consultation concerning the use of animals in travelling circuses which is due to end on March 15 and could very well spell the end of animal act circuses in the UK, we hope.
Please bring hope for a future with no animals in circuses in the UK with just five minutes of your time. This consultation is likely to become the most important consultation of the decade, affecting the future of how animals in the circus industry are treated for years to come. A ban on the use of wild animals is essential to ensure that they no longer suffer in travelling circuses. We must therefore send the strongest message possible that the public want a ban before the deadline of March 15. If we secure strong public support in favour of a ban in England we believe this can be replicated in Ireland, and the rest of the world.
TAKE ACTION RIGHT NOW!Please click here to fill in the online form, again just five minutes is all it takes. Once done, please be sure to let ARAN know if you’ve completed the questionnaire so that we can track the volume of respondents to this vital campaign and also to see who is taking part in our online advocacy campaigns which is vital if we are to succeed in ending animal abuse through such measures.
Thank you for all that you are doing to help animals, ARAN truly does appreciate it.
ARAN
‘Fighting Animal Abuse Across Ireland’****************************************************
BUAV exposes live pigs blasted experiments
Horrific experiments in which live pigs were blown up with explosives have been uncovered by the BUAV and reported in the Sunday Times newspaper (January 24, 2010). The experiments were reportedly to simulate the effect of a terrorist attack and took place at the government’s secret military research laboratory at Porton Down.
Prior to the explosion, the pigs were surgically mutilated by having several tubes inserted through incisions into various blood vessels and their bladders and they had their spleens removed. They also had a wire placed into a major blood vessel in their abdomen in order to later cause laceration of that vessel. The pigs were then exposed to a bomb exploding a short distance from their bodies after which they were caused to bleed until almost a third of their blood was gone.
The BUAV believes that not only are such experiments scientifically questionable - the reactions of an anesthetised pig to an explosion would be expected to differ substantially to those of a conscious human being - subjecting pigs to such massive mutilation and injury also raises profound ethical questions.---------------------------------
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6999916.ece
From The Sunday Times
January 24, 2010
Live pigs blasted in terror attack experiments
Marie Woolf, Whitehall Editor
LIVE pigs are being blown up with explosives at Porton Down, the government’s secret military research laboratory, to simulate the effect of terrorist attacks on civilian targets.In a series of tests at the biological and chemical research centre in Wiltshire, 18 large pigs were wrapped in protective blankets before bombs were detonated a few feet away. The scientists allowed the pigs to bleed until almost a third of their blood was gone to see how long they could be kept alive.
MPs and animal welfare groups have questioned the use of live animals in the explosions, even though the pigs were anaesthetised throughout. None survived the experiments.
Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes, said: “These are revolting and unnecessary experiments. Sadly, we are too familiar with the effects of terrorism. It is perfectly possible to find out things we don’t know without blowing up pigs to find out.”
Research papers, obtained by The Sunday Times, show that the experiments at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory were carried out because “blast injuries are an increasing problem, owing to the widespread terrorist threat”.
The blasts were meant to recreate the effect of an explosion in an enclosed space, such as the July 2005 attacks on the Underground and a double-decker bus in London, and had been designed to help medics control haemorrhaging from victims.
The pigs were wrapped in Kevlar blankets to protect them from minor bomb debris and placed less than three yards from the explosive. Before being blown up, they had tubes inserted into their blood vessels and bladders, and their spleens removed. A major blood vessel in the abdomen had a wire put into it so the vessel was lacerated during the blast.
Porton Down said the research programme would help British soldiers exposed to bombs in Afghanistan as well as potential civilian terror casualties. Up to 94% of critically injured victims of the 2004 Madrid train bombings were identified as suffering from “blast lung”, an injury that leaks over time.
A spokeswoman said that anecdotally there was already evidence that the research was helping to save lives.
“This work is part of our broad combat casualty care programme. Anecdotally, we are seeing evidence of people surviving because of this work,” she said.
Porton Down, originally set up to research chemical warfare during the first world war, uses a special breed of white pig that has skin resembling human flesh.
Scientists at the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection questioned the validity of the tests, saying that the effect on an anaesthetised pig of a bomb blast would “differ substantially from those of a conscious human being”.
A spokesman said: “We understand the need to deal with the human tragedy, of which sadly there are too many cases. However, we do not believe that mutilating pigs in these horrific experiments is the answer.”
The Irish Anti-Vivisection SocietyPO Box 13, Greystones, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Tel: 00353 1 2820154
Email: info@irishantivivisection.org
http://www.irishantivivisection.org
****************************************************
Haiti Update: Thank you from WSPA
Your donations have made it possible for us to act swiftly, responding to the Haitian government's request for our help within hours of receiving their invitation.
WSPA, along with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), set up the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) so that animal welfare organizations wanting to help the animals of Haiti could work together and take joint action for maximum impact. ARCH now has 19 member organizations acting together in Haiti, and you can follow reports from our joint efforts by visiting WSPA's Animals in Disasters blog. You can also watch a slideshow of ARCH in action.
Haiti slideshow A team from ARCH has just completed an assessment of the animal welfare situation in Haiti, meeting with officials from various agencies including the Haitian Ministry of Agriculture, in order to develop an effective course of action for the coming weeks and months.
Thankfully, the team found limited need for emergency animal relief work; in the three days that this team spent in Haiti assessing the need for veterinary care, they found few stray dogs (and only one cat) and limited numbers of backyard animals. The team arrived at the conclusion that most backyard animals (pigs, goats and cattle) had either been consumed or had been taken along as communities migrated from the remains of Port au Prince to more rural areas. In the medium term, the main animal welfare challenge ahead of Haitians is vaccination drives to prevent the threat of diseases spreading within this vulnerable community.
ARCH is equipped to meet these needs as a response team from Sociedad Dominicana Para la Protección de Animales (SODOPRECA) has already arrived in Haiti with a mobile clinic. In the coming weeks this clinic, staffed by international vets from various ARCH member organizations, will travel to parts of Haiti outside the capital. The team will liaise with local community leaders, asking them to announce the arrival of the mobile clinic so that local people proactively bring their animals for assessment and treatment. It is anticipated that the clinic will be able to administer veterinary treatment, vaccination and feed for both companion animals and livestock. The ARCH vets will operate on a weekly rotation in order to offer continued technical support to this team.
WSPA thanks everyone who donated towards our Haiti effort; your support made it possible for us to complete this first-hand assessment and fund the setting up and transfer of this mobile clinic into Haiti. At present, we are not soliciting further donations to the Haiti Earthquake appeal, since the generosity of your support has allowed us to fund our immediate response as well as make plans to address the vital animal welfare needs that will need to be met in coming years.
In the longer term, the main challenge is the reconstruction of veterinary infrastructure. ARCH is planning several options, including:
* Vaccinations for cattle, horses, donkeys, and other hoofed animals.
* Public awareness campaigns to encourage people to bring their animals to the facilities that ARCH is helping to put in place.
* Refresh and train vets and public health workers.
* Setting up solar powered clinics and/or mobile clinics as well as purchasing equipment such as thermoses, ice coolers, refrigerators, etc. (to store and transport medications) to support vaccination and treatment operations.
* Purchasing medicines, vaccines, etc. for local distribution.At present we are in the process of working out a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Haiti, and more details will be made available in the coming weeks.
Although we are looking at a proposal that could cost in excess of $1.2M, working together with our partners in ARCH means this financial challenge will be shared among us.
The money you have contributed to WSPA's Animals in Disasters fund will be used to finance both the immediate and the long term recovery work for Haiti.
Once again, thank you for supporting WSPA's Animals in Disasters fund, and empowering us to respond to crises with the urgency required.
