Puppy Farmers look out, Shop it to Stop it. March 2006

Glue traps,lets implement the law. February 2007

Dolphin Cull demo January 2007

Crash Pigs offered a chance at life February 2007

Dublin city Council Breeds Ban July 2007

Guns on sale at Galway races. July 2007

The Canadian seal hunt /Ireland imports 1500 seal skins per annum.March 2008

Pigs exploited for entertainment  April 2008

Statement regarding Dublin Zoo Orangutan escape. April 2008

Rodent Glue traps openly on sale despite being illegal May2008

Tesco cruelty to Turtles in China. June 2008

Human Rights Scandal of AR prisoners July 2008

Orangutan escapes from Dublin Zoo  August 2008

ISPCA fundraising cruelty 2008

Circus Vegas gives up animals siting 'too much hassle from activists' January 2009

Pressure group AFAR  changes kilkenny councillers decision and saves Greyhounds and terriers, February 2009

If Art could save your life March 2009

College praised for compassionate move. March 2009

Convicted animal Abuser runs in Limerick elections May 2009

 AFAR.Press Release

600 litters of dogs on average are advertised weekly in newspapers,
periodicals and free adds papers here in Ireland.
400 DOGS FOR SALE adds appear on average in one free adds paper
alone, many of these for up to nine different breeds, the majority
of which are being raised on PUPPY FARMS here in Ireland. Other
adds appear on notice boards everywhere with photos of cute pups,
obviously a little money spinner for people who breed their animals
at home.Many people who buy a pup do not realise they are causing
untold misery for the pups mother who lives her life virtually 'in
pup' and many report buying the saddest, sickest pup just to save
it.In reality this easy money prompts the breeder to continue.

600 litters of dogs on average are advertised weekly in newspapers,
periodicals and free adds papers here in Ireland.
400 DOGS FOR SALE adds appear on average in one free adds paper
alone, many of these for up to nine different breeds, the majority
of which are being raised on PUPPY FARMS here in Ireland. Other
adds appear on notice boards everywhere with photos of cute pups,
obviously a little money spinner for people who breed their animals
at home.Many people who buy a pup do not realise they are causing
untold misery for the pups mother who lives her life virtually 'in
pup' and many report buying the saddest, sickest pup just to save
it.In reality this easy money prompts the breeder to continue.

Most advertisements you reply to are from rural areas where the
sellers offer to bring the pups to a motorway garage or nearest
town to exchange the deal. This ploy is twofold, the main reason is
the buyer does not see the conditions the dogs are kept in, the
other is that PUPPY FARMING has now become a lucrative TAX FREE
enterprise.You cannot be 'shopped' if no one knows where you live.
Oficially it is tax liable but who is checking...EXCEPT US.
----------------------------------------------------------
With up to 1500 euros for the bigger Mastiffs or rare breeds,(more
for Females) and a litter raising up to 5,000 euros or more,
another twist has emerged.
Someone who wants a dog but cannot afford an 'expensive' dog is
given a female at a reduced price.The deal being that this pup when
on heat is bred and mated with the original sellers dog and a
female of the new litter is given back as part payment to close the
deal.This ploy results in even more dogs coming on to the market.
Neapolitan Mastiffs cost 900e male and 1300-1500e female.

So The Alliance for Animal Rights is now reporting details of dog
sellers to their local REVENUE INVESTIGATIONS UNITS and urging the
public to do likewise.The problem of over-breeding here in Ireland
is causing the deaths of thousands of unwanted dogs annually.
IF GENUINE PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE A DOG IN THEIR FAMILY,
they will rescue one from a pound or shelter. Many designer dogs
die in dog pounds too.

 GLUE TRAPS are clearly illegal in this country,see Dail question and answer below.  

#Glue traps, however, are an extremely cruel method of catching animals. We believe that if people understood the degree of cruelty associated with the use of glue traps, they would want no part of them.

A 1983 test that evaluated the effectiveness of glue traps found that trapped mice struggling to free themselves would pull out their own hair, exposing bare, raw areas of skin. The mice broke or even bit off their own legs, and the glue caused their eyes to become badly irritated and scarred. After three to five hours in the glue traps, the mice defecated and urinated heavily because of their severe stress and fear, and quickly became covered with their own excrement. Animals whose faces become stuck in the glue slowly suffocate, and all trapped animals are subject to starvation and dehydration. It takes anywhere from three to five days for the mouse to finally die. This is nothing less than torture.#

TO DO: 

What I want is for others on this list to check their local hardware shops over the next few days and report back to me the shop name, manager/owners name and phone number.These traps cause untold suffering, they also have glue traps on sale for beetles etc. Imagine dying slowly from struggling to take your feet from this substance.These are an invention of a sick mind. Please help AFAR to get rid of these already illegal items.

GET CHECKING NOW AND EMAIL US THE DETAILS  Bernie 087 2651720

Alliance for Animal Rights. PO Box 4634. Dublin.1 http://www.afarireland.org/

DAIL QUESTION:

Tony Gregory: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action being taken by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to end the sale of unlawful glue traps from retail outlets here.

For written answer on Wednesday, 8th March, 2006.
Ref No: 9707/06

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche): Sale or possession of glue traps, other than in accordance with a licence issued by my Department, is prohibited under the Wildlife Act 1976 (Approved Traps, Snares and Nets) Regulations 2003. No licences are currently in force to permit the sale or possession of such traps.

