Animal rights campaign escalates

Animal rights activists have called for tougher laws as they step up the campaign against blood sports, fur farming, and abuse.

Hundreds of activists staged a march in Dublin yesterday as welfare groups demand heavier penalties in the revised upcoming Animal Health and Welfare Bill.

John Carmody, director of Animal Rights Action Network (Aran), said: “As a nation we should be hanging our heads in shame that we’ve turned our backs and a blind eye to the immense amount of animal abuse taking place in Irish society.

“Irish politicians are certainly to blame for much of what is happening to animals simply because they have ignored the plight of their suffering for so long and stuck us with a law that dates back to 1911. It is time politicians recognised that there are voters out there who care about animals and that their lack of support for animal welfare will not be ignored next time these politicians come knocking on our doors.”

Supporters walked rescued dogs along with a giant banner reading “Animal Exploitation Has Got to Stop — It’s Time for Animal Rights”.

Campaigners said the current legislation dated back to 1911 and they claimed that it was not working.

Aran said animal abusers currently went unpunished, and as a result more suffering and abuse was taking place.

Mr Carmody said: “Aran is currently lobbying government with regard to the revised upcoming Animal Health and Welfare Bill and is campaigning for this legislation to include tougher jail sentences and heavy fines for those abusing animals or caught keeping them in decrepit conditions.

“The group is also pushing for psychiatric intervention in extreme crueltycases.”

Elsewhere it wants the Irish school curriculum to include a segment focused on kindness towards animals along with calls to ban animal-act circuses, hare coursing, and fox hunting.