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Plan to send horses and foals to China comes under fire

We have witnessed over the past few years horrific levels of suffering and abuse of Irish horses which has merited extensive media coverage both at home and abroad.

I had hoped that maybe the individuals responsible for the laws governing the welfare of our animals would have made some efforts to protect these magnificent animals. But instead a decision has been made by Mr Coveney and his department to send our horses and foals to China to help develop a racing industry in a country which ”has a limited history of horse racing and does not have enough grazing lands” in the proposed location. (Conor Ryan, Irish Examiner, Aug 15).

China has no laws to protect or care for animals.

This is a country which is renowned for its appalling treatment of animals; international animal welfare organisations consistently raise their concerns about the plight of millions of animals in China.

There was an attempt in 2011 by the IGB to send our greyhounds to China, however, the huge negative backlash from thousands of concerned voices nationally and internationally thankfully resulted in this proposal being shelved (at least for now).

It would seem, however, that despite a brief reprieve, Irish horses will end up in China.

Their lives and demise should surely be of great concern to anyone who professes to love them.

Chris McCarthy
Palmerstown Woods
Clondalkin
Dublin 22Home

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