My Department has, over the last 18 months, been involved in two court cases involving the unlawful possession of rodent glue traps. Recently a substantial quantity of mouse glue was seized at Dublin Port and a prosecution is being prepared. My Department is in contact with a major importer and distributor of these traps with a view to arranging the recall and destruction of all such traps

Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 6:12 PM

Subject: PRESS RELEASE

 PRESS RELEASE Alliance For Animal Rights (AFAR) 

Animal Rights Activists to Protest against Japanese Dolphin Cull

                     Where: Japanese Embassy  When: Thursday 25th Jan. From 12 - 2pm

                                  Merrion Centre,Nutley Lane, Dublin 4. 

In protest of the barbaric dolphin cull that takes place along coastal regions of Japan every year, members of AFAR will be having a noisy demonstration outside the Japanese Embassy as part of a global effort to get this shameful tradition stopped. Each year, from October 31st - March 31st, over 20,000 dolphins and small whales are confined and then brutally killed for their flesh.

Fishermen capture these intelligent marine mammals by working in small boats, using sounding rods below the water's surface to interfere with the dolphin's sonar and navigational abilities. Once disorientated, whole families and pods of dolphins and small whales are driven into a shallow bay.

The fishemen usually injure a few of the captive dolphins with a spear thrust or a knife slash - dolphins will not abandon these wounded family members. Penned overnight, in the morning, they are mercilessly stabbed and hacked and they bleed to death, staining the water blood red. A few A few dolphns are kept alvie and sold to dolphinariums, which number nearly fifty in Japan, while the rest are killed to be sold as meat in markets and restaurants. This is why we have now joined the worldwide campaign to end this horrific cull. It is totally unacceptable for it to continue, and we call on Japan to put a stop to it immediately

No compassion from the Department of Agriculture.

Animal rights colleagues and myself from the Alliance for Animal Rights had teamed up with the Star newspaper when they offered to highlight the pigs plight and we offered to try our utmost to get new homes and locations for the then considered 'inedible' pigs.
The Irish Department of Agriculture have killed all of the 200 pigs that survived the accident last week in Kerry. Apparently they are edible and are being used as food, we were told that 11 were killed for supposedly 'humane ' reasons.They refused to give them to us after they survived the accident, we were prepared to help them to live out their lives as most animals do,when fate gives them a second chance.

Animal rights colleagues and myself from the Alliance for Animal Rights had teamed up with the Star newspaper when they offered to highlight the pigs plight and we offered to try our utmost to get new homes and locations for the then considered 'inedible' pigs.
They were inedible due apparently to the stress of the accident, - the truck being too heavy for a bridge and it fell into icy water. The pigs were trapped in the lorry which was part submerged. According to eye-witness accounts they could be heard crying for hours.

A lot of us are already involved in rescue so we had hoped against hope to at least save some, and we could have!.
We had homes for almost 20 already. However now after getting the bad news and feeling really disappointed about this I wish to thank all of you who offered help one way or another. We had two offers of land to put the pigs on in Kerry and Dublin. 4 Sanctuaries in the UK had also contacted me offering places for some of the pigs. Many others pledged money or transport help when they heard our appeal..

we'd spent the last few days cramming pig facts from books and knowledgeable people and trying to have things work smoothly for the little animals. Probably naively we had felt positive that we could at least save some. I think they were young pigs as they do get killed at an early age.To see their sad little faces with snouts peering out through the truck bars with some lying in icy water for hours just broke my heart. However, the support from colleagues in the Uk, Australia, the USA and here has given me the impetous to continue..

We cannot let this cruelty to innocent animals continue, those unfortunate pigs were butchered so that humans can enjoy tasting their flesh, Plenty of alternatives are available that are healthier, better for the environment and cruelty free. Farming animals is unnecessary for profit or indeed for any other reason.
Lets keep fighting for total liberation.

Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 9:09 AM

Subject: WE WON...DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL BACKS DOWN...PRESS OFFICE THIS MORNING.

ALLIANCE FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS

PRESS RELEASE

CITY COUNCIL BACKS DOWN ON UNWORKABLE  AND CRUEL PROPOSAL TO CULL UNHOMED BANNED BREEDS

THANK YOU DCC.........AND EVERYONE WHO HELPED SAVE  THESE DOGS. 

8.45 Thursday.The spokesperson for AFAR rang the Dublin City Council this morning at 8.40. I questioned the actual procedure and working method that the DCC would use to implement the ban on 11 Breeds since 1-7-07

 I asked would the DCC or Dog Wardens would be calling door to door as their statement would ultimately require to seize these dogs?

I spoke to Sarah in Customer Services and ultimately to the  Press Office and ‘the DCC will only act to seize dogs on foot of a complaint or attack or if they may see a dog of the banned breed loose in their Council complexes.’ 

SO HAS THE  DCC HAS ACTUALLY BACKED DOWN AND ACCORDING TO THIS THERE HAS BEEN A REPRIEVE FOR RTHE CITYS INNOCENT  DOGS.

WE WON….THIS IS FANTASTIC NEWS . 

Bernie Wright. Spokesperson AFAR.087 2651720

Alliance for Animal Rights Press Release today /Galway Races. 

Guns on sale OPENLY at the Galway Races while Bertie bets on the horses.

