An Irish Council Against Blood Sports Newsletter. June-July 2009

For more campaign news, updates and more action alerts, please visit our websites:www.banbloodsports.com, www.youtube.com/icabs, www.myspace.com/banbloodsports,www.bebo.com/banbloodsports, www.twitter.com/banbloodsports

01. University equestrian club told not to engage in foxhunting

Thank you to everyone who contacted University College Cork about the presence of UCCEquestrian Club members at a foxhunt in February. We are very pleased to report that apositive response received from the university has clarified that the foxhunt outing was "notan official club activity" and that the club has been instructed to not engage in fox huntingactivities.

ICABS has thanked University President, Michael B Murphy for investigating the matter and forforwarding us a copy of a letter he received from the UCC Director of Sport & Recreation.In this letter the director states: "UCC Equestrian Club competes in a number of equestrian-relatedactivities such as show jumping, dressage, tetrathlon to name but a few. The club does not activelypromote fox hunting. In relation to the foxhunt in question, I have been informed by the equestrianclub that it was individual members who attended the event from a personal perspective and it wasnot an organised club trip."Referring to the fact that the individuals were wearing club jackets displaying the college and clublogo, she added: "I have advised them that this was inappropriate because it was not an official clubactivity. No funding was contributed to supporting these individuals attending the event from clubfunds. I have written to the club and instructed them not to engage in fox hunting activities as a cluband if individuals within the club wish to attend such activities to refrain from using club gear."In our original appeal to UCC we highlighted how a majority of Irish people want foxhunting outlawed.We quoted from an Irish Field report which outlined how several foxes were disturbed and chasedduring the hunt in question. One was found in a quarry and was forced to "drop down into a crack inthe limestone" to evade capture by the pack of hounds. Another fox was described as "clearly feelingpressed" and was chased down a hill, across a farm lane, into gorse, under some sheds, onto a hilland through fields of slurry. The hunters and hounds, it was reported, continued to "hunt him downthe valley" where he was marked to ground.ICABS greatly welcomes the response from UCC. Please join us in our appeal to other universities tofollow this example.

02. Rangers & hunting holidays issue still being examined

Over three weeks after the Sunday Times reported allegations that NPWS rangers are involvedin the organisation of hunting holidays in Ireland, the issue is still "under examination". Thisis according to a reply by Minister John Gormley to a Dail Question from Deputy FinianMcGrath. Please read the Dail Q&A below and respond to our urgent action alert.

Dail Question 170 - Answered on 24th June 2009

Finian McGrath:

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government theoutcome of his investigation into allegations that members of the National Parks and Wildlife Servicehave breached the Civil Code of Standards and Behaviour by organising commercial shootingholidays for tourists, and the action being taken against the rangers involved.

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr John Gormley):

Theseallegations are under examination in my Department.

URGENT ACTION ALERT - SAMPLE LETTER

(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, send the short sample letterbelow. Be assertive, but polite, in all correspondence. Thank you.)Minister John GormleyDepartment of the EnvironmentCustom House, Dublin 1.Email: minister@environ.ieTel: 01 888 2403. Fax: 01 878 8640.Dear Minister Gormley:I am writing in relation to allegations published in the Sunday Times of May 31st that National Parksand Wildlife Service conservation rangers are involved in the organisation of hunting holidays inIreland. I urge you to thoroughly investigate these allegations and to take appropriate action. I wish tobe informed about the outcome of the investigation. Thank you. I look forward to your reply.Yours sincerely,[*** Your Name and Location ***]

03. Association asked to keep hunts out of agricultural shows

ICABS has appealed to the Irish Shows Association (the representative body for AgriculturalShows in Ireland) to act to prevent hunting groups from participating in agricultural shows.

Drawing attention to a foxhound demonstration scheduled to take place at a midlands show, wepointed out that such dogs are normally to be seen terrorising wildlife across the countryside -chasing foxes and hares, catching them and eviscerating them.We expressed concerns about show organisers who deem it appropriate to give hunts an opportunityto present a pretty picture of what is actually the most horrendous of cruelty."Hunts are also responsible for causing inconvenience, stress and damage within the farmingcommunity," we added. "During hunting season we are constantly contacted by landowners who aretrying to keep hunters off their land - they are concerned about the safety of their animals, damage topastures, breaching of boundaries, etc. Because of this incompatibility between modern agricultureand hunting, we feel it is improper for hunts to be allowed to take part in agricultural shows."

ACTION ALERT 1

Please ask the Irish Shows Association to reflect the attitudes of a majority of Irish people, includingfarmers and landowners, by adopting a policy of barring hunting groups from agricultural shows.Michael Hughes, National SecretaryIrish Shows Association, Pinegrove, Mountbellew, Co. GalwayEmail: michaelhughesisa@eircom.net

ACTION ALERT 2

If an agricultural show in your area features hunting groups, please complain to the organisers andhighlight the despicable cruelty inflicted by these groups on Irish wildlife. Bring your concerns to showsponsors and to your local media.

04. Hunting the Innocent: a poem about the plight of foxes

Read "Hunting the Innocent", a powerful poem by Cashel-based songwriter, John O Dwyer.The poem conveys the suffering and desperation from the fox's perspective and illustrates theconstant struggle for survival faced by these wonderful creatures.Hunting The Innocent

by John O DwyerI'm one of God's creatures and deserve to be free/ To live my life in harmonyTo run wild through the fields of green/ Without been chased o'er hill and streamTo be hunted down and torn apart/ For the pleasure of your cruel dark heartWhat manner of creature hunts not for food/ But for sport when you feel the moodWhat kind of beast could you be/ To kill one as innocent as meI hunt to survive to keep young alive/ No dogs no gun nor killing for funBut dozens of men on horse back ride/ Across the country to where I hideSnarling dogs with sharpened teeth/ And prancing hoofs I run beneathTo lead away from my den/ To save my cubs from angry menI'm tired but keep on running/ To live this day I must be cunningThrough bramble and brier, down rocky slope/ The day it darkens I see some hopeJust keep on moving, stay ahead/ And pray that bullets of dreaded leadDon't pierce my flesh and shatter bone/ Just keep on moving I'll make it homeThe night has come they've turned around/ They've heard the call of the bugle soundWorn down and out of breath/ Once more I've cheated deathHow long more will it be my fate/ To keep me safe from these men of hateForever more I must strive/ To teach my cubs to surviveTo outwit the beast called man/ Just do the best I canJust do the best I can/ From the foxThanks to John O Dwyer for permission to reproduce the poem. Find out more about him and listento his music at: www.myspace.com/jackanto1

05. Mutilated coursing dogs found dumped on Limerick beach

Three mutilated greyhounds, believed to have been coursing dogs, were found dumped at apopular bathing spot in Limerick. The Limerick Leader has reported that the animals had theirears cut off so that the owners could not be identified. This is just the latest act of appallingbarbarity against Irish greyhounds. ICABS appeals to anyone with information on thissickening crime to please contact the Gardai immediately. You can read the full below...Dead greyhounds dumped at Limerick bathing spot

By Donal O'Regan, Limerick Leader - 4th June 2009Three rotting greyhound carcasses were the first sight that greeted lifeguards at one of the county'sbest known bathing spots.