Warmly,
Cecily Signature
Cecily West
Executive Director
WSPA USA****************************************************
Irish Council Against Blood Sports (ICABS)
PO Box 88, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Ireland
Website: www.banbloodsports.com
ICABS on Youtube: www.youtube.com/icabs
ICABS on Twitter: www.twitter.com/banbloodsports
ICABS on MySpace: www.myspace.com/banbloodsports
ICABS on Bebo: www.bebo.com/banbloodsports
ICABS on your mobile phone: www.banbloodsports.com/wap
RSS Feed: http://blog.myspace.com/blog/rss.cfm?friendID=201867779
In this edition of Animal Voice:
>> Peaceful protest against coursing: February 3rd <<
01. Hunt ban legislation will be published "as soon as possible"
02. Cancel the coursing licence extension: Renewed appeal to Minister Gormley
03. Urgent appeal to Minister: Don't exempt hunts from fees
04. Revoke licence "on public safety grounds": Deputy O'Sullivan
05. Success: Hospital will no longer associate with Ward Union
06. Praise for Irish Kidney Association for refusing hunt fundraiser
07. Success: Travel company thanked for matador removal
08. Green TD's astounding suggestion to deerhunt: hunt foxes or hares instead
09. I support ban on Ward Union: Fianna Fail Cllr Noel Leonard
10. Noel Leonard and the case against stag hunting
11. Species Protection Unit questioned over coursing licence
12. Revoke hunt's licence before someone gets killed
13. ICABS responds to Carberry's hunt ban comments
14. NPWS mink cull considering terrierwork and digging out baby mink
15. Please fax, post or email this poster to Minister Gormley
16. Thanks for attending animal rally
17. Trevor Sargent defends cruel badger snaring
18. Latest figures show Dept snared and killed 7,000 badgers
19. Get active at a local level
20. Gun clubs compete in squirrel cull
21. Legislation to outlaw grotesque hunt will be introduced
22. Cruelty to horses in Waterford: Renewed appeal for information
23. Urge Danish Government to stop barbaric whale slaughter
24. New anti-hunt Facebook group - Please Join
25. Campaign Quotes
26. Letters to Editors
27. Twenty Tweets
28. Ask Irish Times to drop pro-hunting slideshow
______________________________________
>> Peaceful protest against coursing: February 3rd <<
______________________________________
Please join the peaceful protest against hare coursing outside Powerstown Park, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, on Wednesday February 3rd 2010, between 12 noon and 2pm. Thank you. We look forward to seeing you there.
For driving directions, visit http://www.aaireland.ie/routes_beta/
______________________________________
01. Hunt ban legislation will be published "as soon as possible"
______________________________________
Environment Minister, John Gormley, will publish legislation to ban the Ward Union "as soon as possible". The Minister made the statement in response to a Dail question from pro-hunting Fine Gael TD, Shane McEntee.
"I continue to believe that this particular hunting practice should cease for animal welfare and public safety reasons," the Green Party leader told the Meath TD. You can read the full text of the Dail question and answer below.
ACTION ALERT
Please email "I support the banning of the Ward Union" to minister@environ.ie or phone your message in to the Minister on Tel: 01 888 2403
If you live in Shane McEntee's constituency, please remind him that you are one of the majority of Meath residents who want the Ward Union banned. Contact him at shane.mcentee@finegael.ie or Tel: 01 6184447
To read the full text of the Dail question and answer, visit www.banbloodsports.com, click on Latest News and scroll down to "Hunt ban legislation will be published "as soon as possible" (14 January 2010 entry)
______________________________________
02. Cancel the coursing licence extension: Renewed appeal to Minister Gormley
______________________________________
ICABS has renewed its appeal to Green Party leader and Environment Minister, John Gormley, to cancel a licence extension he promised to hare coursers.
The extension, which was due to be granted early in the new year, would allow coursers to continue terrorising hares into the month of March. Please help save hares from the cruelty of coursing. Respond now to our updated action alert.
URGENT ACTION ALERT
Please email "Minister Gormley - Revoke the coursing licence and cancel the extension" to minister@environ.ie
Minister John Gormley
Department of the Environment
Custom House, Dublin 1.
Tel: 01 888 2403. Fax: 01 878 8640.
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 John Gormley
I am one of the majority opposed to the cruel blood sport of hare coursing.
I am writing to demand that you immediately revoke the licence you granted to coursers and cancel the licence extension you promised to these wildlife abusers.
As the leader of a party with anti-blood sports policies, how can you possibly justify licensing this cruel activity? You are more than aware that hares suffer from the moment they are snatched from the wild in nets, during their time in captivity and while they are being chased by the greyhounds. When hit, they sustain agonising life-threatening injuries, including broken bones. The cruelty of coursing is clear to see at www.youtube.com/watch?v=D58qbzC-GI4
I strongly urge you to revoke the current licence, cancel the extension and urgently put in place permanent protection for this most timid and treasured of species.
Thank you. I eagerly await your positive action.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name and location]
______________________________________
03. Urgent appeal to Minister: Don't exempt hunts from fees
______________________________________
ICABS is urging Minister John Gormley to drop proposals to exempt blood sports groups from fees under the new Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009. Please support our urgent action alert now.
According to a statement issued by the Green Party leader last month, "It is proposed that hunt clubs...would be exempt from paying fees but must register and be subject to possible inspection."
In a letter to Minister Gormley, ICABS has appealed for the proposal to be scrapped.
"We remind you, Minister, that these hunting hounds are used for the most horrendous cruelty to Irish animals," we stated in our correspondence. "These dogs chase wildlife across the countryside, catch them and rip their bodies asunder."
We added: "This bill is a tremendous opportunity for you to introduce a financial disincentive for the breeding of these killer dogs and move a step closer to your party's promise to ban blood sports. We hope you will take this opportunity and firmly reject the proposal to exempt hunting groups."
You can read the full text of Minister Gormley's statement on the Green Party website
http://www.greenparty.ie/news/latest_news/dog_breeding_establishments_bill_2009_published
ACTION ALERT
Minister Gormley has said his intention is to have the Bill introduced to the Houses of the Oireachtas early this year and enacted at the earliest possible date. Please act now to urge him to drop the proposal to exempt hunts. Email "No exemption for hunt groups under Dog Breeding Bill" to minister@environ.ie
Minister John Gormley
Department of the Environment
Custom House, Dublin 1.
Tel: 01 888 2403. Fax: 01 878 8640.
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 Gormley
I am very concerned to learn that there is a proposal to exempt blood sports groups from fees under the new Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009.
According to a statement you released last month 'It is proposed that hunt clubs...would be exempt from paying fees.'
Minister, I implore you not to exempt hunts from these fees and to work vigorously towards your party's promise to end blood sports when in government.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name and location]
______________________________________
04. Revoke licence "on public safety grounds": Deputy O'Sullivan
______________________________________
Maureen O'Sullivan, TD has asked Environment Minister, John Gormley, if he will revoke the Ward Union's licence "on public safety grounds". Minister Gormley stated in response that legislation outlawing the hunt will be published soon.
Question 851 - Answered on 19th January, 2010 Maureen O'Sullivan, TD: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of a recent incident involving the collision of a vehicle and a deer during a ward union hunt, he will revoke the hunt's licence on public safety grounds.
Written Answer. Ref No 48365/09
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr John Gormley): I am aware of the recent incident where a deer collided with a vehicle during a hunt meeting. I have had concerns for some time relating to this particular hunting practice for both animal welfare and public safety reasons. Accordingly, the Government recently approved the drafting of legislation to prohibit the hunting of deer by a pack of hounds in accordance with a commitment in this regard in the renewed Programme for Government. I expect that the legislation will be published as soon as possible.
ACTION ALERT
Please email "Revoke the Ward Union's licence immediately" to minister@environ.ie
Minister John Gormley
Department of the Environment
Custom House, Dublin 1.
Tel: 01 888 2403. Fax: 01 878 8640.