Illegal firearms in the form of pellet guns with plastic bullets were on sale openly today at the Galway Races. Up to 15 stalls were observed selling three different types of guns from Handgun size to Rifle starting at 15 euro. Others including children were observed selling the illegal items from the back of vans.‘These guns will no doubt be used to slaughter innocent cats, dogs and birds. The plastic orange bullets could also take a child’s eye out. We are disgusted at the Race organisers who obviously are turning a blind eye to this activity, along with a total disregard for the growing number of cruelty cases and deaths involved in Horse Racing.

  Our members are observing the races and we have a photograph of one with the purchased item.

We have contacted the Mill Street Gardai who are looking into this.Ph 091538000 Garda Hayes. 

Please highlight this disgrace

Bernie Wright,Press Officer-087 2651720.

Lobbying needed this week.

THE CANADIAN SEAL HUNT'Ireland imports approximately 1,500 seal skins per annum;HELP THE ISS TO STOP THIS.

ALLIANCE FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS

'Ireland imports approximately 1,500 seal skins per annum; our elected representatives in the European Parliament are opposed to the trade - it is now time for our Government and all national politicians to support such a ban.'

We have been asked by Brendan Price of the Irish Seal Sanctuary to put out this appeal to our supporters .Below is the ISS press Release. We ask all of our supporters to lobby our Irish TDs to STOP IRELAND IMPORTING
SAVE HIS SKIN, BAN THE TRADE

In a few weeks, hundreds of thousands of defenceless seal pups will be slaughtered in Canada. The Canadian Royal Commission on Seals and Sealing confirmed that the scale and conditions of the commercial seal hunt make it impossible to effectively control the hunt and impossible for sealers to consistently kill seals in a humane way.

The European Food Safety Authority, in its recent report on seal hunts, concluded that: 'There is strong evidence that, in practice, effective killing does not always occur' noting that 'if seals are hit or shot but are not dead, they may be hit or shot again or may be moved or skinned whilst conscious, resulting in avoidable pain, distress, fear and other forms of suffering.'

It has to stop. In 2006 the European Parliament called on the European Commission to ban the trade in seal products. Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimitris has urged Member States to adopt national bans. Belgium, the Netherlands and Slovenia have already banned seal products. Germany, Austria and Italy are considering further legislation.

The message is clear: the suffering of seals is unacceptable. Only an EU wide ban on all seal products will respond to the concerns of millions of European citizens. Ireland imports approximately 1,500 seal skins per annum; our elected representatives in the European Parliament are opposed to the trade - it is now time for our Government and all national politicians to support such a ban.

Brendan Price ISS - 01 8354370 ISPCA / Irish Seal Sanctuary News Release

PLEASE LOBBY YOUR LOCAL POLITICIANS URGENTLY.

Alliance for Animal Rights.PO Box 4734. Dublin.1www.afarireland.org

Related Link: http://www.irishsealsanctuary.ie,www.catcahelpanimals.org/

ALLIANCE FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS.1-4-2008

PRESS RELEASE

PIGS EXPLOITED FOR ENTERTANMENT WITH NAAS County  Council SUPPORT.

While Belfast, Cork and Fingal are to be admired for moving with the times by banning the use of animals in roadside shows, Naas on the other hand  is showing its retrospect attitude by staging a Pot –bellied pig race in April.

Pigs are highly intelligent animals and do not deserve to be degraded, frightened or used as part of what is an event that is basically centered around club and pub participation, basically its a beer festival. Defenceless animals should not be part of this type of atmosphere. This also sends out a message to children that animals are mere toys to be used by humans.’ We object to the training, transporting and use of these animals’. Bernie Wright AFAR SpokespersonThis race  is to be part of a two day and  night drink festival  in Naas with races between the pubs and clubs interspersed by frightened animals being raced for laughs. This event is opposed by many Kildare residents including Green Party Counsellor Mr Power but has the approval of Darren Scully ( Fine Gael). Many Kildare people have contacted us in AFAR.

‘Its unbelieveable  the ways people find to exploit animals for just a laugh or to line their pockets.

"WE call on the Naas County  Council  to cancel this now.

Bernie Wright.Press Officer 087 2651720

Statement regarding Dublin Zoo Orangutan escape.

The Alliance for Animal Rights (AFAR) is saddened by hearing of the Oranutan Maggie's bid to find freedom yesterday even to the point of leaving her baby ' The understandably frustrated animal has been confined in an enclosure for 24 years, more than the length of a sentence that would be imposed on a human for the crime of murder.

Zoos are but Prisons to non human animals, yet they have not committed any crime. Those in captivity are driven insane, deprived of a natural life and are basically kept imprisoned for life so that our species can amuse themselves.

Zoos are a throwback to the menageries of Victorian times. They should be abolished in this day and age as they are cruel and archaic.Just like blacks are not made for whites nor are women made for men these animals are not on this planet to serve humans. Its their world too.'

Bernie Wright spokesperson AFAR.

· Other animals like the two Polar Bears in the Dublin Zoo were driven insane in their enclosure.

· A girl was mauled by a Tiger in 2006.

· Another animal was shot dead when also making a bid for freedom some years ago(Rhino??)

· Sealions went blind and penguins died from toxins .

Rodent Glue traps openly on sale despite being illegal

“Rodent and bird Glue traps are an extremely cruel method of killing animals.
we believe that if people knew the degree of cruelty associated with these devices they would want no part of them.
The are illegal under the wildlife act (approved traps, snares and nets) regulations 2003.
However the sale or possession of these traps will have to be monitored to eradicate them completely.
So far Atlantic,Swords and Murtaghs Co Meath , among other rural stores have removed them immediately when told by us that they were illegal.We appreciate their cooperation.-most are imported and they are also openly for sale still on the internet .AFAR members will be reporting all shops selling them .

