“It is vital that this animal be included in the legislation because, although there is presently no rabbit fur farming in Ireland, there would be nothing to prevent somebody from starting it” - Read John Fitzgerald’s Letter to the Editor in this week’s Avondhu...

Rabbit Fur Farming must be prohibited
The Avondhu, 15th July 2021

While the upcoming ban on fur farming in Ireland is welcome, the Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports (CACS) is calling upon the Agriculture Minister to add the rabbit to the list of animals that cannot be farmed for their fur.

The Animal Health and Welfare (Fur farming) Bill 2020 as drafted applies to cats, chinchillas, dogs, foxes, mink and weasels. But the rabbit is missing from the list of protected animals.

It is vital that this animal be included in the legislation because, although there is presently no rabbit fur farming in Ireland there would be nothing to prevent somebody from starting it, as with mink farming, in the absence of a specific prohibition on the practice.

Rabbit fur farming would subject these animals to immense suffering. They would be crammed into cages and killed by throat-cutting after enduring months of unnatural confinement and light deprivation. All so that their fur could be used in boots, hats, gloves, or as trim for jackets.

There‘s another reason to outlaw rabbit fur farming: The animal is susceptible to the highly contagious Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD2) which inflicts agonizing death. In the past two years the disease has been confirmed in the Irish countryside. Infected rabbits have been found partially paralyzed, with swollen eyelids, bleeding from the eyes and mouth. The disease can spread easily in conditions where the animals are bunched together, as would occur in a farm or factory setting.

We hope Minister McConalogue will see fit to protect the humble rabbit from the horrors of fur farming.

John Fitzgerald,
Campaign for the Abolition Of Cruel Sports
Callan, Co. Kilkenny

ACTION ALERT

Urge Minister McConalogue to add rabbits to the list of animals covered by the upcoming legislation to ban fur farming in Ireland.

Charlie McConalogue
Minister for Agriculture
Tel: (01) 618 3199
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie; charlie.mcconalogue@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CharlieMcConalogue
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@McConalogue

SAMPLE LETTER
(If you have time, please write your own personal letter)

Dear Minister McConalogue

I am writing to urge you to please include rabbits in the Animal Health and Welfare (Fur farming) Bill 2020.

Rabbit fur farming subjects these timid creatures to a life of misery in cages and a brutal killing.

Please act to ensure that the upcoming ban on fur farming in Ireland includes rabbits and all animals.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

[Name/Location]