| Cork Animal Care Society Newsletter |
May 2009
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| Contact Us |
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50 Cois Tobair
Dromahane
Co. Cork
+353 (0)21 455 1781
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The Cork Animal Care Society
Their Lives ... Our Passion
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Politics & Policies Election time again. And in this ACS enews we've included more thoughts than usual on politics and animal welfare in Ireland - voting, puppy-farming, badger baiting, rare species - just a fraction of the issues relevant to today's animal friendly voters. With links to further information and actions, we hope you'll find something to whet your election appetites. We've also news on the fantastic success of the recent ACS Fashion & Flare Show in Cork - potentially an annual event for animal fashion - and welfare? And, of course, we've our usual update on fun(d)raising for the ACS and yet more news from our fosterees' forever homes. So, a packed enews this May! With plenty to think about for approaching the ballot box!
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Will You Vote For Animals?
 It's that time again. They want your vote! Well, tell
them that they can have it - but they have to earn it! Please tell them
that we are sick to the back teeth of our outdated 1911 animal
protection legislation. Please tell them that we are sick of being
seen as the backwater of Europe when it comes to decent animal welfare
legislation. Don't be fobbed off by 'Oh ... we know ... we are working
on it'. Working on it? Since 1911???
So far we have found just ONE candidate, Michael Kingston, here in
West Cork, who had the courage and the nerve to state in his election
leaflet that he supports our call and has done so in black and white.
WELL DONE Michael!!! We are proud of you. You are a brave man - and guess
who will get our votes?
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Puppy Farm Warnings & Legislation
Dublin & Ulster SPCA's are warning of a potential canine brucellosis epidemic after visiting a puppy farm near Moate in Co Offally. The SPCA's press release states:
'The farm ... is one of Europe's largest mass breeding establishments
and churns out thousands of so called "pedigree puppies" each year to
meet demand in Ireland and the UK for "designer dogs".
The operators refused cooperation on the visit but
reluctantly confirmed the presence of Canine Brucellosis. This is a
highly contagious bacterial disease and will now be endemic amongst the
hundreds of dogs and pups currently on the farm or recently exported
from it. There is NO vaccine or effective treatment for this disease and it is likely the farm will require depopulation.'
[For 'depopulation' read 'mass killing'.]
 'The puppy farming industry in Ireland, fuelled by greed, breeds both dogs and disease and must be properly regulated.'
Canine brucellosis is zoonotic, ie. infectious to humans, but such infection is rare -
only 30 reported cases worldwide since the 1960s. We've found a couple
of very good links on the disease, and you'll find them in the left
sidebar.
What this outbreak does highlight is the appalling lack of legislation around puppy farming in Ireland.
And when I say 'lack' - I mean 'none at all'.
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More Forever Home Feedback
 Maximus was found inside a car engine in Bantry town. Yvraine was originally sighted
being tossed and used as a football by a couple of boys. Max survived his ordeal with little physical effect. In addition to being shaken and sore, Yvie had a withered foreleg - a result of an earlier, untreated injury. Introduced to each other in our friendly fostering environment the pair became best of friends. And they ventured to the UK to find a home together (we hoped) earlier this year,
And they found a fantastic one with Anita - here's what she told me:
'Max and Yvie are well settled in now and love the surrounding area -
they have quite a lot of freedom as our garden backs on to a quiet road
and a load of fields!! Yvie is doing really well and regularly, at the
moment, turning up with "presents" of dead birds for us - although if
you try to take them away from her before she's ready to give them to
you, you take  your life into your hands. Max is beautiful too and loves to stalk anything that moves in the garden - he won't keep a collar on though, which worries me a little,
but he is microchipped, so we should be fine.
'They still like to curl up with me in the evenings, and during the day
have taken to sleeping in my daughter's pushchair (when she's not in
it, I hasten to add!). They now think that this is their property and
you should see the looks I get when I have to take them out to put her
in it!!'
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Fundraising News & Events
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Welcome to our latest recruit - Una Griffin!!!
 We'd like to put our paws together and give a big warm welcome to Una Griffin.
Una is
one of our longstanding bag packing, street collecting, bucket shaking, animal
loving fellow friends who I am sure many of
you have met at this stage!!! Una
will be taking over as Fundraising Co-ordinator, and will be the main point of
contact for any fundraising related events - including
holding the monthly meetings on the 1st Tuesday night of
every month at 7.00pm in the Rendezvous in Cork.
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A Fabulous Time Had By All!!!
I'm delighted to say that our first
ever fashion show was a terrific success! It was a fabulous evening, with a full house!
Since the show, we have been receiving
texts, emails and phone calls from so many people telling us how much
they enjoyed the night and asking when the next one will be!!
Naturally, the highlight of the night were
the doggies in their little outfits - didn't they look sweet!
We have so many people to thank
including:
- Jessie Foran & Shirley
O'Connell - thank you both so much for all the time and effort you put
in to this over the last few months and weeks. We couldn't have done
it without you!
- Katie McGroarty for
singing on the night - Wow! what a voice! I still have goose bumps! Thank
you so much for taking part.
- Izabella Sikora - thank
you for all your help in designing our publicity poster and for not killing me
each time I asked you to make a change to it!!