There has been a few court cases involving the illegal possession of GTs In 2005 a substantial number were seized at Dublin port , the dept of the environment arranged the recall and destruction of these traps. “

The use of glue traps dates back to at least 1832, when a sticky device was developed to capture birds. Since then, glue or adhesive traps have been used to trap a variety of animals, and they are now common methods of mouse and rat control.(1) Sticky glue traps cause the animals they catch an enormous amount of suffering and a traumatic death. Humane methods of rodent control are available.
What Is a Glue Trap?
A glue trap consists of a piece of cardboard, fiberboard, or plastic that is coated with a sticky adhesive. Sticky traps are designed for indoor use, since outside they can become clogged with leaves and other loose material. Glue trap makers generally state that trapped animals should be thrown away along with the trap. Thus, animals suffer alive in the trap for days. most are produced in the Uk.
Humane or Horrible?
A 1983 test that evaluated the effectiveness of glue traps found that trapped mice struggling to free themselves would pull out their own hair, exposing bare, raw areas of skin. The mice broke or even bit off their own legs, and the glue caused their eyes to become badly irritated and scarred. After three to five hours in the glue traps, the mice defecated and urinated heavily because of their severe stress and fear, and quickly became covered with their own excrement.(2) Animals whose faces become stuck in the glue slowly suffocate, and all trapped animals are subject to starvation and dehydration.
Please use Solutions Without Suffering
The problem of rodent infestation is largely preventable by maintaining clean, sanitary conditions and plugging holes or cracks where mice or rats might enter a building. If traps are needed to remove mice or rats, humane box-type traps are available. These traps are a box-like plastic or cage-like metal with a spring-release trap door at one end that closes behind the animal once he or she enters the trap. The trap can then be taken outdoors where the animal can be released. When using these, be sure to check them every few hours, as frightened rodents, with their high rate of metabolism, quickly become thirsty and hungry.
Despite the stereotypes of "dirty" or "diseased" mice and rats, it is seldom warranted to kill bothersome rodents. The use of poisons can result in the painful deaths of cats, dogs, and other animals who either ingest the poison by mistake or eat the bodies of poisoned rodents. Natural repellents or nonlethal traps are the only truly humane methods of rodent control.

Tesco cruelty to Turtles in China.

The Alliance for Animal Rights (AFAR) supports Care for the Wilds campaign opposing Tescos turtle sales.
We urge our supporters to Boycott Tesco shops here in Ireland.
CWI investigators who visited 32 Chinese Tesco stores in April and May discovered that staff do not adhere to Tesco's new slaughter
policies. In 12 stores where CWI witnessed slaughter firsthand, staff continued to kill turtles by decapitation alone or by evisceration.
CWI also found large numbers of disembowelled turtles with intact heads for sale.In a Tesco store in China's Guangdong Province, CWI observed how staff caught a turtle and started to cut its head. "The turtle pulled back into the shell," says Dr Maas, "so staff cut the shell along the edge. The turtle broke loose and was caught again after about a
minute. Staff then sliced the still living turtle in half, separating the upper and lower part of its shell. In another scene, Tesco staff cut the turtle's abdomen from tail to neck with a pair of scissors.
The turtle extended its long neck and its extremities struggled. Tesco staff then added a traverse incision and pulled out the entrails." CWI also saw Tesco staff skinning bullfrogs alive. "This unacceptable and can not be considered humane under any circumstances."
Bound up tightly in plastic netting, live turtles are mostly displayed on ice, which is inappropriate and causes pain. CWI says that although Tesco acknowledged this fact a year ago, the practice continues.
Please highlight this issue and Boycott Irish Tesco stores until these cruel practises are ended.
Bernie Wright

The story An adventurous orang-utan went on-the-run on the 5th of April 08 in Dublin Zoo making a bold bid for freedom after 24 years in captivity.

Fox hunters get toasted as breakfast seminar loses keynote speaker and gets infiltrated.

A seminar organised by the Hunting Association of Ireland to address the ‘vegan agenda/animal rights threat’ has been described as ‘farcical and ill-informed’ by the Alliance for Animal Rights (AFAR), one of the leading animal rights groups in Ireland.
The organiser of the event Mr Gavin Duffy was left with a large dose of egg on his face when Padraig Walsh, President of the IFA, who was billed as a keynote speaker at the event, vehemently distanced himself from the agenda of the Hunting Association of Ireland.According to an AFAR activist who infiltrated the meeting, a clearly embarrassed Duffy claimed that the IFA President had allowed himself to be intimidated by animal rights activists.
“Padraig Walsh has faced the big boys in Europe and the big boys in GATT, but he has been intimidated out of attending this meeting today” Mr. Duffy is reported to have told the meeting which was made up mostly of hunters but also included a representative of Duffy’s Circus and members of the Bernardo’s furrier family.

Bernie Wright, spokesperson for AFAR welcomed the decision by Padraig Walshe to distance himself from the hunting agenda pointing out that many farmers in this country are strongly opposed to the activities of hunters right across the country.