______________________________________
05. Success: Hospital will no longer associate with Ward Union
______________________________________
ICABS has thanked Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital for announcing that it will "no longer associate with, or accept donations from the Ward Union hunt". The hospital's much welcomed move came following an ICABS appeal last month.
Our appeal was prompted by a photograph on the Ward Union's website which shows hunters posing handing a cheque to a hospital representative.
In correspondence to the hospital, we highlighted the suffering caused to deer by the hunt as well as the public safety risk it poses.
Cappagh Hospital's positive response comes just a few weeks after a similar statement from the Irish Kidney Association. Speaking on RTE's Liveline programme, a spokesperson for the charity declined an offer of a fundraiser from the hunt.
ICABS greatly welcomes these latest examples of charities refusing to associate with hunts. We view hunt fundraisers as thinly disguised public relations exercises designed to try and gain brownie points for hunts within the areas their blood "sport" takes place.
For more information on Cappagh Hospital or to make a donation, please visit www.cappagh.ie
______________________________________
06. Praise for Irish Kidney Association for refusing hunt fundraiser
______________________________________
ICABS has praised the Irish Kidney Association for refusing the offer of a fundraiser from the Ward Union. A Kidney Association spokesperson stated on RTE's Liveline: "We're in the business of preserving life so we'd prefer if they didn't do something on our behalf." The hunt, which has been condemned internationally for terrorising deer, is due to be
banned this year.
The charity's statement was made on the 15th December 2009 edition of the show, which featured a discussion about a hunted Ward Union deer that jumped onto a road and collided with a car. The deer suffered injuries and was put down while the occupants of the car were said to have been badly shaken.
Responding to the Ward Union's fundraising offer, Mark Murphy of the Irish Kidney Association said that the association was "not prepared to lend our name to any hunting event".
"We're in the business of preserving life so we'd prefer if they didn't do something on our behalf, certainly not to use our name," he added.
"So you're saying clearly to the Ward Union hunt 'thanks but no thanks, don't organise anything for us'," clarified programme presenter Joe Duffy. To which Mr Murphy replied: "Yes, I am saying that."
We applaud the Irish Kidney Association for becoming one of the latest in a line of charities that have recognised the inappropriateness of associating with those who cause animal suffering.
The charity is appealing to members of the public to make donations. If you would like to help or are interested in ordering a kidney donor card, please visit www.ika.ie
______________________________________
07. Success: Travel company thanked for matador removal
______________________________________
ICABS has thanked the Travel Department for removing an image of a matador from its advertisements. The company has also been praised for its assurance that trips to bullfights are not included in any of its
itineraries.
The matador image in question appeared as part of an advert in the Irish Independent. However Brendan Breen of the Travel Department told ICABS that it was "not consciously used" but instead was part of a library stock of images for Spain that is used in rotation in print and online media. "I will instruct our Marketing team to withdraw it," he stated.
ICABS also welcomes the company's assurance that "bullfighting is not included in any of our itineraries." We are grateful for this positive and swift response.
About the Travel Department: The Travel Department is Ireland's leading tour operator and has been in business for over twelve years. Its escorted holidays "offer a professionally planned itinerary, the expert knowledge of a local guide and the convenience of booking an all-in package". The company operates in 30 countries with their largest destinations being Italy, France, China and Spain. Their website is at http://www.thetraveldepartment.ie
______________________________________
08. Green TD's astounding suggestion to deerhunt: hunt foxes or hares instead
______________________________________
ICABS has expressed disbelief at Green Party deputy leader, Mary White's suggestion that when carted deer hunting is banned, the Ward Union hunt could instead switch to hunting foxes or hares. In an interview published in the Irish Field, the Carlow TD also assured hunters that "we have no intention of banning fox hunting or hare coursing either now or anytime in the future."
In a letter to the Green Party, ICABS express shock and disbelief at the statements made by Deputy White.
In the December 19th edition of the hunting publication she:
* Suggested that when the Ward Union are stopped in 2010, they could instead "switch to drag hunting, FOX OR HARE HUNTING".
* Said the Green Party has a "hands-off" policy towards shooting, fox hunting and hare coursing and that there will be no efforts to ban them.
* Admitted that she used to shoot animals herself and claimed that "the Greens are in favour of shooting birds, like pheasants, for food"
* Stressed that the Green Party are not against "field sports" such as shooting.
* Highlighted the Green Party's determination to ban carted deer hunting but added that they have "no such intentions towards fox hunting, traditional field sports and hare coursing either now or anytime in the future."
* Reassured hunters that "there is nothing in the Programme for Government on that, nor will there be." "None of the other rural sports will be touched," she added. "That's the message I clearly want to get out to hunting people."
In our correspondence with the Green Party, ICABS remarked that it was astounding that a Green TD would suggest that anyone partake in fox or hare hunting, two of Ireland's most cruel and appalling activities.
We reminded them that hunting sees foxes and hares desperately running for their lives and when they are too exhausted to continue running, they are knocked off their feet, bitten, ripped apart and disembowelled by packs of dogs.
We pointed out that Deputy White's statement that the Green Party has a "hands-off" policy towards hunting and coursing is "the complete opposite to the message the Green Party conveyed in its pre-election manifesto that it would end blood sports when in Government."
"This attempt to comfort and reassure those involved in torturing and killing our wildlife also gratingly conflicts with the fundamental anti-cruelty ethos of the Green Party and its stated commitment to improve animal welfare in Ireland," we added.
ACTION ALERT
Please join us in urging the Green Party to urgently clarify its position and instead of conveying messages to hunters, to get a message out to the majority of the electorate who abhor cruelty. Ask them to confirm that they remain opposed to all blood sports, including fox hunting and hare coursing, and that they will act vigorously to get them banned while in government. Email "Green Party - please work to ban all blood sports" to info@greenparty.ie with a copy to marywhitetd@gmail.com
The Green Party
The Green Party/Comhaontas Glas
16/17 Suffolk Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
Telephone: +353 (0)1 6790012
Fax: +353 (0)1 6797168
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 Green Party
I am deeply concerned at recent statements from your deputy leader that the Green Party has a 'hands-off' policy towards blood sports such as fox hunting and hare coursing and that there will be no efforts to ban them.
This is in complete contrast to your election manifesto in which you promised to bring blood sports to an end when in government. Foxhunting and coursing cause horrendous suffering to Irish wildlife and I hope your party will determinedly push to ban them this year.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name and location]
______________________________________
09. I support ban on Ward Union: Fianna Fail Cllr Noel Leonard
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ICABS has welcomed Fianna Fail Councillor, Noel Leonard's condemnation of the Ward Union and his announcement that he backs moves to ban the hunt. "I saw the hounds attack the hind quarters of the legs of the poor unfortunate stag," Cllr Leonard outlines in a statement published in the Meath Chronicle. "It's horrific to see the end of the hunt."
Please see below for the full text of Cllr Leonard's statement.
ACTION ALERT
If you reside in the Dunboyne electoral area, or in County Meath, please send a message of thanks to Cllr Leonard. You can contact him via his website http://www.noelleonard.net/#/contact-noel/4533677960
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10. Noel Leonard and the case against stag hunting
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The following appeared in the Meath Chronicle. 9th January 2010. http://www.meathchronicle.ie
Noel Leonard is hoping that sooner rather than later, the coalition government will get around to banning stag hunting.
Elected to Meath County Council as a Fianna Fail councillor for a second time in 2009, Leonard says he will have no problem giving his backing to the Green Party initiative.
Since he was very young, he has been staunchly against blood sports. Still is. He has not been slow in voicing opposition and he claims there is considerable support within Fianna Fail to ban stag hunting.
Leonard, who represents the Dunboyne area, is not convinced by the assertion by the Ward Hunt that they provide a huge benefit to the local economy and claims there is an alternative available - drag hunting.
"I've heard the arguments that stag hunting is brilliant for the racing industry, the national hunt, local economy and so on. I don't agree with that. I don't think there were any jobs lost in England when stag hunting was banned over there. They can hunt without a stag."
The Dunboyne councillor claims that the experience of watching a stag hunt as a youngster left an indelible impression on his psyche. "It left a terrible mark on me, the cruelty that is associated with both stag hunting and, indeed, fox hunting or any form of activity whereby hounds chase a dumb animal until it is exhausted.
"I don't care what they say, they can say they have a lot of things in place to ensure the stag doesn't suffer. That's ridiculous; of course the stag suffers.
"I saw the hounds attack the hind quarters of the legs of the poor, unfortunate animal. It's horrific to see the end of the hunt," he adds.
As a youngster, Noel Leonard remembers the hunt passing through land owned by his family, disrupting the quiet, rural countryside. "I saw my own mother trying to stop them and we were out as kids trying to stop them, the horses coming in where we had cows and calves, going through our fields and our neighbours' fields, without making any apology for
anything."
Leonard points to the incident in Kildalkey a few years ago, when a stag ran through a schoolyard, as an example of how it can all go wrong. How a hunt can quickly turn into a health hazard.
He says that members of the public are invariably not around when the hunt ends, when the exhausted and frightened stag is surrounded by salivating hounds eagerly looking for something to eat.
"I know that, at least 24 hours before the stag is released, the hounds are starved, they are not fed so they go out there looking for a meal. They are keyed up because they are so hungry and chase the stag until he is overcome with exhaustion.
"Two years ago, I think it was, I came across a stag that was killed on the Summerhill Road, just outside Dunboyne. The children going home from school saw this, an animal dead on the side of the road. I rang the Ward Union Hunt, but they denied it had anything to do with them.
"When I looked into it further, I discovered the hunt was definitely in the area that day, they didn't catch their stag. What I believe happened was that they called off the hounds somewhere around Baytown Cross and the animal was so traumatised it kept galloping on through the fields. It eventually jumped out of the fields and onto the Summerhill road."
Leonard asserts that the deers are reared domestically and, as a result, are docile creatures who are suddenly turned into the wild and left to escape a pack of chasing hounds.
He adds that he knows "quite a few" members of Fianna Fail who had similar experiences as he had when it comes to stag hunting. Leonard says he wants it banned and will lend his support in the push to do just that.
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Please make a donation to ICABS
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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 "Shop" at www.banbloodsports.com for more details or send a cheque to ICABS, PO Box 88, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Ireland. Thank you very much.
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11. Species Protection Unit questioned over coursing licence
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ICABS is calling on the National Parks and Wildlife Service's Species Protection Unit to explain why it recommended that a coursing licence be granted for another season of hare coursing. "Given that coursing results in stress, injury and death to hares, we wish to know how your unit's recommendation fits in with its 'species protection' role," ICABS
stated.
The details of the Species Protection Unit's recommendation are contained in a document recently obtained by ICABS following a Freedom of Information request.
A letter signed the unit's Assistant Director, Gerry Leckey, states that: "It is recommended that licences issue to the Irish Coursing Club under the Wildlife Acts to mark hares, capture hares and undertake coursing outside the Open Season Order on 1 March 2010. The licence will cover all clubs affiliated to the Irish Coursing Club."
Referring to a request by the Irish Coursing Club for an extension to the licence, the document states that "We have facilitated the Irish Coursing Club in the past and it is recommended that the ICC be granted this extension."
The extension, which we have learned has been approved by Green Party leader and Environment Minister, John Gormley, is to be granted in the new year and will allow the coursers to extend their blood sport into March 1st.
In a letter to Dr Ciaran O'Keeffe, the director of the NPWS Species Protection Unit, ICABS has enquired about the unit's justification for recommending the issuance of a licence for the 2009-2010 coursing season and a licence to extend the coursing season.
We are continuing to urge Minister John Gormley to revoke the current licence, to cancel the season extension and to put in place permanent protection for the Irish Hare.
ACTION ALERT
Please join us in asking the NPWS Species Protection Unit to explain why it has recommended the licensing of a blood sport that causes massive interference to the Irish Hare species and which results in stress, injury and death to hares.
Dr Ciaran O'Keeffe
Director, NPWS Species Protection Unit
National Parks & Wildlife Service
7 Ely Place
Dublin 2
Tel: +353-1-8882000
Fax: +353-1-8883272
Email: ciaran.o'keeffe@environ.ie
CC: gerry.leckey@environ.ie, minister@environ.ie
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12. Revoke hunt's licence before someone gets killed
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The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is calling on Minister John Gormley to permanently revoke the licence he issued to the Ward Union deer hunt. The call is being made on the grounds that it poses a real and present danger to motorists and it comes in the wake of an incident in December when a hunted deer jumped onto a public road and collided with a car.
The deer sustained a leg injury and had to be destroyed. Thankfully, on this occasion no person was injured.
In correspondence with Minister John Gormley, ICABS has stated: "A collision with a deer could potentially result in serious injury and death to a motorist and we urge you to give serious consideration to the risks involved in allowing this hunt to continue."
As part of a submission, ICABS has provided Minister Gormley with photographic evidence showing cars and lorries being brought to a standstill as a pack of hunt hounds spilled out on to a public road. Another image shows a National Parks and Wildlife Service van on a clogged-up road being forced to reverse to allow oncoming traffic to pass. The NPWS official was present to monitor the hunt on behalf of Minister Gormley.
This is not the first time a deer has been chased onto public roads by the Ward Union and their pack of hounds.
Just last year, a National Parks and Wildlife Service ranger reported that he was forced to "brake hard" to avoid a fatal collision with a Ward Union deer. The ranger who was monitoring the hunt on 25 November 2008 said he "narrowly avoided killing" the animal.
While monitoring the same hunt in the past, members of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports had to take evasive action to avoid crashing into a deer which was being chased around a corner into oncoming traffic. Only by braking hard and swerving were we able to avoid a collision with the terrified animal.
Over the years, we have continually flagged the dangers posed by the hunt.
As far back as 1997, a Department of Agriculture report ("Monitoring of the Stag Hunts conducted by the Ward Union Hunt by K.W. S. Kane, Veterinary Inspector"), acknowledged that "Stags are frightened by motor vehicles when they cross public roads, which they frequently do during hunts." He added that "during the six hunts attended the Dublin-Slane road was crossed three times by a stag and five times by the Hunt; the Dublin-Navan road was crossed once by stag and hunt."
A Department of Agriculture official monitoring the Ward Union during the 1997-98 season referred to the hazards associated with hunts on roads. In his report, he stated that the "deer were at risk of injury when crossing roads."
In a 2003 submission to then Minister for Transport, we highlighted a report from a NPWS ranger who monitored the Ward Union hunt on March 5th, 2002. The ranger outlined that "the stag took off in the direction of Dunshaughlin where it crossed the main N3".
In 2004, following an ICABS appeal, the National Safety Council asked the Ward Union Deerhunt to stay off the public roads in the interests of road safety. Responding to concerns that the hunt poses a potential danger to road users in Meath and North County Dublin, a NSC spokesperson stated at the time that: "We would have obvious concerns if
such [hunt] practices posed a danger to road users. We will be writing to the Ward Union Hunt to communicate these concerns and that in the interests of road safety we would request that all appropriate precautions be taken to prevent incursions (by deer/stag, dogs and the hunt party) onto the public highway during hunting outings."
The government has promised that legislation to ban the Ward Union is due soon but, in the interests of preventing further incidents and danger to motorists, ICABS is demanding that the licence be immediately revoked.
ACTION ALERT
Please email "Revoke the Ward Union's licence immediately" to minister@environ.ie
Minister John Gormley
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Custom House, Dublin 1.
Tel: 01 888 2403. Fax: 01 878 8640.
