Dungarvan Animal Matters and Welfare Information

06/06/2026

Rescue in this country can go on forever, and nothing is ever likely to change.

This is a very small country, and there’s absolutely no reason why all breeding of dogs, bar highly regulated reputable breeders, shouldn’t be banned.

06/06/2026

06/06/2026

One can’t help but wonder how many horses ended up in that facility in Kildare.
6m euro, probably curtesy of the tax payer.
Meanwhile, in the real world, there are children with special needs unable to get their needs met, children with scoliosis ignored, mental health services are pathetic, people can’t afford their electricity bills, pensioners are going hungry and cold - but the Irish government has 80m for HRI and 6m for HSI, neither of which NEEDS government subvention.

Martin HeydonMicheál Martin

Appointment of former NI chief vet to HSI board among several factors behind to withdrawal and resignation of a board director

06/06/2026

Yeah, right.

The owner of a greyhound who tested positive for a prohibited substance has been fined just €100.

According to the latest Greyhound Racing Control Committee report (April 2026), Diclofenac was detected in a urine sample taken from greyhound Jay Jay at Waterford Stadium on 23 October 2025. On the day, the greyhound finished last in the "Fundraiser Nights @ Kilcohan Park" race.

The registered owner of the greyhound - Michael Casey of Rathquage, Bonmahon, Co. Waterford - was not in attendance at a meeting of the control committee.

The meeting "noted the evidence given by Mr. Michael Casey on the Investigation Report Form where he was not challenging the sampling process or the laboratory findings and that he advised the Committee he administered a cream on the wrist of the greyhound Jay Jay which contained the substance Diclofenac as the greyhound was sore after a gallop. He did this an hour after the gallop and was thinking of the welfare of the greyhound and had no ulterior motive.”

The Greyhound Racing Control Committee "imposed a sanction payment of €100 on Mr. Casey and awarded costs of €250 in favour of Rásaíocht Con Éireann"

Since 23 October 2025, Jay Jay has been used in six more races - all at Waterford track - including one on 4th June 2026.

The Greyhound Racing Ireland website shows that Michael Casey has had 425 recorded race entries and 60 race winners.

Jay Jay is among a growing list of greyhounds testing positive for prohibited substances at tracks around Ireland. Find out more at https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2024/02/16/more-and-more-greyhound-testing-positive-for-prohibited-substances/

ACTION ALERT

DON’T GO GREYHOUND RACING.

Tell the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein to stop supporting funding to greyhound racing and back a ban on this dog-killing gambling activity.

Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Tel: 01 619 4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
X: http://www.twitter.com/

Simon Harris TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01 281 3727
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
X: http://www.twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris

Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: [email protected]
X: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD

Please sign and share the petitions

Irish Government: Stop Giving Millions of Euro to Cruel Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/irish-government-stop-giving-millions-of-euro-to-cruel-greyhound-racing

GAA: Stop club fundraisers at greyhound tracks
https://www.change.org/p/gaa-stop-club-fundraisers-at-greyhound-tracks

Tell Gain Pet Nutrition to Stop Sponsoring Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/jimtracy-glanbia-ie-tell-gain-pet-nutrition-to-stop-sponsoring-greyhound-racing

Watch RTE’s award-winning “Greyhounds Running For Their Lives” documentary
https://youtu.be/ZYTb2qBjlMM

06/06/2026

Banned glue traps sold in Tuam store “unnecessarily cruel”
Galway Advertiser, May 14, 2026

The proprietor of a Tuam discount shop was fined €2,000 and ordered to make a €2,500 payment to an animal welfare charity after he pleaded guilty to selling illegal glue traps in his Shop Street premises.

Padraic Kelly, trading under Kelly Discount Direct, was charged with having possession of glue traps and having glue traps for sale. The prosecution was taken against the company and not Mr Kelly in person.