Ms. Wright went on to claim that the organisers of the event are completely misinformed about the nature and scale of animal rights activism in the Republic of Ireland. Among the groups identified as a threat by the event organisers were the Vegetarian Society of Ireland and the ISPCA.
Pointing to the ‘Declaration of Rights’ for animals which the ISPCA claims it supports on its website, Lt.Colonel DJ Foster claimed that the long-established charitable organisation was, contrary to popular perception, an animal rights organisation linked to several international animal rights networks and an organisation that needed to be kept under scrutiny.
“If they are running scared from the likes of the ISPCA and the Vegetarian Society of Ireland, then they have their facts a bit jumbled.”,-most of lt Col Foster’s blurb spoke of a Peta connection with Irish activists. With the exception of one group clearly connected with Peta the rest of us would condemn Peta as being welfare orientated and would have absolutely no connection with them. AFAR would consider a lot of their campaigning sexist and welfarist in nature.
Pointing out that more people were protesting outside the venue than were attending the seminar, Ms. Wright continued “ The Hunting Association of Ireland and Ward Union’s Gavin Duffy organised this event to garner support and publicity for their brutal pastime of hunting and instead it turned into a badly attended PR disaster.”

For more information contact ……
Bernie Wright, Press officer. AFAR
087 2651720..

Sent: 20 July 2008 18:05
Subject: FW: PRESS RELEASE /HUMAN RIGHTS SCANDAL IN VIENNA 

PRESS RELEASE/PHOTOCALL

Solidarity with Animal rights activists imprisoned with no charges by AUSTRIAN AUTHORITIES.

NO TO AUSTRIAN OPRESSION.

DEMO Tuesday 22^nd July 2008 at

Austrian and international organizations and individuals are extremely concerned about the arbitrary way in which these activists are being treated. A string of human rights violations against these animal protectionists has caused outrage and strong criticism towards Austrian authorities from the international community and concerned Austrians.

Bernie Wright. Press officer AFAR and member of Austria Solidarity

SEE http://austriasolidarity.com/supportingtheten.php

EMAIL THE ISPCA at mailto:info@ispca.ie

ALLIANCE FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS/PRESS RELEASE-ISPCA FUNDRAISING IS A VERY BIZZARE CHOICE FOR A GROUP THAT SAY THEY HELP ANIMALS!

The Alliance for Animal Rights is horrified to learn that the ISPCA are promoting and using DOG SLED TREKING IN NORWAY as a fundraiser in 2010. They describe the event as follows on their website without a word of concern for the Huskie dogs involved. The fact that these dogs who will have to work 8 hours daily in brutal icy conditions and travel 60 Kilometers is apparently of no concern to this animal charity. How could they even consider taking part in this, it is unbelieveable.Their website describes how gruelling it will be for the human participants but not for the ill-fated dogs. This fundraising idea is promoting the very thing they are raising the money to alleviate -animal sufferingTheir website describes it as follows:

“This is a tough Challenge and you will need to be prepared for it physically. You will be taking part in hard physical activity. However, with thorough training and preparation you will find this Challenge enormously inspirational and incredibly rewarding. A brief training guide will be provided with your welcome pack. Participants must train, and be fit enough to continue activity for up to eight hours a day” ISPCA WEBSITE.

THE ISPCA  have “In order to touch and help as many lives as possible, the ISPCA needs you to raise a minimum of €5,900 less your personal donation/deposit of €500 balance €5,400.”

http://www.ispca.ie/norway/faq.html

* More criticism on another website  ANIMALPERSON.NET slates the event as follows…‘This event, for the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, centers on cruelty to animals. They'd go a long way to fulfilling their mission simply by not having this event! What I don't want to hear about is how much huskies, or greyhounds, for that matter, love to run. Dogs love to run, that's true. But loving to run when you want to run, as far as you want to run, is a far cry from some man or woman tying you to other dogs and making you race in brutal conditions for up to 60km a day (here' <http://www.ispca.ie/norway/itinerary.html> s the itinerary) in a place with 6-8 hours of daylight and an average temperature of -15C.If you want to help huskies, and I assume the Irish SPCA does, adopt one from a shelter, give him a loving home and plenty of stimulation and opportunities to exercise. Using a dog for your own gain--or to raise money for other dogs--is bizarre conceptually. No matter where the race is held, or how long it is, there's simply no reason to use dogs for our own gain. ‘ Mary Martin phd  Full Story see http://www.animalperson.net/animal_person/2009/01/irish-spcas-bizarre-fundraiser.html They ironically say that “IN ORDER TO TOUCH AND HELP AS MANY LIVES AS POSSIBLE”. Is this a joke? What about the dogs trussed to the sleighs dragging people around for 8 hours a day? Are they going to find it incredibly rewarding ?

‘We are urging the public to contact the ISPCA asking them to use more ethical and suitable methods for their fundraising. We are calling for a cancellation immediately of all plans for this cruel promotion. This is surely a huge blow to the groups credibility. It is a huge mistake to support animal use and abuse for any reason…Bernie Wright, AFAR.

B Wright. Press Officer. 087 2651720.

Sent: 04 March 2009 14:42
Subject: FW: SUCCESS AND UPDATE/ If art could save your life , STUPID ART that incorporates no respect for animals and may result in the death of 2 dogs/ALLIANCE FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS PRESS RELEASE

The dogs have been removed from the EXHIBITION in Drogheda. When the second dog got a home the person did not want to return it daily to put on show so the council in Louth and the pound have decided to leave the cages empty.Thanks to everyone who emailed and rang. The artist got my initial Indymedia posting removed due to a technicality and is saying he was doing the expo with the plight of dogs in mind, Ill leave it to you to decide if this is true. MAIN thing is it over and I doubt very much if another stunt with animals will reoccur in Louth Council area anyway,

BernieWrightAFAR 

Subject: If art could save your life , STUPID ART that incorporates no respect for animals and may result in the death of 2 dogs/ALLIANCE FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS PRESS RELEASE.