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 Gormley
I am deeply concerned to learn that a deer being hunted by the Ward Union collided with a vehicle during a hunt in December.
The unfortunate animal suffered a broken leg and according to an eyewitness interviewed on RTE's Liveline, the stag 'tried to get up for a few minutes' and, in severe pain, eventually staggered over to a ditch. The two people in the car were left 'very shaken up' according to a relative speaking on the programme and damage was caused to their vehicle, including a shattered windscreen. One caller said 'I can't understand how those people were not killed' while another asked 'Do the hunt have to kill someone before it's finally banned?'
Minister, you were quoted in the Irish Times of November 21, 2009 as saying that alarm bells started ringing for you when you received a report which referred to 'deer going across the road just in front of a car'. After this collision, these alarm bells should now be sounding at a thunderous volume.
Instead of waiting until legislation is in place to stop this hunt, you must intervene and immediately revoke the Ward Union's licence.
Yours sincerely,
[Name and location]
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13. ICABS responds to Carberry's hunt ban comments
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In a letter to the editor published in the Irish Times, ICABS has responded to comments from pro-hunt jockey Paul Carberry. Spokesperson Aideen Yourell points out that when the Ward Union is banned this year, a transition to drag hunting would not only address Carberry's concerns about employment and local business but also serious concerns about public safety, animal welfare and respect for landowners.
The letter appears directly below...
Irish Times - January 13, 2010
A chara, - Jockey Paul Carberry asserts that stag hunting is a "vital part" of his preparation for the Cheltenham Races (Home News, January 2nd), and in his recent open letter to Taoiseach Brian Cowen, he asks what will happen to the deer, the hounds and hunt employees when the hunt is banned.
If the Ward Union were to switch to drag hunting, all Paul Carberry's concerns about employment and local business would be addressed. Additional concerns about public safety, animal welfare and respect for landowners would also be addressed.
Only recently, a terrified hunted deer jumped onto a public road and collided with a vehicle, resulting in its death. Fortunately, nobody was injured.
The route for a drag hunt is pre-ordained, so incidents of trespass, or incursion onto public roads or spaces are eliminated, while the hunt followers can still enjoy the thrill of the chase across country in a safe and responsible manner.
In fact, the Ward Union hunt uses a drag when training its young hounds, so switching to this humane method should pose no problems. And hunt master Michael Bailey showed he was open to drag hunting in 2004 when he told the late deputy Tony Gregory, who was out observing the deer hunt, "I'm not saying that's [drag hunting] not a possibility".
As for the future of the deer, perhaps the Ward Union would consider donating its pure-bred red deer herd to the nation. I'm sure the National Parks and Wildlife Service would find a place of sanctuary for them where they can live out their lives in peace, safe from human persecution. - Is mise,
Aideen Yourell, Spokeswoman, Irish Council Against Blood Sports, Mullingar, Co Westmeath.
ACTION ALERT
Send "I support a ban on the Ward Union hunt" to minister@environ.ie
[Please forward a copy to all your local TDs]
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14. NPWS mink cull considering terrierwork and digging out baby mink
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ICABS has expressed concerns to Minister John Gormley (minister@environ.ie) about a National Parks and Wildlife Service report which points to the use of packs of hounds and terriers as possible ways of controlling mink.
The 2009 "A review of mink predation and control for Ireland" report can be viewed at:
http://www.npws.ie/en/media/NPWS/Publications/IrishWildlifeManuals/Media,6784,en.pdf
"A large number of techniques are available for the capture and subsequent dispatch of mink," the report outlines. "Each is discussed in turn, illustrating advantages and disadvantages relevant to the control of mink in Ireland."
Considering hunting as a method of destroying mink, the report says that although "hunting with hounds, searching, chasing and killing mink is still legal in Ireland, and some hunts do use otter hounds to hunt mink, the numbers caught over a large area are likely to be too low to have an impact on the population." It adds that "consideration of the legal and humane aspects of hunting with hounds is outside the scope of this review."
Elsewhere in the review, the focus is on terriers which it says are used in Iceland to seek out and kill mink. "When dens are found, mink are sometimes flushed by the use of chemicals or blowers where they encounter dogs and are killed," it says. "Over small areas this has been found to be effective although its efficacy has yet to be quantified."
The report goes on to state that "dogs can be an effective supplement to a live trapping operation". Reference is made to the capture and killing of nursing female minks and their kits [baby minks]: "During the denning season, Roy (2006) found that catch/trapnight was reduced virtually to zero. During this period, dogs trained on mink scent glands were
used to find den sites where females were then subsequently trapped. By using multiple traps side by side, kits close to weaning were also caught on the same or over subsequent nights. If not close to weaning, kits were unearthed from the den."
Recommending the use of traps to catch mink, the report reveals that animals caught are shot through their brains, saying that "well placed shots through the front of the skull above the nose destroyed their brains, instantly rendering animals senseless".
"Traps should be spaced approximately 300-500m apart along the edge of watercourses...Where possible they should be interred into the ground to provide any captured animals with shelter and protection. It also minimises the risk of traps being found and tampered with by members of the public... "
In the report's conclusion, reference is again made to the use of dogs, saying "dogs can be an important additional tool."
The estimated cost of the proposed 5 year mink destruction project is put at Euro1,062,425. This massive figure takes in the cost of dogs, traps, air rifles, boats, quad bikes and cars as well as wages for six trappers (Euro18,200 each per annum or a total of over half a million for the duration).
ICABS is horrified that a Department of the Environment publication would present for consideration such shameful cruelty as digging out and terrierwork. We are currently awaiting a reply to our correspondence to Minister Gormley. Please join us in expressing concern over the report.
Contact the Minister at:
Minister John Gormley
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Custom House, Dublin 1.
Tel: 01 888 2403. Fax: 01 878 8640.
Email: minister@environ.ie
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15. Please fax, post or email this poster to Minister Gormley
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Help the Hares. Please send a copy of our new campaign poster to Minister John Gormley. Ask him to revoke the current hare coursing licence, cancel the licence extension he has promised and put in place permanent protection for the hare species.
Download the poster now:
http://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/files/2010/01/24908948-minister-gormley-stop-the-suffering.pdf
Post poster to:
Minister John Gormley
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Custom House, Dublin 1.
Email poster to:
minister@environ.ie [CC: info@greenparty.ie]
Fax poster to:
00353 (0)1 878 8640 [Minister's Office]
00353 (0)1 6797168 [Green Party Headquarters]
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16. Thanks for attending animal rally
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ICABS thanks all its supporters who attended the ARAN animal rally in December. We enjoyed meeting you on the day.
Many groups were represented at this successful event, including those campaigning against hunting and coursing, fur farming, badger snaring, puppy farming, vivisection, seal slaughter, circuses, etc.
On the day, ICABS met representatives from:
ARAN www.aran.ie
CIWF www.ciwf.ie
Supreme Master TV http://suprememastertv.com/
Wildtime Radio
http://wildtimeonline.blogspot.com/2009/12/rally-against-animal-cruelty-footage.html
Galway Vegetarian and Vegans
http://www.vegetarian.ie/links/galway-vegetarian-vegan-group
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17. Trevor Sargent defends cruel badger snaring
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ICABS has expressed disappointment to Green Party TD, Trevor Sargent, after he defended the continuation of cruel badger snaring. Deputy Sargent, a Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, claims that his Department's "enhanced badger removal strategy" [i.e. cruel snaring and killing of badgers] has helped reduce TB in cattle.
In response to an Adjournment Debate question from Mary White, the former Green Party leader said: "My Department continually monitors the animal welfare aspects of badger culling and is satisfied that the existing culling arrangements and procedures result in minimal injury to badgers while in the restraints." [ICABS Note: restraints = snares]"
"Targeted badger removals will continue in the medium term," he added.