Rebecca Teesdale, an officer with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, gave evidence that all traps need to be officially approved of and glue traps were not approved. She explained to Judge James Faughnan that essentially the traps were made of glue spread on boards and this caused a slow and distressing death for any animal caught. The traps were described by State Solicitor Rachel Joyce as “indiscriminate” and “unnecessarily cruel”.

A member of the public had seen the traps on display in the shop and brought the matter to the attention of the authorities.

Viewing a photograph of one of the traps the Judge noted they cost €1.99 for a pack of two. In total 1,984 individual traps were found. “They could do a lot of damage,” the Judge said, adding “fair play to the member of the public who spotted them.”

Eric Gleeson solr (defending ) pleaded that his client had co-operated fully with the investigation and he had not been aware that the traps should not be sold. He was willingly consenting to the destruction of the traps.

Kelly had no previous convictions and was willing to make a charitable donation as an indication of his remorse.

The Court was told the offences carried a fine of up to €5,000 and up to six months’ imprisonment.

It was agreed that the defendant would make a €2,500 donation to Vincent Wildlife Trust VWT which was suggested by the NPWS witness.

“We have to make people aware of this issue,” Judge Faughnan said, imposing a conviction and a fine of €2,000. He adjourned matters until the June 23 sitting of the Court for the total €4,500 to be paid over.

https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/150868/banned-glue-traps-sold-in-tuam-store-unnecessarily-cruel

ACTION ALERT

Rodent glue traps are unlawful in Ireland under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000. If you are aware of any Irish company using these or any Irish shops selling them, please let us know at [email protected] or report then directly to the National Parks and Wildlife Service - Telephone: 01 888 2000 / Email: [email protected]

06/06/2026

How many more? That’s the question. Martin Heydon?

All involved desperately back peddling trying to disassociate themselves. Nice try. Total fail.

Greyhound racing is based on over breeding, killing and flogging unwanted dogs off to the highest bidder, regardless of what will become of that dog or its offspring.

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 19.2 million of tax payers money used to support this? Meanwhile, rescues are expected to answer questions that no other organisations are expected to answer - least of all GRI.

An Irish greyhound who is being used as a "breeding machine" in China was exported from Ireland to Hungary before ending up there, it has emerged.

The office of Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon has stated: "RCE [Greyhound Racing Ireland] has informed this Department that the greyhound Ballygloss Angus was under the care of an Irish Coursing Club-licensed trainer, who is resident in the North of Ireland. RCE does not have a Statutory remit in the North of Ireland. The greyhound Ballygloss Angus last raced at Lifford, a RCE licensed stadium, on 1 November 2025 when the greyhound was owned and trained by the aforementioned ICC licensed trainer. On 16 February 2026, the trainer in question updated his RCETS account, advising that the greyhound was waiting to be rehomed."

Despite being in China, the Greyhound Racing Ireland website had claimed that 2-year-old Ballygloss Angus was rehomed: “export-rehomed-as-pet”. This has now been changed to "export-international". The name of the original owner has been deleted.

"The status 'exported - rehomed as a pet' is an update directly received from the Irish Coursing Club on foot of information received by them from the ICC licensed trainer on 26 February 2026," Minister Heydon's representative continued. "This update was then incorporated into the RCE Race Management System and on the RCE website on the basis of information received from the ICC. The trainer of the greyhound advised the ICC that the greyhound left Ireland and was exported to Hungary. RCE does not have a statutory remit or powers in relation to the exportation of greyhounds or greyhounds that leave the jurisdiction of the Republic of Ireland. Arising from the update received from the Irish Coursing Club in respect of Ballygloss Angus, the greyhound is currently inactive on RCETS with a rehomed status."

RCETS is Greyhound Racing Ireland’s so-called traceability system.

It was pointed out to Minister Heydon that a profile of Ballygloss Angus on a Chinese greyhound breeding website shows that the dog is now in the Hebei province of China.

In the response from the Minister's office, there was no acknowledgement that the dog is in China.

"There has been no recorded movement of dogs from Ireland to the country named [China] between the years of 2019 and 2026," the spokesperson stated.

According to the Greyhound Racing Ireland website, Ballygloss Angus was used in 18 races around Ireland (Lifford, Derry, Kilkenny, Shelbourne Park) between March and November 2025, with prize money of €1,820. His first race was at Kilkenny track on 21 March 2025 in the “Boylesports Bookmakers ON2 525” and his final race before being exported was on 1 November 2025 at Lifford track in the “Happy Retirement Cloneden Flash A1/A2 525”.

There are grave concerns about the dog, given that China is a country with no animal welfare laws.

Shame on those responsible and shame on the Irish Government for failing to take action to stop the indirect export of greyhounds to China. Irish dogs can face horrendous fates after they are used for racing and breeding. Shocking videos filmed in China have shown a greyhound being boiled alive in a barrel and an individual slamming a greyhound into the ground after the dog failed to win races. Sickening scenes of greyhounds on hooks at meat markets in China have also been filmed and posted online.

Caged Nationwide has previously stated that Chinese volunteers who try to save some of the dogs at meat markets have told them that the greyhound is the “third most popular breed found at the slaughterhouses”.

“It’s fully legal to drug, beat, skin or cook a greyhound whilst still alive, for their flesh in China,” the group highlights on its website. “There are no boundaries to how you can torture any animal there. They have zero animal welfare laws.”

Kerry Elliman of Candy’s Hound Rescue – a group which has rescued greyhounds from China – has said: “What I witnessed in China was that many trainers and owners of greyhounds would sell them when the dogs are no good to race. One underground track I visited was right by a meat market and literally for 3 hours, greyhound after greyhound was brought into the market for sale, either for meat or racing. Greyhounds from Ireland, UK, Australia and America have been found in breeding facilities in mainland China. We have done many years of research and many DNA tests on our rescued greyhounds and bloodlines all go back to these four countries (America less than the other 3). The reason for this is greyhounds are exported to China for breeding. China now has some of the biggest breeding facilities in the world and the Chinese pay big money for Irish and English dogs. We have rescued 5 Irish greyhounds from China and 11 Australian hounds. Unfortunately, the racing industry takes no responsibility for greyhounds being exported and its supporters will even defend the practice.”

Previous Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue was questioned about the export of Irish greyhounds to China. In a May 2023 Dail Question, then TD Joe Flaherty asked the Minister “if a stud greyhound (details supplied) is registered accordingly in the Greyhound Racing Ireland’s RCETS traceability system and if he will make a statement on the matter.”

The greyhound he was referring to was “Havana Class” who, he told the Minister, “was exported to a greyhound breeding facility in Nangong, Hebei, China in April 2023 but is still listed in the Irish Greyhound Stud Book as owned by Mr Billy Loveridge in Co Tipperary”.

Three years after the export, Havana Class continues to be listed by Greyhound Racing Ireland as being owned by Billy Loveridge.

In subsequent correspondence to Joe Flaherty, Greyhound Racing Ireland stated: “Rásaíocht Con Éireann can confirm the greyhound Havana Class is registered on its Traceability System RCÉTS. The greyhound is assigned a status of being exported. Rásaíocht Con Éireann are not the appointed keepers of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book nor is it responsible for the entry of data or maintenance of records therein. Such activity falls directly within the remit of the Irish Coursing Club. Arising out of a report received regarding the greyhound ‘Havana Class’ being located in China, Rásaíocht Con Éireann can confirm the reported circumstances around the discovery of this greyhound in China are currently the subject of an investigation being undertaken by Rásaíocht Con Éireann. This investigation involves interaction with policing authorities and greyhound regulators in Republic of Ireland, the six counties and the UK. As a result of this investigative work, Rásaíocht Con Éireann do not consider it prudent to comment any further on the matter.”

In May 2023, then TD Joan Collins questioned Minister McConalogue about the export to China of another Irish greyhound named “Claregalway Lad”. She asked “if he will investigate if the dog was exported directly or indirectly from Ireland; if action will be taken against those responsible for the export; and if he is aware of other Irish greyhounds exported to China for breeding and racing purposes and if he will urgently ban the export of greyhounds to China”.

