Ireland
Ireland has 4.3 million inhabitants and joined the European Union in 1973. From that moment on, it has been prosperous country. But never the less, the depression had a huge influence on it. Meanwhile it has a large proportion on relative poverty (22 %) and a rate of unemployment of 9 %.
It has intensive relations to Germany. These relations are both economical and cultural: more than 200 German companies have a branch in Ireland and offer employment for 20,000 people. For the cultural part we will name the Goethe institution in Dublin and the agile exchange of students of the ERASMUS program financed by the EU.
The situation in Ireland::
There is barely another country in Europe with such an outdated Protection of Animals Act: It has entered into force as from 1911 and has just been reluctantly changed in some points. But at least it hasn’t changed basically; it was just “improved”. The lawful guidelines according to Irish “dog pounds” are from 1934. As you can see, animal protection does not have an important significance in the complete law system. Here you can read the Irish Protection of Animals Act.
The relationship between the Irish population to their animals is characterized by the thought of usability:
- classic productive livestock, which ensures the owners income
- hounds, which are used about 2 up to 3 months per year
- productive livestock greyhound/collie, which has to earn its feed on the racecourse
Is an animal no longer useful, it gets disposed by killing it by oneself or brought to one of these “Dog Pounds”, where it is killed and a new animal can be purchased.
The drama of the greyhounds
Greyhound racing has a longstanding tradition in Ireland (and also in Great Britain). These dogs have to be profitable and they have to win. If they don’t do so, they are needless – with the appropriate result. Greyhounds are bred in huge numbers and just because for this purpose. If puppies are proved as disabled, they are “disposed”.
With about 5 years, exceed their activity zenith and should actually be allowed to get “retired” by trainers and owners. These dogs are often killed by their owners, to save the annual costs of £3,000 to possible them a nice retirement.
It is estimated that about 20,000 greyhounds are killed every year. The number of the estimated 14,000 puppies, which are not appropriate for the racing sport, is not included in this number (source: www.ihin.de; “The situation in Ireland” by Beatrix Urban). To win the races, extra conscienceless owners even dope their dogs with Cocaine or amphetamine (source: “Greyhounds doped with cocaine” by Johnny Caldwell, BBC news, 10.10.2007).
The “Dog Pounds”: :
The Irish Dog pounds are actually disposal centers, for every person, who is not longer interested in his dog. Here the dogs is kept a short waiting time of 5 days. When the time is over, it will be euthanized on costs of the state. Caught stray dogs can also be dispensed there. These were often killed without this waiting time. They also kill healthy and non-exhibited conspicuous behavioural dogs.
The “puppy-farms”
Ireland has so called “puppy farms”: farmers, who crank puppies out, can always deliver about 300 up to 400 pregnant or just priming she-dogs.
How can you help?
Please help these animals with your signature.
This petition goes to the Irish government.
What has to be changed in Ireland: :
The still valid Protection of Animals Act from 1911 has urgently to be worked over and improved and adapted to the modern standards of the European Union in the 21st century: The EU country Ireland also agreed to the Lisbon treaty, in which animals are confirmed as feeling beings. This should have the appropriate consequences for pets, animals in the dog pounds and greyhounds.
Sources:
www.ihin.de
www.greyhoundprotection.de
www.limerickanimalwelfare.com
www.wikipedia.de
report by Birgit Lewe
Pfotenhilfe Europa team