ICABS has supplied Deputy Sargent with photos of dead badgers in snares. In one photo, scratch marks are visible at the base of a tree where the doomed animal desperately tried to claw its way to freedom.
"This is just a small sample of the suffering being endured by badgers caught in your Department's snares," we told Deputy Sargent. "Surely, it is Green Party policy to condemn this type of cruelty to our wildlife."
According to Badger Watch Ireland, "conservationists do not accept the theory that badgers are guilty of spreading bovine TB - the route of infection from badger to cow under normal farm conditions has never been fully explained; the evidence remains circumstantial."
You can read the full text of the 19th November 2009 Adjournment Debate by clicking on Politicians at www.banbloodsports.com and choosing Parliamentary Questions
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18. Latest figures show Dept snared and killed 7,000 badgers
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Badger Watch Ireland has renewed calls on Minister John Gormley to immediately call a halt to the snaring and killing of thousands of badgers. The horrific slaughter of the supposedly protected species is carried out by the Department of Agriculture, thanks to a licence from the NPWS division of Minister Gormley's department.
Badger Watch have revealed that latest figures released by the Department of Agriculture show that almost 7,000 badgers were slaughtered by Department trappers in 2008. In the last decade more than 50,000 badgers have been killed by the Department in what has been described as "Slaughter masquerading as Science".
"This appalling slaughter of almost 7,000 badgers is simply unacceptable. It is a nothing less then a state approved brutal pogrom against badgers," said Bernie Barrett, National Co-ordinator of Badgerwatch.
Please send the message "Stop the badger snaring slaughter" to:
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.
Dr. Ciaran O'Keeffe
Director, Licensing Unit
National Parks and Wildlife Service
7 Ely Place, Dublin 2
Email: Ciaran.O'Keeffe@environ.ie
Tel: 01-888 3214
Minister Brendan Smith
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.
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19. Get active at a local level
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If you are in County Carlow or Kilkenny and would be interested in teaming up with like-minded individuals in the area to raise awareness about blood sports, please get in touch with us now. Simply email your name and contact details (phone number, email address) to info@banbloodsports.com and we will pass them on to others who respond. Proposed peaceful activities include collecting petition signatures, distributing leaflets and political lobbying.
We also invite individuals from all areas of Ireland to get in touch with us if you are interested in becoming an active campaigner at a local level. Thank you.
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20. Gun clubs compete in squirrel cull
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The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has asked Agriculture Minister, Brendan Smith, to stop his Department's sponsorship of a squirrel killing competition.
According to a report in the Irish Times, the forestry service of the Department sponsored a Euro6,500 fund in 2009 which saw shooting clubs being awarded cash prizes for blasting "alien" grey squirrels to death. Clubs in Meath killed 214 squirrels and were awarded Euro1,600 while shooters in Monaghan won Euro1,100 for their tally of 196. The other
participating counties also received cash for their killing.
In a letter to Brendan Smith, ICABS expressed opposition to the sponsorship. "We implore you to stop using taxpayers' money to incentivise the destruction of Irish wildlife," we said. "We strongly urge you not to give any further funding to shooting groups."
To read the full Irish Times report, visit
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0106/1224261730231.html
ACTION ALERT
Send "Stop using taxpayers' money to fund squirrel killing competitions"
Minister Brendan Smith
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.
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21. Legislation to outlaw grotesque hunt will be introduced
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Speaking on RTE TV's Nine News in December, ICABS spokesperson Aideen Yourell expressed confidence that Minister John Gormley will stand firm and introduce overdue legislation to ban the Ward Union carted deer hunt. The RTE report featured ICABS footage showing a deer surrounded by hounds being dragged to the ground during a Ward Union hunt.
"The minister will stand firm and legislation to outlaw this grotesque hunt will be introduced." stated Aideen. "It's long overdue. What we're talking about is an activity where a vulnerable animal - a deer with its antlers sawn off - is taken out and hounded around the countryside by a pack of dogs for sheer entertainment."
Watch the RTE News report
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1214/9news_av.html?2668035,null,230
(Click on "Play Clip" beneath "Protests over stag hunting laws")
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22. Cruelty to horses in Waterford: Renewed appeal for information
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In December 2008, ICABS highlighted a shocking attack on three horses in the Ballybeg and Williamstown areas of Waterford. We are renewing our call on anyone with information on these brutal attacks to please contact the Gardai in Waterford now on 051-305316.
Waterford News & Star reported at the time that "a despicable act of cruelty, which saw three horses being mutilated as part of the long-running feud between Travellers in the city, has shocked people beyond belief. All three animals had to be put down as a result of their injuries."
If you have any information on those responsible for this horrific attack, please call the Gardai now in confidence.
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23. Urge Danish Government to stop barbaric whale slaughter
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Please register your opposition to the deplorable slaughter of pilot whales in the Faroe Islands with the Ambassador of Denmark:
Henrik Ree Iversen
Ambassador of Denmark
Royal Danish Embassy, 7th Floor, Block E,
Iveagh Court, Harcourt Road, Dublin 2, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)1 4756404
Fax: +353 (0)1 4784536
E-mail: dubamb@um.dk
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Mr Iversen
I urge you to exert pressure on the Danish Government and those in authority in the Faroe Islands to stop the brutal slaughter of pilot whales.
This cruel and shameful attack on sea creatures is one of the world's worst examples of barbarism and its continuation is a very poor reflection on Denmark.
I hope that you will take urgent action to protect pilot whales from the cruel, heartless, barbaric individuals on the Faroe Islands who attack and kill them.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely
[Name/Location]
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24. New anti-hunt Facebook group - Please Join
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Please join the "Ban the Union Ward Deer Hunt" group on Facebook http://bit.ly/7Wlj0B
Become a friend of ICABS on Facebook -
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1801767421&ref=mf
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25. Campaign Quotes
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"The pack could be heard screaming on the line as they gained on their fox who was a few minutes ahead of them giving a grandstand view to the car followers." (Meath Foxhounds hunt report - Bective village meet - 2009/2010 season - Irish Field, 5th December 2009)
"Let's hope the stag hunt ban comes in quickly and that hare coursing and foxhunting follow soon afterwards...to keep the staghunters company in the Hall of Shame!" (Facebook comment from "Bad Hare Days" author John Fitzgerald, November 19, 2009)
"It must also be noted that several mink farms operate across the Republic of Ireland. Escapes from these will continue to threaten the wildlife of Ireland, by adding to the feral [mink] population, even if the feral population is managed. Escapes from fur farms would also invalidate any attempts to eradicate feral populations." from the 2009 NPWS report entitled "A review of mink predation and control for Ireland".
"The weather on Friday 1st January was somewhat better but far from ideal. Due to heavy overnight frost, moving-off time was put back one hour to 12 noon. First draw at Rathvin provided a fox from the Fort that ran back over the Ballybough Road to Daly Fuels where he crossed the road at the Railway Bridge and the river to Monroe where they lost him.
From the back of the gallops at Rathvin they hunted down to the Old Railway line. At Kelly's stables the fox did a U-turn, ran back to a small pit near the avenue and to ground." from a report on the Tipperary Foxhounds on the Hunting Association of Ireland website, January 10th, 2010.
