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Animal Voice: January 2010
Campaign newsletter of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports Download Now (MS Word .doc format) In this edition:
>> Peaceful protest against coursing: February 3rd <<
>> 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 www.theaa.ie/routes/ 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
SAMPLE LETTER
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 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
SAMPLE LETTER
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
Written Answer. Ref No 48365/09 ACTION ALERT Please email "Revoke the Ward Union's licence immediately" to minister@environ.ie
Minister John Gormley
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
SAMPLE LETTER
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 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 www.noelleonard.net 10. Noel Leonard and the case against stag hunting 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. Please make a donation to ICABS 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. 11. Species Protection Unit questioned over coursing licence 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
Tel: +353-1-8882000 12. Revoke hunt's licence before someone gets killed 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
SAMPLE LETTER
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] 13. ICABS responds to Carberry's hunt ban comments 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 14. NPWS mink cull considering terrierwork and digging out baby mink 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: "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
15. Please fax, post or email this poster to Minister Gormley 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.
Post poster to:
Email poster to:
Fax poster to: 16. Thanks for attending animal rally 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 17. Trevor Sargent defends cruel badger snaring 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 18. Latest figures show Dept snared and killed 7,000 badgers 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
Dr Ciaran O'Keeffe
Minister Brendan Smith
19. Get active at a local level 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. 20. Gun clubs compete in squirrel cull 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 ACTION ALERT Send "Stop using taxpayers' money to fund squirrel killing competitions"
Minister Brendan Smith
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie 21. Legislation to outlaw grotesque hunt will be introduced 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 22. Cruelty to horses in Waterford: Renewed appeal for information 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. 23. Urge Danish Government to stop barbaric whale slaughter Please register your opposition to the deplorable slaughter of pilot whales in the Faroe Islands with the Ambassador of Denmark:
Henrik Ree Iversen
Tel: +353 (0)1 4756404
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] 24. New anti-hunt Facebook group - Please Join 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 "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
CONTROVERSY OVER STAG HUNT BAN 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 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 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' 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 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 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 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. 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
28. Ask Irish Times to drop pro-hunting slideshow 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 www.irishtimes.com 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." Top ways you can help the campaign
Please make a donation to ICABS 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. Keep hunters off your land Make it known publicly that your land is off-limits to hunters. Place a preservation notice in your local newspaper now. Here is a sample notice that you may wish to use: "Take notice that all my lands at [Insert address(es) of land] are private and preserved day and night. All forms of hunting and shooting are strictly prohibited. Trespassers will be prosecuted. Signed [Insert name(s) of landowner]" For more information, click on Farmers at www.banbloodsports.com Tune in to the ICABS Channel Footage of blood sport cruelty and the humane alternatives can be viewed on the ICABS Channel on Youtube - www.youtube.com/icabs or by clicking on "Videos" at www.banbloodsports.com Please ask your local TD/Senator to view our videos and back a blood sports ban. Animal Voice - Subscribe To receive "Animal Voice" by email every month, please send "Animal Voice - Subscribe" to info@banbloodsports.com
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