The Alliance for Animal Rights issue the following appeal for emails to those involved: If you have read the load of rubbish above we ask you to help us not have this type of exhibition , one that involves the display of two unfortunate animals that were incarcerated in Louth dog Pound. One if not two of these dogs had offers of permanent homes by people visiting the dog pound but they were refused as these dogs were ‘held’ to be used in this stunt. This invariably means that they will be dumped back in the pound at the end of their display period in the cages. The dogs are already 2 weeks caged and with their pound time and the remaining time it will be about 3 months on display  in total, then back to the dog pound .To us in AFAR this is totally unacceptable, Seamus Nolan refers to the dogs as the waste of man, or public property, this is outrageous. They are unfortunate sentient beings with a right to life and  they do not deserve to be treated as objects especially as it could mean they risk death if put back in the dog pound.THIS SICK STUNT MASCUERADING AS ART HAS THE FULL APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE.*SEAMUS NOLAN, So-called Artist. Email akashea02@hotmail.com  

*DROGHEDA ARTS CENTRE (who staged the stunt) Tom Conaghy is the person on radio defending the stunt.

Staff see site.

· CONTACT COMPLAINT FORM at    http://www.droicheadartscentre.com/contact/form.php?id=1  

* WE SAY Thank you TO THE ISPCA inspector FIONA SQUIBB WHO HAS SPOKEN OUT ON RADIO AGAINST THIS STUNT and also to Michael Scott who has taken away his theatre productions from the Drogheda Arts Centre . 

*We are disgusted with the local charity DROGHEDA ANIMAL RESCUE (who have no problem with this) P.O. Box 159, Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland-telephone:  353 (0)41 983 2418 and email: info@dar.ie email2: cats@dar.ie website: http://www.dar.ie/e Registered Charity CHY17824 

ALLIANCE FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS. B Wright. Spokesperson 085 7371810/087 2651720

Pressure groups change kilkenny councillers decision and saves Greyhounds and terriers

The KILKENNY DOGS will be given to rescues for re-homing, they are saved.

We have just had it confirmed from Jim Ryan , Kilkenny County Council that a decision has been made via his superior Tony Walsh ,Director of services that the seized dogs will be not killed but will be given out to rescues for re-homing. Seven dogs were already returned to the travellers –THE REST ARE SAVED.
We had stressed the dogs did not deserve to die and that some of them were pregnant and that a prompt decision was vital.
We had been preparing for to demonstrate but thankfully people power and all the emails and calls have won the day.
Thank you to all who cared enough to get involved. Thank you to Kilkenny county Council for making the humane decision.
We wish the dogs a full and happy life.
I have offered help to the Council with the logistics of moving or relocating these animals. Phone me if you can be on standby if needed.

Under threat, pregnant greyhounds

The story so far as it unfolded
15th February
SAVE THESE 26 DOGS FROM BEING KILLED NOW PLEASE EMAIL OR PHONE URGENTLY

>26 dogs taken from travellers in County Kilkenny, Ireland.
>The council are saying they are returning 8 dogs and destroying the rest.

URGENT:PLEASE EMAIL THE COUNCELLERS AT ADDYS BELOW ON KILKENNY CC site.
DOGS were taken from the travellers 2 weeks ago. -the council say they will kill 18 of these healthy terriers and pups and give back 8 to them .There are rescues willing to take these dogs and to rehome them.

Contacts: Jim Ryan 087 2447122 Also
Please fax or email the County Manager and tell him that there are several rescues willing to take the remaining dogs to rehome
Kilkenny County Council,County Hall,John Street,KilkennyTelephone: 056 7794000Fax: 056 7794004
Email: info@kilkennycoco.ie
'patfitzpatrick@eircom.net'; 'martinbrett@kilkennycoco.ie'; 'coonan@eircom.net'; 'coonan@eircom.net'; ':lanigankk@eircom.net'; ':lanigankk@eircom.net'; 'mauriceshortall@eircom.net'; 'maryhildacavanagh@eircom.net'; 'patdmillea@eircom.net'; 'cllrjohnbrennan@eircom.net'; 'catherineconnery@eircom.net'; 'phelancm@eircom.net'; 'patrickdunphy@eircom.net'; 'cllrdoran@eircom.net'; 'cllrtommaher@eircom.net'; 'williamireland@eircom.net'; 'patgoneill@eircom.net'; 'annmphelan@eircom.net'; 'ddoyle@eircom.net'; 'malnoonan@eircom.net'; (linwood@eircom.net); (linwood@eircom.net) 'malnoonan@eircom.net'; 'fitzpatrick.marie@yahoo.co.uk'; 'breathnachtomas@eircom.net'; 'dickdowling@eircom.net'; 'coralong@eircom.net'; 'thomasjbrennan@eircom.net'; 'michael.obrien@oceanfree.net'
Councillors contact details;
http://www.kilkennycoco.ie/eng/Your_Council/Your_County_Councillor/

ALLIANCE FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS  PRESS RELEASE 

Re. CONVICTED SERIAL ANIMAL ABUSER SEEKING SEAT IN LIMERICK COUNCIL ELECTIONS 

The Alliance for Animal Rights (AFAR) is horrified that a CONVICTED serial animal abuser in County Limerick is apparently running for a Council seat in the Adare area elections. 

