Ban digging out and terrierwork The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is calling on the Minister for Agriculture, Brendan Smith, to outlaw the horrendous practices of digging out and terrierwork. We are urging all TDs and Senators to back a ban on these activities. Brought to their attention is a new slideshow video of photos from Ireland which show foxes and dogs with horrendous injuries. (Please scroll down to watch video). Although similar to illegal badger baiting, fox baiting remains legal in this country. It is carried out by what can only be described as thugs and sadists who dig animals out with spades and take pleasure in seeing their dogs inflicting the most savage injuries on them. Digging out and terrierwork is also an integral part of foxhunting in Ireland. The foxhunters' so-called code of conduct states that "only one terrier at a time may be used to locate the fox except in rocks, stacks of bales or stick piles, etc...Digging shall only be conducted by a small number of experienced people and assistants appointed by the Master or his nominee." It also highlights their desire to keep this appalling act away from the public eye, stressing that "reasonable efforts shall be made to ensure that digging out will not become a public spectacle." Badger baiting, dog fighting and cock fighting are already illegal in Ireland. The next step must be for the heinous practice of fox digging and baiting to be outlawed. Campaign Leaflet: Please download and forward Click here to download the leaflet Click here to download the leaflet Video: Digging Out and Terrierwork Cruelty in Ireland URGENT ACTION ALERT - SAMPLE LETTER Minister Brendan Smith Department of Agriculture Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie CC: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie (Taoiseach, Brian Cowen), dymphna.keogh@agriculture.gov.ie (Minister's Secretary) and AHWBill@agriculture.gov.ie;tsargent@greenparty.ie (Trevor Sargent, TD, Minister of State at the Dept of Agriculture) Tel: 01-607 2000 or LoCall 1890-200510. Fax: 01-661 1013. Dear Minister Smith, I support the Irish Council Against Blood Sports' call on you to urgently outlaw both digging out and terrierwork. These horrendous acts of cruelty are carried out by sadistic individuals and also by merciless foxhunting groups (when terrified foxes try to find refuge underground). There is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for this shameful animal abuse and it must be stopped. Please make it an offence NOW to dig out any animal or send terriers below ground to catch and attack animals under any circumstances. I also call on you to outlaw the use of packs of hounds to harass, attack, injure and/or kill any animal. Thank you, Minister. I look forward to your positive response. [Your Name and Location] Make a donation to ICABS Please consider making a small donation to ICABS. For more details, please click on the button below or follow this link to find out how to become a campaign supporter. Thank you. News Menu | Join | Top | Home