Why are Irish government voting against the ban on fox hunting?

arbitron said:
‘It’s part of our culture’: Boxing Day Kitten Throw attracts large crowds despite recent attempt to ban the innocent hobby
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I hate cats so part of me would be okay with that... ;)
I'd rather have pet rats than pet cats. Genuinely; rats make marvellous pets, lots of interaction and affection.
 
Purple said:
Genuinely; rats make marvellous pets, lots of interaction and affection.
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Only saying this in jest and I know you seem to love this type of insult but can't resist saying that the phrase 'it takes one to know one' springs to mind :p
 
Sue Ellen said:
Only saying this in jest and I know you seem to love this type of insult but can't resist saying that the phrase 'it takes one to know one' springs to mind
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I'm triggered and insulted and whatever else I'm meant to feel. ;)

I'm not a fan of Fox hunting and I think the whole country pursuit thing as a justification is nonsense. I do have a problem with the anthropomorphisation of some animals and the disregard for the suffering of others, based almost entirely upon how cute their eyes and faces are. We happily eat pigs but not dogs, even though pigs are just as affectionate and probably smarter. I've already mentioned cats and rats; we kill rats and keep cats as pets even though rats are social animals and much more affectionate and at least as clever as cats.
Nobody seems to have a problem with eating Octopus even though they are at least as smart as dogs and also affectionate. Fishing is also cruel, maiming and causing pain and fear in animals for sport. I don't see why foxes get singled out for concern.
 
Leo said:
Perhaps it's not the foxes but the obvious wealth of some of those who participate? Rabbits are kind of cute but no one seems concerned about those setting dogs on them.
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They are more usually shot. Given the option of being shot dead or torn apart by dogs I'd pick the former.
 
Leo said:
Perhaps it's not the foxes but the obvious wealth of some of those who participate?
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That's certainly a significant factor in the UK Labour Party's dislike of hunting (and probably of boiling lobsters alive too!) Amusingly - especially to those of us who don't wish to keep the red flag flying high - the same sanctimonious bunch are utterly unconcerned about the rights and wrongs of fishing, poisoning rats, forcing people to listen to C&W music, or what goes on in halal and kosher abattoirs and slaughterhouses!

But, back on John Bull's other island, here are some entertaining statistics for the fox-lovers:

MORE THAN 112,000 animals were used for research and testing purposes in Irish laboratories during 2024, representing a 5% increase on the previous year, new figures have revealed. Mice were used in almost 86% of the experiments but other species included dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits, horses, goats, and ferrets. Just over 19,000 of the experiments involved “severe” pain and suffering for the animals, as categorised by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), which is responsible for protecting animals used for scientific purposes. (The Journal)
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I don't have a number for the number of hares killed at coursing meetings last year, but because the participants don't ride horses, wear red waistcoats, blow bugles and shout "tally ho" at regular intervals, I suppose that hare killing isn't quite as unacceptable to the hand-wringing brigade?

(Aside: here's an interesting link: https://halalcertification.ie/certifications/halal-certification-of-slaughterhouses-abattoirs/)
 
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I've absolutely no issue with animals being used for medical and scientific experiments, as long as it is regulated and monitored. The first time a spinal implant or cardiovascular stent is tested should not be on a human. Ditto for drugs etc.
 
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