Richard Smith,(48) a dairy farmer and also owner of Company Richie Tryes on the Kilmallock Road* is hoping people will vote him in as a Councillor in Adare. He has repeatedly abused animals, this being his possible third conviction for abuse to animals on his farm. Despite the LSPCA calling for a lifetime ban on him having animals he just received a four months jail term which he is now appealing.

His latest conviction in March 2008, the third of three received a mere four –month sentence. However if someone receives more than a six- month jail sentence they are disqualified from running for public office. 

Judge O Donnell in Smith’s  last case at Limerick District Court  said deplorable pain and suffering had been inflicted on the cattle at his farm and commented that the case was ‘utterly awful’. The Judge said they were the worst he had ever seen. 

Richard Smith of Lemonfield, Crecora, Co Limerick had one cow tied by her legs to a tractor and dragged around a field, this unfortunate animal was callously left to die beside an empty water trough. But a week later she was still alive and had to be euthanaised by a Vet at the scene immediately to alleviate her pain. Mr Shinnors of the LSPCA said ‘the cow was rotten underneath and was still alive. It was the most horrendous site I have ever seen in cases over the last 10 years’. Smith said he left all his cattle outside in the Winter of 2007 but now he wants to get out of dairying as ‘he dos’ent want the hassle again.’ 

We in AFAR call on the decent people in Limerick to condemn these animal violations and to make sure he is not given a position of public office. This makes a joke of the judicial system if a convicted abuser of any kind can run for office. Limerick has its fair share of animal abuse and crime, custodial sentences for animal abuse bare no relation to the severity of the crimes, AFAR wants prosecutions and sentences brought in line with other countries like Scotland . We recently attended the submission discussions on the new Irish Animal welfare Bill at the Department of Agriculture, we found a definite lack of commitment and interest of those responsible for animal protection legislation. 

Responsibility.

‘People who consume animal products must bear responsibity for the cruelty inflicted on any animal reared or kept for that purpose. The philosophy of animal rights asserts that many nonhuman animals are rights bearers and if they are used by human beings then their rights are being violated’….AFAR Spokesperson

·         Cows on Irish Farms are treated like milk machines—confined to dirty concrete stalls for months at a time, their udders are so swollen that they sometimes drag on the ground. Cows give milk for the same reasons humans do—for their babies. To keep milk production high, cows are kept pregnant, and their calves are taken away at one to two days and bartered for a few pounds. They are no more than a waste by-product of the industry. The milk nature meant for them ends up on our supermarket shelves instead.

·         Because cows are re-impregnated while still making milk from the pregnancy that has just ended, they often become seriously run-down and emaciated. Often, their back and hip bones can be seen starkly protruding. When they are no longer profitable milk machines, the spent cows are 'culled'. Many will be exhausted and leaking milk through distended udders by the time they are trucked out to the slaughterhouse.

·         See http://sites.google.com/site/animalrightsviolations/Home

·         In 1999 Smith unsuccessfully sought a nomination at the Fine Gael convention, Castleconnell area. He is now resigned from the party.

·         Richie Tyres phone 061 467415

·         If elected Smith will campaign for a retiring age of 65 for politicians and for a council bin-service.

 AFAR/Press Release   Re. Racing animals to their death. 

The sad and unnecessary fatalities of six HORSES at Killarney race course on Sunday puts the safety of jumps racing under increasing scrutiny. Coincidently, last week  in Australia a review of jumps-racing in Victoria was instigated as Jumps racing was suspended-due to 13 horses dying last year .The future of Jumps racing at least in Australia is now under threat due to the treatment of horses.

The Irish government ‘endorsed and subsidised’  horse racing industry would like you to believe that horses 'love' to jump! Horses only jump hurdles because they are forced to. Horses are sensitive and intelligent animals, and in nature wouldn't choose to jump over hurdles and risk broken legs, injuries—even death—unless they had no other option.

Injuries and deaths sustained by equines in all kinds of racing are horrific. Humans have no right to use other species and literally kill and injure them for their own amusement. Similar to Greyhound Racing, a glut of unwanted race horses are now being killed every week in Irish   abattoirs and many are now being fed to animals at Dublin Zoo, these having been abandoned due to injury or financial uncertainty. Our whole relationship with animals reeks of speciesism. Man uses, abuse then discards other species with impunity when in reality they deserve to share our planet and live their lives without mans dominium.

AFAR continues to fight animal violations.

Bernie Wright 0872651720

College praised for compassionate move.

The Alliance for Animal Rights who are totally opposed to the use of animals are glad to hear of a welcome development in Ormonde College, kilkenny.We hope the use of audio-visual approaches as opposed to animal experiments at Ormond college will spread within the research community.

The Kilkenny educational facility has come up with a novel and ethical way of providing students with all they need to know about the physical make up of animals, without hurting them.

Biology experiments, including the dissection of frogs and other little creatures have ceased at Kil-kenny's Ormonde College of Further Education thanks to the use of computer-based simulations and three-dimensional models, pioneered by Patrizia Setola, co-ordinator of the Animal Care course at the College.
"Too often our use of animals, particularly for dissection in scientific research reinforces a simplistic view that any manipulation of animals constitutes science," she said.