Minister McConalogue told her that “The department does not collect information on the breed of dog being certified for movement from Ireland, and therefore figures of greyhound movements are not available.”

SEE ALSO:

“Rehomed as a pet” Irish greyhound Fortune Sydney exported to China for breeding
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/04/04/rehomed-as-a-pet-irish-greyhound-exported-to-china-for-breeding/

Shameful: Another Irish greyhound (Gougane Jet) exported to China
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2023/12/15/shameful-another-irish-greyhound-exported-to-china-2/

Irish greyhounds shamefully exported to China
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2021/09/30/irish-greyhounds-shamefully-exported-to-china/

UK & IRISH GREYHOUNDS EXPORTED TO CHINA
https://www.cagednw.co.uk/chinaexports.html

Minister questioned about latest greyhound export to China
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/04/04/rehomed-as-a-pet-irish-greyhound-exported-to-china-for-breeding/

ACTION ALERT

Don’t go greyhound racing. Since 2001, Greyhound Racing Ireland has received €386,806,146 in grants, including €19 million for 2024, €19.82 million for 2025 and €19.82 million for 2026. This is unacceptable and must be stopped. Tell the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein to stop supporting the funding and back a ban on this dog-killing gambling activity.

Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Tel: 01 619 4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
X: http://www.twitter.com/

Simon Harris TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01 281 3727
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
X: http://www.twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris

Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: [email protected]
X: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD

Please sign and share the petitions

Irish Government: Stop Giving Millions of Euro to Cruel Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/irish-government-stop-giving-millions-of-euro-to-cruel-greyhound-racing

Ban Greyhound Racing
https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/ban-greyhound-racing-4

GAA: Stop club fundraisers at greyhound tracks
https://www.change.org/p/gaa-stop-club-fundraisers-at-greyhound-tracks

Tell Gain Pet Nutrition to Stop Sponsoring Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/jimtracy-glanbia-ie-tell-gain-pet-nutrition-to-stop-sponsoring-greyhound-racing

Watch RTE’s award-winning “Greyhounds Running For Their Lives” documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM

REPORTED GREYHOUND INJURIES AND DEATHS AT IRISH TRACKS

2025: 344 injuries, 197 deaths
2024: 389 injuries, 202 deaths
2023: 257 injuries, 134 deaths
2022: 287 injuries. 122 deaths
2021: 351 injuries. 154 deaths
2020: 255 injuries. 90 deaths
2019: 332 injuries. 119 deaths
2018: 353 injuries. 121 deaths
2017: 357 injuries. 124 deaths
2016: 427 injuries. 139 deaths
2015: 422 injuries. 122 deaths
2014: 266 injuries. 69 deaths (July to Dec 2014)

06/06/2026

Be under no illusion, the neglect of this dog was 💯 deliberate. I saw it more times than I can remember.

It is almost like a form of punishment for not being of further use. Sick, right? There is no explanation that makes sense.

The so called ‘authorities’ are failing these animals daily. Far too interested in PR exercises and self congratulation.

06/06/2026

The Connolly's Red Mills company is being urged to disassociate from an upcoming fox hunt show.

The Kilkenny-based company’s logo is prominently displayed on a Westmeath Fox Hunt poster for a "Terrier and Lurcher Show" in Moate, County Westmeath https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1403412235154146&set=a.458792086282837

The show, due to take place on 21 June 2026, celebrates dogs used in the brutal killing of Irish wildlife and includes a "digging competition". This competition attracts those involved in the obscene practice of digging out.

Digging out occurs during hunts when a fox, desperately running for dear life, attempts to escape underground. Hunters dig the clay away from above until the cowering fox is uncovered. This is typically coupled with so-called terrierwork - terriers are sent down the hole to attack and corner the fox, resulting in horrific injuries to both fox and dogs. The bleeding and squealing fox is pulled out and killed.