- Jason Butler - we
were delighted that you donated one of your fantastic paintings as a spot
prize - thank you!
And, of course, a huge thanks to all of you who sold
tickets, to those who came along on the
night, to all the exhibitors
who supported us on the night, all the local businesses who took
advertising in our programme and to so many people working behind
the scenes.
And congratulations to Ann Marie O'Carroll on
winning the Cork's Most Elegant Lady award, as voted by the
audience!
Lots of people took photos and we'll post
these on our website shortly so do keep an eye on it.
All of this hard work is for one cause - to
enable us help those who cannot speak for themselves and who depend on us (Cork
ACS, our supporters and volunteers) to save them. The ACS is a very small
group of people who could not do any of this without your help. Thank you. Una Griffin
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ACS Fun(d)raising in 2009
Our fundraising calendar is here.
Have a peek and you'll see Una & Terry have have a packed
programme! And it's never too soon to be thinking about participating!
JUNE
Mon 1st June, Flora Dublin Women's Mini Marathon 10K. Contact Una for Sponsorship Pack. Entry for race €22 for serious runners, €15 for the
rest of us! Entries in before 21st April.
Fri 5th June, Cork City Centre Street Collection.
Sat 27th June, Mallow & Kinsale Street Collections.
AUGUST
Fri 7th Aug, Bantry Street Collection. Call for volunteers!! Didi would love to hear from enthusiastic humans and dogs!!!
SEPTEMBER
Evening Echo Cork Women's Mini-Marathon.
For more information on our fundraising activities please email Una,
phone her on 086 169 5657, see our site or log on
to the ACS page on mycharity.ie.
Thanks again for all your help and interest!
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Badger Baiting - The Evil Exposed!
 Of all the many forms of badger persecution, badger baiting - a cruel
'sport' in which fighting dogs are set upon a badger - is certainly one of the
most vile.
The baiting of badgers and other animals has been going on for hundreds of years. USPCA's Stephen Philpott highlighted this expose on badger baiting, in Ireland and the UK, during his talk at the ADCH
conference in Dublin recently. We think it's important to publicise what these people are doing, what dogs they use and sell (Patterdales -
working strain) and what little our government is doing about it.
Also, do be alert if you're rehoming rescue dogs - be extra
careful about doing home checks and background checks before rehoming terriers,
bull breeds, large lurchers, etc., as all of these breeds are regularly used for various
cruel sports. And the perpetrators can be very sneaky about how they obtain 'suitable'
dogs.
Cathy Wilde
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Golden Eagles in Ireland?
 The Golden Eagle Trust has organised an online petition to show the support for the ongoing reintroduction of Golden Eagles, White-tailed
Eagles and Red Kites in Ireland, and for efforts to put a stop to illegal poisoning.
At the time I write this, there are less than 300 signatories, a number that I fear could easily be equalled or surpassed by a counter-petition, should the IFA or any other organisation put one together. If as many people as possible could take a minute to sign the petition and to forward it on to a couple of people who they think might consider signing it, we could have a significant impact. The petition can be found here.
Dr Mark Wilson
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Actions & Info
Campaigns of Interest - from the Animal Rescue Site
Concerns over swine flu have led to a petition to investigate and regulate factory pig farms - from AVAAZ
How We Did It! - How Nevada Humane Society dramatically and rapidly improved the lifesaving rate in our shelter and made their community one of the safest in the US for h omeless animals.
John Fitzgerald's highly recommended book Bad Hare Days addresses the controversial subject of live hare coursing in Ireland and the
campaign to protect the Irish Hare.
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Where's My Mum???
Just look at this baby fox cub. He should be with his Mum. But he can't be. Why? Because some 'human' decided to shoot his Mum and let him starve - he wasn't even worth a bullet.
Fortunately for this little cub, he was found and brought into the care of the ACS and a highly experienced wildlife fosterer who will do all she can to ensure his safety and wellbeing. As our
name says, we are the Animal Care Society and this small, defenceless fox cub is the living proof of that.
Please support our work so that others like him can be rescued too.
The ACS wishes to thank Jennifer and Helen for their exceptional kindness and care in preserving the life of this small cub.
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 !!!STOP PRESS!!! Check out our latest rescuing story, Skip and Mini's escape from certain death, here!!!
And that's all for this 'bimonth' - we'll be issuing the enewsletter every two months from now on ... do let us know if you've any suggestions or feedback!
And don't forget to give animals a voice in the election!!!
Thanks!
"Ever
occur to you why some of us can be this much concerned
with animals
suffering? Because government is not. Why not?
Animals don't vote." ~ Paul Harvey (1918-2009) |
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Cork Animal Care Society would like to thank everyone who has supported our cause in the past. However, we need your continued support to help us improve animal welfare practices in Cork City, County and nationwide! The key to making this happen is a regular source of income. PLEASE help us in one of the following ways:
Bank of Ireland, Wilton, Cork.
Account Name: Animal Care Society Deposit Account
Account No.: 22060688
Sort Code: 90-28-05
Your support saves lives. Be part of something positive.! Contact us today and find out ways in which you can help us end the needless suffering.
Thank You!
Cork Animal Care Society Team
Their Lives ... Our Passion |
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