ISPCA challenged on horse fair cruelty
The incidents of cruelty and breaches of the law were apparent to anyone visiting the fair, as I did on October 3.
How, then, can the ISPCA, the very body charged with protecting animals, be publicly quoted as defending this medieval free-for-all?
While rehydrating neglected horses was necessary and laudable, why didn’t the ISPCA publicly and vigorously challenge the fair organisers about the lack of access to drinking water for the hundreds of animals crammed into the fairground?
Why did they not publicly demand that the sulky run be disbanded so that some relief might be afforded the extremely young and frightened horses that were being ridden into the ground?
How could all those openly selling adult dogs and pups as pets be allowed so brazenly to break the law in full view of ISPCA inspectors and gardaĂ?
It is not enough to claim lack of resources or the need to take a softly-softly approach with the organisers of this dreadful event so that the ISPCA will be allowed in to take care of the emergencies which arise as the result of wanton neglect. If the ISPCA is to retain credibility, it will have to address the bigger political issues relating to institutionalised abuse of animals. Giving its imprimatur to the Ballinasloe Horse Fair is not a good place to start.
Nuala Donlon
Galway Alliance for Animal Rights
Manor Court
Knocknacarra
Galway
