Sir, – The much awaited Animal Welfare Strategy report is a glossy affair, depicting healthy animals in verdant pastures.
A short trip to a pig farm or a high density chicken farm would not make for such pretty pictures but this is the reality. Sulky racing and emaciated horses similarly do not give most of us a warm fuzzy feeling.
In this vacuous piece of PR there is no mention of the export of unweaned calves to veal farms in Europe in conditions that breach EU law or of the live export of cattle to Algeria and Libya in horrific conditions.
It does not mention hare coursing, fox hunting, badger culling or the shooting of wild birds many of which are on the endangered list.
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In this document the Minister has the audacity to claim a three-fold increase in funding to animal welfare organisations. This small gain from €2 to €6 million was hammered out by the Green Party while in office.
[ Higher fines for rogue puppy farm operators in animal welfare strategyOpens in new window ]
But let’s not forget the jewel in the crown of animal cruelty and deaths in this country. The greyhound industry kills thousands of dogs every year simply because they cannot run fast enough.
There is no mention of them in this document or the €21 million this industry gets annually. Quelle surprise. – Yours, etc,
JOAN BURGESS,
Annmount,
Cork.