"In his latest book, The Thin Green Line - wildlife crime investigation in Britain and Ireland - [retired police inspector] Alan Stewart] instances cases of cruelty to a variety of animals in Ireland, providing a valuable eye-opener. He appears surprised to learn most wildlife crime in Ireland is not investigated by the Gardai, but by conservation rangers employed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. However, garda powers are broadly similar to those held by police in Britain and a garda, or another authorised person, may enter land where there's a suspicion an offence is being committed under the Wildlife Act." (Irish Examiner, November 30, 2009)
"Because of the callous and ruthless nature of some of the people involved, greyhound racing results in unbelievable cruelty to many dogs and, of course, a great deal of work for the Gardai and the ISPCA,' he says. 'In many cases, the dogs are bred for one purpose only and once that purpose is fulfilled they are disposable.'" (The Thin Green Line author, Alan Stewart, Irish Examiner, November 30, 2009)
"Of course the stag suffers. I saw the hounds attack the hind quarters of the legs of the poor, unfortunate animal. It's horrific to see the end of the hunt." (Fianna Fail Meath Councillor, Noel Leonard, on his opposition to the Ward Union hunt, Meath Chronicle, 9th January 2010)
"I have seen [Ward Union stags], bellies heaving, heads raised and nostrils flaring, looking for their escape..." (from a pro-hunting article in the Irish Times, December 18, 2009)
"When the great rural public in Britain opposed the ban [on hunting with hounds], planeloads of Irish hunters went over to swell the numbers, knowing that political correctness knows no national boundaries." (from a pro-hunting article in the Irish Times, December 18, 2009)
"It is the view of some in the Ward Union hunt that [Minister Noel Dempsey] has not been supportive of hunting at the cabinet table." (Countryside Alliance website, 08 December 2009) ICABS has thanked Minister Dempsey for declining an invitation to the Ward Union's 'monster rally' in Trim.
"How could I [John Gormley] live with myself if there was a very serious accident when there are clearly safety issues involved?" he said. "I have been pretty clear from the outset that our primary concern in relation to the stag hunt is our safety concern. We have had a number of incidents where we have had the stag going out into urbanised area with
high levels of traffic. I have heard from a reliable source that the deer jumped out in front of a woman who was pushing a pram." Irish Times, December 19, 2009
"In all my years in animal welfare, I have never been part of such a resounding success story," said Alan Knight of International Animal Rescue, which has been campaigning since 2002 for an end to the centuries-old tradition of dancing bears. "To transform the lives of hundreds of captive bears is amazing in itself. But to put an end to this cruelty once and for all is nothing short of momentous," he said. (Irish Times, December 22, 2009)
"The Cashel Hunt were originally Beagles but with the scarcity of hares they became Foot Harriers and are now recognised by the Foot Harriers Association." from a hunt report in Countryman's Weekly, 20th January 2010.
"In what is a sobering metaphor for the way our world has changed, four horses were left starve to death on a disused golf course on the outskirts of Cork city. At least 10 other emaciated horses or ponies were on the site outside Blarney village yesterday. Many people made commitments to keep animals that are no longer possible. Some bought pets at Christmas that they can no longer care for. No matter what their circumstances no one should abandon or leave an animal to starve to death. There are options that do not involve terrible cruelty and they should be availed of." Irish Examiner, January 22, 2010
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26. Letters to Editors
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CONTROVERSY OVER STAG HUNT BAN
Irish Times - January 11, 2010
Madam, - I found the contrasting letters on the subject of blood sports very interesting (December 31st). As a lifetime yellowbelly I found myself, unusually, on the same side as the Kilkenny man John Fitzgerald. As for Philip Donnelly, he trotted out the same arguments as those of his ilk did when the debate was on in England. I was resident there and
a member of the Labour party at the time and there was massive support for the ban across all classes.
The claim by Mr Donnelly that it cost the party 47 seats at the following election is rubbish. What cost us the seats was the invasion of Iraq. It beggars belief that alleged adults in the 21st century can't find a more decent way to amuse themselves. - Yours, etc, James Moran, Knockanure, Bunclody, Co Wexford.
TAXPAYERS FUNDING SQUIRREL CULL PRIZES
Irish Times - January 8th, 2010
Madam, - It was with disbelief and dismay that I read Michael Parsons's article (Home News, January 6th) stating that the Department of Agriculture awarded monetary prizes to the gun clubs that killed the most grey squirrels. In addition to the barbaric activities of hare coursing, stag hunting and fur and factory farming, those who enjoy the torture and killing of animals are now to have the added excitement of legally shooting grey squirrels.
Not only were gun club members able to experience the pleasures of the kill, but our Government awarded them prizes from taxpayers' money for this barbaric activity.
Soon our country will be entirely denuded of wildlife. One can only hope that before that happens, the present pack of incompetent, arrogant and uncaring Government politicians, along with their advisers, will also have been sent packing into a wilderness from which they will not emerge for many years. - Yours, etc, Carmel Courtney, Dublin 16.
WAR DECLARED
The Kingdom - January 14, 2010
Irish hunt followers have declared war in a futile attempt to prevent the outlawing of stag hunting with hounds.
A hunting army has being assembled from the ranks of the various strands of Ireland's hunting community.
Battle plans have been drawn up by hunting generals who have ordered in extra supplies of lies, misinformation, innuendo, personal attacks and economic blackmail.
Given that hunting supporters have yet to accept that the war is over, it could be a long campaign.
It will fall to those kind of heart to break it to those cruel of heart that the war is actually over.
A ban on stag hunting starts this long overdue process.
John Tierney, Campaigns Director, Association of Hunt Saboteurs, PO Box 4734, Dublin 1
HUNT SUPPORTERS 'DELUSIONAL'
Meath Chronicle - 30th December, 2009
Dear sir - Delusional, is this the only word to describe the people who met in Trim to defend the Ward Union Stag Hunt. Are we to believe the lynch pin of the Irish horse industry is the Ward Hunt. Is it possible that names like Meade, Kinane or Sea the Stars would not have emerged without hunting, all nonsense.
The truth is I believe that the vast majority of people involved with hunting do so for their love of horses and would continue with their passion regardless.
They are also trying to promote the idea that urban dwellers don't understand country people and are casting their net far and wide to include many strands of country life to bolster their cause. In truth hunting with hounds was the 'sport' of the upper class and their 'lackeys' and had very little relevance to ordinary rural life, except when they trampled crops and broke down fences or as happened in recent years, careered through a school playground.
One speaker talked spoke of Cuchullain and his involvement in hunting with hounds but I would suggest that this was the way at the time to provide food for his clan rather than some form of sport.
Next time this group meet, instead of their usual pre-rally meal, they could partake of some freshly cooked salmon and maybe, just maybe .....
Yours, Joe Price, Ladyrath, Wilkinstown, Co Meath.
MONGREL FOXES
The Kingdom - January 14, 2010
I am disappointed by Fine Gael's decision to oppose the government sponsored Bill to ban stag hunting.
I had thought the party might have moved on a bit and become a little more humane and compassionate in its policy direction since that rousing Ard Fheis of 1972 when its then leader Liam Cosgrave famously took a swipe at his critics, declaring: "Some of these commentators and critics are like mongrel foxes - they are gone to ground but I'll dig them out
and the pack will chop them when they get them".
Is the party seriously committed to supporting deliberate cruelty to animals - just for the sake of annoying the government?
I have contacted all Fine Gael TDs over the past month asking them to justify the party's pro-stag hunting policy. To date, not one deputy has done so.
Perhaps they have gone to ground like Mr Cosgrave's mongrel foxes, and we campaigners will just have to dig them out!
John Fitzgerald, Co Kilkenny
SURPRISED BY A FOX
Irish Times - January 7, 2010
Madam, - What a lovely surprise on Tuesday morning to have a fox run by my car. It was greatly uplifting. She looked so beautiful and elegant as she ran across the road from the snowy grounds of the Oblate Fathers, Inchicore, to a grassy forest area nearby. The fact it was an industrial estate did not seem to matter to the fox. Not so long ago Inchicore was
the country! A happy New Year to all in The Irish Times, a wonderful paper delivered to my door daily, even in this treacherous cold and frosty weather. It's like a piece of warm toast, when it's popped into my letter box. -
Yours, etc, Terry Healy, Kill, Co Kildare.
