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We should ban the practice of setting dogs against other animals for “sport” - read John Fitzgerald's letter to the editor in The Avondhu...
Hunt havoc...
Letter, The Avondhu, 12 September 2024
With a clampdown looming on XL Bullies, we need a serious debate about the dangers posed by hunting hounds.
These dogs can be quite docile and human-friendly if allowed to develop their true natures without interference, but hunting requires that the killer instinct be encouraged and given free rein. From an early age hunt dogs are “blooded” by setting them on fox cubs. Though the fox is also a dog, this cruel training pits every hunt hound against him.
Hounds hunting in packs cause havoc every year as hunts encroach on farm property. They scatter fowl, flocks of sheep, and herds of cattle as they cross farm boundaries, knocking down fences and ripping up fields of winter corn.
Every season, families in rural Ireland mourn the loss of pets ripped asunder as out-of-control baying packs invade farm yards, driven by a ferocious and unquenchable bloodlust.
The greyhound likewise can be an affectionate, docile animal and a wonderful pet, but trainers bring out its darker instincts to facilitate coursing. As a result, an animal that belongs on the couch or playing in your garden can more often be seen chasing a terrified hare.
Its involvement in coursing projects a negative perception of the greyhound that can make re-homing a major challenge.
So, if we’re poised to say no to XL Bullies, I suggest we follow up with an outright ban on the practice of setting dogs against other animals for “sport.”
John Fitzgerald,
Callan, Co. Kilkenny
ACTION ALERT
A RED C opinion poll, commissioned by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports, shows that a 77% majority agree that the government should ban fox hunting and hare coursing. Tell politicians to respect the wishes of the majority and ban fox hunting, hare coursing and all bloodsports.
Contact the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Green Party, Sinn Fein and Labour Party to tell them that you want bloodsports banned.
Micheál Martin
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1–618 4350 or +353 (0)21-432 0088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Simon Harris TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: +353 (0)1 618 3805 or +353 (0)1 889 2442
Email: simon.harris@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
X: http://www.twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris
Roderic O'Gorman TD
Leader, Green Party
Tel: (01) 6642052
Email: roderic.ogorman@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RodericOG/
X: https://x.com/rodericogorman
Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD
Ivana Bacik TD
Leader, The Labour Party
Tel: (01) 6183136
Email: ivana.bacik@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivanabacik
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bacikivana/
Contact the Agriculture Minister and demand that exemptions for fox hunting and hare coursing are removed from the Animal Health and Welfare Act.
Charlie McConalogue
Minister for Agriculture
Tel: 01 618 3199 or 01 607 2000
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie; charlie.mcconalogue@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CharlieMcConalogue
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@McConalogue
At the next general election, reject candidates who support bloodsports. Find out where current politicians stand at https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2020/01/08/politicians-and-animal-cruelty-issues/
Contact all your local TDs and urge them to push for a ban on bloodsports. Visit the Oireachtas website for names of TDs and their email addresses http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=33&disp=mem
Keep hunters off your land
If you are a landowner, make your land off-limits to hunters. Find out more about how to do this on our Farmers/Landowners Page – http://www.banbloodsports.com/farmers.htm
Witness the cruelty of foxhunting at
http://www.banbloodsports.com/videos.htm
https://youtu.be/cbLKs9pgQno
Witness the cruelty of hare coursing in Ireland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRUi_z_29tI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVIKc2CS4ko
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports