Ireland The Irish Game And Country Fair At Birr Castle This Weekend Saturday 27Th And Sunday 28Th August 16

[Corkman 944]

The ISPCA are very much ANTI. You cannot be a member of the ISPCA or in their employment if you are involved in any fieldsports! One of their main goals is to help end hunting in all its forms including fishing. Not much better than ICABS or ARAN, they just wear shop bought uniforms to make these charity workers look and feel more important.

It is interesting that the Gardai asked that the ISPCA attend. Not doubting you Albert, but In reality it most likely was the other way around, that is the ISPCA would "need" Garda presence when carry out their duties on private property!! They generally can't do much without the Garda. It's all in the Animal Welfare Act what they can and cannot do..... The Garda do have a Wildlife Crime Section, but I'm not too sure the Gardai really care about skinny dogs being sold?? Sure the Garda could spend their day on done deal or buy&sell otherwise. I think they have more important matters to worry about. Hence it would be most likely "prompt" from the over zealous protectors of all living creatures - the ISPCA to the Gardai and ask could they tag along?

 

I honestly fear for their safety as they are going to get it seriously wrong with the wrong bunch someday and cause a riot which is only going to go one way. I hope I'm wrong.

[andy26 618]

Just acouple of weeks ago a mate told me about pulling this lass in town an when they got back to her house there was little lurchers an ferrets about the place so when the lad asked about them she said I can't wait for the season to start I go ferreting an lamping ect,,,the lad thought AV got a goodin here as he's a digging lad,after a bottle of wine they got on about what they do for a living, she only worked for the rspca???wtf AV never heard nothing like it in my life, so he smashed the back end off it an jumped in a taxi with her number blocked ha.

[AlbertJ 569]

The ISPCA are very much ANTI. You cannot be a member of the ISPCA or in their employment if you are involved in any fieldsports! One of their main goals is to help end hunting in all its forms including fishing. Not much better than ICABS or ARAN, they just wear shop bought uniforms to make these charity workers look and feel more important.

It is interesting that the Gardai asked that the ISPCA attend. Not doubting you Albert, but In reality it most likely was the other way around, that is the ISPCA would "need" Garda presence when carry out their duties on private property!! They generally can't do much without the Garda. It's all in the Animal Welfare Act what they can and cannot do..... The Garda do have a Wildlife Crime Section, but I'm not too sure the Gardai really care about skinny dogs being sold?? Sure the Garda could spend their day on done deal or buy&sell otherwise. I think they have more important matters to worry about. Hence it would be most likely "prompt" from the over zealous protectors of all living creatures - the ISPCA to the Gardai and ask could they tag along?

 

I honestly fear for their safety as they are going to get it seriously wrong with the wrong bunch someday and cause a riot which is only going to go one way. I hope I'm wrong.

Corkman,

 

The sequence was as follows :

The issue of complaints from the public about young pups and dogs in poor condition being sold at the fair was raised in our meeting with the local Sgt in March. It was actually the first item on his agenda and one that I addressed in my response to his Spt. "1. Dogs for sale on ground

He raised the issue of dogs and pups being offered for sale at the fair. This is something that we do not allow at our Northern events and something we have been trying to discourage at Birr. In the past couple of years I have toured this area myself to ensure the pups had water and food and advised the individuals involved that this would not be allowed in future . The problem has been reduced but we too would like to stop it completely and to that end have posted statements on Hunting Life; our own Facebook Page & Group and various facebook pages and groups relating to terriers & lurchers. It will also be advertised in our Irish Countrysports and Country Life magazine wherein we have offered an alternative i.e FREE advertising of working dog pups. This will be supported by signs at the entrance. "

 

It was not until mid June that I received an email from the ISPCA

"In recent years the ISPCA has received contact from a number of people concerned about the welfare of some dogs offered for sale at the Irish Game and Country Fair.

As a result, we hope to organise a small Inspectorate presence at this year’s event to assess the welfare of dogs presented for sale"

 

I spoke with the individual involved and agreed that they could come to the fair ( in fact I felt I had no real choice) but that it was purely to address the sale of dogs. This was agreed. The dogs that the dealer had for sale were a disgrace and I fully supported his removal. They also discouraged a gundog dealer in the other car park and took a lurcher to the vet. Other than these issues there were no other issues raised or dealt with by the ladies involved.

 

This is similar to the way we dealt with the couple of USPCA visits to our NI fair in the long distant past - we have not had a visit for as long as we can remember because we don't allow pups to be sold at Shanes. Quite simply if there are NO PUPS OR DOGS FOR SALE at the FAIRS - there is NO NEED OR REASON FOR THE USPCA or ISPCA to visit the fairs.

 

Edited September 1, 2016 by AlbertJ

[Mary 352]

Why can't it be policed by yourselves, place one or two fair officials in the given areas, armed with fair polices and terms and conditions.

The way I and many other people see it, is that it's us and them, they should not have an open invitation.

A lot of money was taken in at the gates, surly you could spare one or two days pay to the right people to enforce fair protocol?

[AlbertJ 569]

Why can't it be policed by yourselves, place one or two fair officials in the given areas, armed with fair polices and terms and conditions.

The way I and many other people see it, is that it's us and them, they should not have an open invitation.

A lot of money was taken in at the gates, surly you could spare one or two days pay to the right people to enforce fair protocol?

 

Mary, When the Garda or ISPCA get public complaints concerned for the welfare of pup and dogs for sale ( and these were even made by members of the hunting/countrysports community publicly on this and other forums) it takes it out of our hands. We made it quite clear that there were no pups or dogs to be sold this year and everyone had to pass a large sign quite clearly stating this. If people had fallen into line with this the ISPCA/Garda involvement in the show would have ended very quickly as no problem /no need for them to be there. BUT certain individuals decided to try to circumvent this and gave a cause for both to take an interest . Fortunately dog dealing was much reduced this year and I hope to stamp it out completely next year. Apart from the unwelcome publicity and complaints it generates from the public for terriers & lurchers it does pose a real risk of spreading infection including parvo..

 

THE ISPCA DID NOT HAVE AN OPEN INVITATION and as I say there is a simple equation - no dog dealers no ISPCA .

[THE GENERAL 1,982]

Good point Mary, though it's stated above the fairs are open to all and there's nothing to hide when it comes to fieldsports. Yet letting everyone welcome and being on the back foot as others take charge is two different things. As Corkman says what happens if things turn nasty say for example a guy that works his terriers or lurchers hard in the winter months ( for what they were bred to do ) turns up at a show and say ISPCA or USPCA members don't like the signs of work on a dog and may feel it can be a breach of legislation and enough evidence for the dog to be taken away and maybe a prosecution? Will the organisers call that guy an idiot for bringing a working dog to a working dog show and say he deserved it ????

Edited September 1, 2016 by THE GENERAL

[Craic 204]

I've never been to any of your shows/ faira Albert but I admire what you are trying to do to show hunting in a very positive way , a lot of these so called hunting men done see the big picture, cave man behaviour ill treated dogs only bring the attention of the authorities those type of people cause more trouble for hunting by there actions than any anti or ispca, uspca jmho, atb Craic

[THE GENERAL 1,982]

I've never been to any of your shows/ faira Albert but I admire what you are trying to do to show hunting in a very positive way , a lot of these so called hunting men done see the big picture, cave man behaviour ill treated dogs only bring the attention of the authorities those type of people cause more trouble for hunting by there actions than any anti or ispca, uspca jmho, atb Craic

Craic could u give me an example of cave man behaviour? To me it's like the Main Street in my town on a Saturday night after 1am, ill treated dogs are very common, most are from pet homes normal Joe public that don't know any better. The majority of men that work there dogs look after them better than they look after themselves.

[Craic 204]

To me I'll treated dogs, freshly marked dogs, loud mouthed talk about digging excetra all part of what I'd call cave man mentality, its simple, if there isn't a valid reason for the authority's to be at the fairs shows then there is no argument for them to be there, if there has been complaints about dogs condition ect then nobody can really stop them being there, jmho

[nans pat 2,575]

I've never been to any of your shows/ faira Albert but I admire what you are trying to do to show hunting in a very positive way , a lot of these so called hunting men done see the big picture, cave man behaviour ill treated dogs only bring the attention of the authorities those type of people cause more trouble for hunting by there actions than any anti or ispca, uspca jmho, atb Craic

..authorities..their a charity same as the uspca,they have no rights to be invited to snoop about peoples dogs

hit them in the pocket,let them go to court and try and get an order to snoop about,

maybe take ,fair out of the name.a fair is for buying n selling livestock.

[Craic 204]

 

I've never been to any of your shows/ faira Albert but I admire what you are trying to do to show hunting in a very positive way , a lot of these so called hunting men done see the big picture, cave man behaviour ill treated dogs only bring the attention of the authorities those type of people cause more trouble for hunting by there actions than any anti or ispca, uspca jmho, atb Craic

 

..authorities..their a charity same as the uspca,they have no rights to be invited to snoop about peoples dogs

hit them in the pocket,let them go to court and try and get an order to snoop about,

maybe take ,fair out of the name.a fair is for buying n selling livestock.

why would they need to go to court I'm sure the police could visit the show, fair without notice, whilst there if there was anything that drew their attention they could probably call there friendsfrom the ispca to come along , could they be stopped then ?, Edited September 1, 2016 by Craic

[nans pat 2,575]

 

 

I've never been to any of your shows/ faira Albert but I admire what you are trying to do to show hunting in a very positive way , a lot of these so called hunting men done see the big picture, cave man behaviour ill treated dogs only bring the attention of the authorities those type of people cause more trouble for hunting by there actions than any anti or ispca, uspca jmho, atb Craic

..authorities..their a charity same as the uspca,they have no rights to be invited to snoop about peoples dogs

hit them in the pocket,let them go to court and try and get an order to snoop about,

maybe take ,fair out of the name.a fair is for buying n selling livestock.

why would they need to go to court I'm sure the police could visit the show, fair without notice, whilst there if there was anything that drew their attention they could probably call there friendsfrom the ispca to come along , could they be stopped then ?,

 

well they cant enter your house,their a charity...it should be made as awkward as possible for them.

[Craic 204]

 

 

 

I've never been to any of your shows/ faira Albert but I admire what you are trying to do to show hunting in a very positive way , a lot of these so called hunting men done see the big picture, cave man behaviour ill treated dogs only bring the attention of the authorities those type of people cause more trouble for hunting by there actions than any anti or ispca, uspca jmho, atb Craic

 

..authorities..their a charity same as the uspca,they have no rights to be invited to snoop about peoples dogs

hit them in the pocket,let them go to court and try and get an order to snoop about,

maybe take ,fair out of the name.a fair is for buying n selling livestock.

why would they need to go to court I'm sure the police could visit the show, fair without notice, whilst there if there was anything that drew their attention they could probably call there friendsfrom the ispca to come along , could they be stopped then ?,

well they cant enter your house,their a charity...it should be made as awkward as possible for them.

big difference between a private house an a public event, I'm sure it would be a lot easier for us to have our house in order and give them the two fingered salute, jmho

[AlbertJ 569]

 

I've never been to any of your shows/ faira Albert but I admire what you are trying to do to show hunting in a very positive way , a lot of these so called hunting men done see the big picture, cave man behaviour ill treated dogs only bring the attention of the authorities those type of people cause more trouble for hunting by there actions than any anti or ispca, uspca jmho, atb Craic

..authorities..their a charity same as the uspca,they have no rights to be invited to snoop about peoples dogs

hit them in the pocket,let them go to court and try and get an order to snoop about,

maybe take ,fair out of the name.a fair is for buying n selling livestock.

 

You suggest I should change the name of an event which I established 38 years ago to promote and defend countrysports in Ireland because people want to turn a fast buck by selling dogs of dubious quality from dubious sources. Are you really suggesting we should let people sell poor conditioned possibly disease ridden animals at the fair without any restrictions?

Edited September 1, 2016 by AlbertJ

[nans pat 2,575]

 

 

I've never been to any of your shows/ faira Albert but I admire what you are trying to do to show hunting in a very positive way , a lot of these so called hunting men done see the big picture, cave man behaviour ill treated dogs only bring the attention of the authorities those type of people cause more trouble for hunting by there actions than any anti or ispca, uspca jmho, atb Craic

..authorities..their a charity same as the uspca,they have no rights to be invited to snoop about peoples dogs

hit them in the pocket,let them go to court and try and get an order to snoop about,

maybe take ,fair out of the name.a fair is for buying n selling livestock.

 

Are you for real? To suggest I should change the name of an event which I established 38 years ago to promote and defend countrysports in Ireland because people want to turn a fast buck by selling dogs of dubious quality from dubious sources. Are you really suggesting we should let people sell poor conditioned possibly disease ridden animals at the fair without any restrictions?

 

ime only sayin a fair is for buying and selling livestock,like appleby,lammas fair,the puck fair,ect.all free entry like all fairs.maybe its described wrong if you cant trade animals.