WARD UNION HUNT'S CAMPAIGN CHARADE
Meath Chronicle - 16th December, 2009
Dear sir - Meath's staghunting with hounds community have declared war. With the banning of their cruel activity on the political agenda they have blown the horn to rally the troops to fight this action. If it was not so serious it would be laughable. Where can Ireland's hunting community locate a solid defence for an activity that has been shown to be cruel, inhumane and totally unnecessary for the protection and survival of our deer population.
Mass rallies are being planned and political lobbying campaigns are being kick-started by these rural deer chasers. The intention is to create a charade that hunting with hounds is a vital element of our society and it should not be consigned to history's skip. Given that the majority of Irish people find hunting with hounds cruel it will be interesting to see this campaign unfolds.
For those more used to dishing out animal abuse in the depths of the Irish countryside away from prying eyes trying to justify their actions in the glare of public and media forums will be like a visual and audio bloodsport as they squirm on truth's harpoon. Hunting spokespersons will be pouring out spurious claims about hunting while feeding to the general public a defence of animal abuse in a bolus of pap. No doubt personal attacks will be unleashed against those who are trying to defend our wildlife from these rural thugs.
Of course we can be spared this pantomime if the Irish hunting community accept that hunting with hounds is an activity that does not have any long-term prospects. It would save a lot of time and media space if hunters accepted their fate and started the process of converting live hunting packs to drag hunting packs across all the various disciplines
of hunting with hounds.
The ban on staghunting with hounds will come to pass and in its wake will be a ban on all forms of live hunting with hounds. That is the reality of the situation. Those who follow horn and hound have a choice; they can remain at the default setting of the terminally stupid, violent and committed to defending animal cruelty or they can accept what is
coming down the political track and make the voluntary switch to draghunting.
But based on what goes on in the Irish hunting field we can only assume that it is not in the nature of animal abusers to elevate themselves above the subculture they currently embrace.
Yours, John Tierney, Campaigns Director, Association of Hunt Saboteurs,
PO Box 4734, Dublin 1.
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27. Twenty Tweets
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Follow ICABS on Twitter - www.twitter.com/banbloodsports
Here are twenty of our tweets from the past month. Please re-tweet them and help increase support for our action alerts. Thank you.
Is Fine Gael "committed to supporting deliberate cruelty to animals"? http://bit.ly/8hd6aO
Cool fox photos: http://short.to/149n1
Japan whalers 'ram' Sea Shepherd Conservation Society boat http://is.gd/5R9s4
Ask the NPWS species "protection" unit why they recommended the licensing of cruel hare coursing. Email ciaran.o'keeffe@environ.ie
STOP the badger slaughter: Please display poster + email "Stop licensing badger snaring" to minister@environ.ie http://is.gd/6BnrE
Learn all about Ireland's Otters http://short.to/141rr
Help Keep Cruelty History in the UK. Please contact your MP and urge them to sign Early Day Motion 79 http://is.gd/6JRDt
"Because of the callous nature of some of the people involved, greyhound racing results in unbelievable cruelty to many dogs'" Alan Stewart
TD TUESDAY: Please post, fax or email this poster to all your local TDs http://bit.ly/VqWzL
Irish Times letter to editor: Hunters should find a more decent way to amuse themselves http://bit.ly/5fFugt
Please help stop digging-out & terrierwork - Leaflet and action alert. http://bit.ly/26FIa0
"Of course the [Ward Union] stag suffers. I saw the hounds attack the hind quarters of the legs of the poor animal." Cllr Noel Leonard
Email "Stop Defending the Ward Union Deerhunt" to Meath TD, Shane McEntee shane.mcentee@finegael.ie
Become our friend on MySpace - www.myspace.com/banbloodsports Thanks for your support :-)
ICABS spokesperson Aideen Yourell has a Letter to Editor published in today's Irish Times http://short.to/13fic
Remembering ICABS vice-president + champion for the animals, Tony Gregory, TD who passed away in January 2009 http://bit.ly/5RKDFw
Support our animal protection campaign in 2010. Make a small donation today. Click on Paypal at www.banbloodsports.com Thank you
Irish horse breeder pleads guilty to animal cruelty http://short.to/12i0h
Call for free vote on hunting bill rejected. Green Party determined it will go through. http://is.gd/5OalX
How to keep hunters off your property. Please print and give to landowners/farmer friends http://short.to/141s3
"Ban Blood Sports" car bumper sticker. Please purchase and help highlight our campaign. Thank you. http://bit.ly/2ulTtQ
"Shame on anyone who finds an animal being tortured entertaining." Ricky Gervais, The Times http://bit.ly/6KXrNp
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28. Ask Irish Times to drop pro-hunting slideshow
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Join us in asking the Irish Times to drop a pro-hunting slideshow from its website. Email "Please drop Waterford Hunt slideshow from your website" to lettersed@irishtimes.com or Tel 01 675 8000. You can view the slideshow at
http://www.irishtimes.com/indepth/slideshows/waterford-hunt-two/
In an email to the newspaper's editor, ICABS stated: "The slideshow presents foxhunting as a harmless rural get-together, involving jumping ditches and cross-country riding. No mention is made of the foxes which suffer horrendous fates during hunts. This whitewash of hunting is an affront to the Irish Times' reputation as a publication that strives to uncover and present the truth. We appeal to you to remove this slideshow from your site and only present the true picture of foxhunting - one of Ireland's worst examples of animal cruelty."
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Top ways you can help the campaign
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• Join our email list (and encourage friends to join) and respond to our Action Alerts. Email "Subscribe" to info@banbloodsports.com
• Become a campaign supporter and make a donation to help fund our efforts. Click on "Join ICABS" at www.banbloodsports.com for more information.
• Contact your local politicians and ask them to support a ban on blood sports. Click on "Politicians" at www.banbloodsports.com for contact details and a sample letter.
• Be our friend on MySpace, Bebo, Twitter and Youtube -
http://www.myspace.com/banbloodsports,
http://www.bebo.com/banbloodsports,
http://www.twitter.com/banbloodsports, http://www.youtube.com/icabs
• Sign up for our free text alert service and receive occasional campaign updates to your phone. To subscribe to this free service, simply text the word GO to our textline on 00 353 86 038 6617.
• Link to our website and display one of our banners. Click on "Links" at www.banbloodsports.com for linking options.
• 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. Click on "Petitions" at www.banbloodsports.com for online and printable petitions.
• Organise a fund-raiser to help raise funds for the campaign
• Set up an online anti-blood sports group (Myspace, Bebo, Facebook, etc) to cover your area.
• Download, print and display our posters and leaflets - click on "Leaflets" at www.banbloodsports.com now.
• 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. Email ICABS about any blood-sport related incidents in your area.
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Please make a donation to ICABS
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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 "Shop" at www.banbloodsports.com for more details or send a cheque to ICABS, PO Box 88, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Ireland. Thank you very much.
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Keep hunters off your land
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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. You may also wish to contact the Farmers Against Foxhunting and Trespass organisation which is happy to offer advice to landowners. Chairman, Philip Lynch, can be reached at 056-7725309. Visit the FAFT website at: www.myspace.com/farmersagainstfoxhunting
Download the FAFT leaflet from: http://www.scribd.com/doc/17651383
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Tune in to the ICABS Channel
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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.****************************************************
We're helping animals in Haiti -- you can, too
The animals need a voice in Haiti, and we’ve been on the ground there for days, doing all we can during a desperate time in the island nation. Our team of veterinary and disaster relief responders continue to feed stray dogs, check on the welfare of farm animals and zoo animals, and work to reunite evacuees with their lost pets.
We’re already planning to support a longer-term program to vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies -- a major concern of developing countries after disasters, to address both animal health and human health. We’re preparing to send in a second wave of responders on Friday.
We can’t do this work without you. Will you stand by us in Haiti -- and during future disasters around the world? Please make a special gift today.
As always, thank you for all you do for animals.
Wayne Pacelle, President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States
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