Because animal experimentation involves the incarceration of animals causing intense psychological distress, this will save lives-AFAR spokesperson. Also animals are often poisoned, mutilated, given diseases and killed. It is arguably the most severe form of systematic violence in the modern world.
Other terms for animal experimentation include 'vivisection', 'animal testing', and 'animal research'. Thanks to advancements in modern technology, there are now safe and reliable methods of testing products that save animal lives while assuring the safety and well-being of the public.
Proponents of non-animal testing methods in the scientific community have shown that these methods are often more reliable, quicker and cost-effective.
Examples of these non-animal methods range from computer and mathematical models to the use of human volunteers. In vitro tests include ones that use cell or tissue cultures, such as artificial test skin derived from human foreskin. Chemical tests include the Neutral Red Bioassay that uses a neutral red, water-soluble dye that is added to normal skin cells in a tissue culture plate, and a computer measurement of the level of uptake of the dye by the cells is used to indicate the relative toxicity ‘
Bernie Wright. Press officer

Apparently Direct Action gets results?

For a number of years (4 at least) Circus Vegas and other Irish Circuses with animals,( American Circus, Sydney, New York etc,) have been the target of the ALF (Animal Liberation Front) who repeatedly removed or destroyed their signs on a regular basis.
This was due to their use and abuse of both Wild and domestic animals in their shows.
The Vegas Circus told us as we demonstrated at their circus that they had signs damaged to the tune of over 2000 euro a few years ago. This circus is owned by some of the Courtneys Brothers from Wexford.

Circus life for elephants

Over the years a court case retrieved the cost of an activists video camera that was smashed by a circus employee from Vegas Circus, 5 people were bitten by a monkey from Circus New York , a circus employee was injured by an elephant he was beating with a stick and animal rights activists were both psychically attached, one requiring face stitches and were threatened by circus security person wielding a knife in Blackrock,Dublin.(later denied by Circus when reported to Gardai). Tigers held in a beast wagon at a Duffys Circus site in Galway ripped off a mans arms back in the ninetys.Again proving that a circus is no place for animals.
Two people were killed in Galway when a circus trailer detached and another beast wagon with an elephant on board went on fire in Dublin on the M50. Numerous animals were abandoned or stranded without food or water including Elephants in Wales and a monkey left in a van for a week in a Garage and forgotten about.
We currently have Circus Vegas in Swords, Co Dublin WITHOUT any animals. Apparently they said “it was too much hassle to have animals” according to a reliable source. Their posters currently do not feature animals. Hopefully this is a permanent development. Animal activists do not oppose circuses but oppose the use of animals by them.
"TOO MUCH HASSLE "cited as a reason for this development seems to be yet another case of DIRECT ACTION succeeding.
Bye laws and Local opposition:
They (the circus) can still use non- council or private sites despite the latest ban against animals with circuses from South Dublin council. Fingal County Council, Dun Laoghaire County Council ,Belfast and Cork councils have also passed similar motions. It is great progress on a local level, but from our point of view is not by any means enough of a deterrent as animals are still being dragged around Ireland in beast-wagons for entertainment.
The battle continues…Related Link: http://www.irishcircuses.org

Austrian Animal rights prisoners are free!

Detention on remand terminated for all animal activists. (3/9)
Today the senior public prosecutor surprised in Vienna with a press statement: All 9 remaining animal rights prisoners will be released immediately.
Meanwhile the prisoners are already set free. They were received at the prison gates by family members, acquaintances and friends.

The press statement by the senior public prosecution office declared that after a discussion with the public prosecutor's office of Wiener Neustadt, that office had been ordered to apply for the immediate release of the animal welfare activists. This instruction was justified with the fear that the duration of the custody would become disproportionate.
"A heavy stone has been lifted from my heart and I feel relieved that now finally some move was made" stated Harald Balluch, managing director of the non-governmental organization ASSOCIATION AGAINST ANIMAL FACTORIES. "Since now the detention in remand prison was terminated, one can say that the most severe part of our state of emergency is over"
"But despite this, the ongoing threat for any civil society engagement remains. The allegation of having formed a criminal organization, has not been dropped yet, and if this legal construct would become a precedent, such would have vast consequences for a whole range of organizations of the civil society. All who engage themselves for animal welfare, the protection of the environment, human rights or else, still would be endangered to be accused under such suspicions, spied on and finally dragged before a court of law or imprisoned."

VGT president Martin Balluch, commented about this from his prison cell a few days ago: "Since our biggest animal protection success in 2004, we have been feeling the increasing repression by the police. That was when the Animal Protection Federal Law was passed leading to major costs for industrial livestock owners. We have evidence that the police has been advising companies practicing cruelty to animals how to effectively combat our legitimate campaigns and has been taking increasingly brutal steps against us. In 2005, an article was printed in the Austrian daily newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten in which a high-ranking official of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Action Against Terrorism claimed that Animal Protection was the biggest threat to national security in Austria."
Only four days after Balluch's statement, he and his colleagues were set free by the Appellate court.
During his custody, Dr. Martin Balluch has been visited in prison by the leader of the Austrian Greens, Alexander Van der Bellen, who invited him to run as an independent candidate for the Greens in the upcoming national election on September 28. Balluch will be elected at the Green Party conference on September 7. Van der Bellen told the Austrian Standard newspaper: "I have invited Balluch to run as a candidate for the Green party. He will be given a place high up on the list of candidates." Van der Bellen described Balluch's candidacy to the ORF (Austrian TV) as "An expression of appreciation for the work of non-governmental organizations."