Ireland’s hunting community is scared witless about the march of the animal rights movement to victory in its war on animal abuse. Never in their lifetime did animal hunters think that their killing activities would end up on the political agenda.
After years of hard slog and effort, animal rights/welfare issues are ensconced on the political radar in this country. It can only be a matter of time before Ireland becomes on par with the rest of the world and establishes a legislative framework that gives legal protection and respect to the non-human members of our society.
But we are not celebrating just yet. Much more needs to be done to remove animal abuse from our society. The hunting element of this abuse clings on while fouling our countryside with its odious footprint.
Members of Ireland’s hunting movement cannot fathom animal rights/welfare issues because it seems to them being cruel is a natural reflex. Through the evil prism of hunting, they cannot get the fact that there is a live breathing animal fighting for its life.
Stuck on the default setting of ignorance, they refuse to embrace change. They utter excuses dripping with falsehoods, which is no surprise as there simply is no legitimate excuse for killing wild animals with hounds.
With such entrenched cruelty within the hunting community, it is hard to see change coming from those who follow horn and hound. It falls to the animal rights movement to effect change, and we will not be found wanting.
John Tierney
Campaigns director
Association of Hunt Saboteurs
PO Box 4734
Dublin 1
