USPCA tell AERA Committee 'dogs can become victims of cruelty when used in wildlife crime'
The AERA Committee stage of the Hunting with Dogs Bill - an evidence session – has been told that “dogs themselves can become victims of cruelty when used in wildlife crime activity”.
CEO of the USPCA, Heather Weir, said "We are aware that these types of hunters will go to extreme measures to train their dogs to hunt in this way, for example, from putting GPS trackers on dogs, so they they can locate them in a burrow or set underground”.
She said that the USPCA exist “to prevent cruelty, advance animal welfare and alleviate suffering in animals”.
"We collect information and research from multiple sources to help inform the public bodies with statutory responsibility for dealing with animal crime and illegal activity,” she added.
"Working closely with the PSNI, the councils, and other agencies, we regularly receive information from members of the public who are concerned about cruelty and illegal activity.
"We proactively share this information and research when there is a genuine concern that needs to be escalated to the appropriate authorities.
"Our experience tells us that strong legislation must be accompanied by effective enforcement, adequate resources, and collaboration across agencies, including the NGOs.
"That is why we are calling for a coordinated multi-agency approach, led by DAERA, bringing together the enforcement agencies, veterinary expertise, and animal welfare organizations, to ensure that this legislation delivers meaningful protections in practice”.
The CEO further emphasised “that the USPCA is a non-political charity who works constructively with all parties and stakeholders”.
"This legislation, for us, is about animal welfare,” she added.
"It's about affirming that every animal, including wildlife, deserves respect and compassion, and should never be subjected to the terror of pursuit, avoidable suffering, injury, or death simply for human sport or recreation.
"It's about sending a clear message that cruelty and unnecessary suffering have no place in modern society.
"We therefore urge the committee to support the bill and to ensure that its final form provides robust protections for wild animals, closes loopholes that can undermine its effectiveness, and delivers a human future for animals across Northern Ireland".
Ms Weir added that “in the last year alone, the USPCA received over 68,000 calls” and “recorded 576 organised cruelty reports relating to all forms of hunting with dogs”.
“So, badger baiting, hare coursing, deer, fox, and rabbit hunting, we also received directly 37 reports relating to injuries sustained by the dogs used in hunting.
“Most include images retrieved from social media, which are the ones that we have included in our report where the animals killed are displayed like trophies together with the dog – therefore showcasing the value as such of the dog to the hunting fraternity”.
Earlier, the Committee heard evidence from the NoISE Coalition who asked the Committee not to support the Hunting with Dogs Bill in its present form.
They said their members included people from hunting organizations, veterinary and scientific experts, pest management practitioners and members of the rural community.
They pointed out that their submission provided expert evidence that the case for criminal prohibition, extensive enforcement powers and severe penalties has not yet been supported by sufficiently objective, independent and methodologically reliable evidence.
They further advised that before recommending the Bill, the Committee should establish whether its provisions are likely to improve overall animal welfare in practice in Northern Ireland’s countryside.