Rat Poisons (Rodenticide)  in Ireland needs better regulations.

People are unaware of the devastating effects of laying down rat poison - not only is the poison itself tasty to all animals and children (it tastes like chocolate), but poisoned rodents can take weeks to die, and in that time are easy prey for cats, dogs and wild animals. According to the chair of the Veterinary Ireland Companion Animal Society National Committee, "Accidental ingestion of rat poison by pets sadly seems to be quite a common occurrence". Any animal that ingests rat poison either directly or through another animal will likely experience internal hemorrhaging and a horrible death.

While this is a terrifying consequence of rat poisoning it is also completely counterproductive in the long term: rat poison effectively kills off the natural predators of rats, so when the poison is removed the area is more at risk of rat infestations.

Even more horrifying than accidental secondary poisoning is the fact that in some cases rat poison is intentionally used to kill domestic animals, and used so carelessly that it can cause widespread devastation. In the Templeshannon area of Enniscorthy in August, an estimated 25 cats died (as well as birds and wild animals) or disappeared in a poisoning epidemic, and packets of poison were, in a later incident, found to have been thrown into cat owners gardens.

Currently, anyone can buy rat poison in hardware stores or online. While the regulations state that rat poison should be placed in tamper resistant boxes, this is neither enforced in any way nor effective at preventing secondary poisoning. In addition, the HSE play an active part in laying down rat poison- even in residential areas. They lay poison down in back gardens, and currently don't need to inform any neighbours of the danger posed. An Taisce has stated that the current legislations "aren't adequate enough to keep wildlife safe". They believe barn owls, kestrels and long eared owls are some of the most at risk Irish wildlife.

This petition is in memory of my dear eight month old kitten, Pepper, who died suddenly of suspected secondary poisoning from a poisoned mouse that traveled into our garden in November. Pepper was the healthiest, happiest and most loving little cat. His family and friends are heartbroken without him- including our golden retriever, Alfie, who doesn't understand what happened to his best friend.

When I warned the local people's facebook group to be careful with their pets, I found that someone's little dog had died of rat poisoning three days after Pepper. I was later contacted by Anita, who lost her 4 year old cat, Foxy, on the 24th of August. She "found him dead on the field path behind our garden and it looked like he was trying to desperately come back home". Like my own Pepper, Foxy was "healthy, neutered and vaccinated"- a much loved member of the family. Anita believes her neighbours laid out poison, and they laughed when she questioned them. There are countless other animals dying of poisoning every day: many go missing and never return or are never diagnosed until it is too late.

My goal is to protect other innocent animals from this cruel fate and to prevent any further unnecessary and avoidable tragedies.

This petition calls on the minister for agriculture, food and the marine, to change the current legislation so that:

1- Only trained professionals have access to rat poisons.

2- These trained professionals should be subject to regulations that are actually enforced- with inspections, fines and loss of licences for failure to follow these laws.

3- It should be avoided in residential areas unless as a last resort, in which case all neighbours should be personally informed of its use ahead of time, so that they may take precautions necessary to protect domestic animals and children.

4- It should not be used in open areas (even in bait boxes), to reduce the risk of poisoning to birds, foxes and other wildlife.

5- Any rat poison bait boxes must be CLEARLY LABELLED that they present a danger of both primary AND SECONDARY fatal poisoning to ALL ANIMALS.

Please sign & share this petition- for the sake of our much loved dogs and cats, but also for all of the amazing wild animals that Ireland is home to, who are the unknown victims of the careless use of rat poisons.

Feel free to contact me- with ideas or to get involved in the campaign: katelouellen on instagram or coscorankate@gmail.com