Among the categories in the terrier, lurcher and whippet dog show is “best hunt terrier”. To qualify, a dog “must be doing terrier work for a pack of hounds”.

Alongside the Connolly’s Red Mills logo, is a logo for a company called Bellman and Flint which is sponsoring the Westmeath Fox Hunt show. Its logo features a fox's head, a shovel and a rod. Among the products for sale on its website are Terrier Location Systems ("designed to withstand the rigours of terrierwork") which are used by terriermen to locate the transmitter collars on their terriers while they bite into the bodies of doomed foxes.

“NO SELF-RESPECTING COMPANY SHOULD ASSOCIATE ITS BRAND WITH A FOX HUNT AND A COMPANY WHICH PROFITS FROM TERRIERWORK,” we stated in an appeal to Connolly’s Red Mills.

We highlighted the cruelty to animals involved in fox hunting - foxes are chased to exhaustion and when caught by the pack of hounds, they are knocked off their feet, attacked, bitten, eviscerated and pulled apart.

Westmeath Foxhunt cruelty has been well documented - see below for more details.

The vast majority in Ireland - both north and south - are opposed to fox hunting. A RED C opinion poll commissioned by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports found that a 77 per cent majority in the Republic want fox hunting banned (with just 12 per cent disagreeing with a ban). A majority in both rural and urban areas are in favour of a ban. In Northern Ireland, a 2024 poll conducted by LucidTalk found that 76% want fox hunting banned.

ACTION ALERT

Join us in urging Connolly’s Red Mills to show compassion for Irish wildlife and immediately disassociate from this Westmeath Fox Hunt event.

Connolly’s RED MILLS
Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny
Telephone: +353 (0)599775800
Email : [email protected]

Westmeath Foxhunt and Animal Cruelty

A Westmeath Foxhounds hunt report in the The Irish Field documented the cruel practice of digging-out and the obscene ritual of cutting off the tails and tongues of foxes…”Terriers were some time in coming as followers were the wrong side of the wind for hearing. A quick dig followed and 2 foxes were dispatched. Eamon had a brush for Clarissa and a fox’s tongue which he intends pickling in vinegar to cure warts and draw thorns.”

In 2007, the Irish Independent reported that there was a probe into allegations that a rope was tied to the leg of a fox and that it was pulled out of a burrow and fed alive to hounds. See Irish Independent report https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/top-hunt-probed-in-cruelty-claim/26333741.html

A 2011 Farmers’ Journal report told of how 16 mounted followers of the Westmeath hunt, along with 29 hounds, found a fox that was caught and “chopped.” Later on, another fox was “overhauled before he managed to put any distance between himself and them.” Both “chopped” and “overhauled,” in hunting terminology, mean that the fox was caught by the hounds and brutally killed.

Disturbing video filmed during a Westmeath Foxhunt in February 2015. The video shows a hunter calling his horse a c***, a hunter whipping her horse fives times and a horse falling backwards into a ditch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKk8midpn5Y

A report in the Irish Field (8 February 2019) detailed how several foxes were terrorised during a Westmeath Foxhounds hunt. The pack of hounds first found two foxes in a field of kale before “settling on one” and pursuing him. Another fox was chased and “marked” in a bog “after a nice crisp run of over 40 minutes”. In hunting terminology, “marked” refers to the pack of hounds catching up with the fox and baying loudly at the entrance to an earth or drain where the cowering creature is trying to find refuge. Surrounded by the hunters and hounds, this is a desperate situation for the fox. It often means death – foxes are flushed out with terriers or dug out by hunt terriermen before being killed.

A 2008 Irish Field report revealed that the Westmeath Hunt’s hounds chased a fox into the freezing water of the Royal Canal: “The fox and the pack swam across the canal and continued along the banks to the Mullingar/Ballynacargy Road…the fox, with 9 hounds in pursuit, then swam the canal again”

“Plenty of foxes about who didn’t want to run but hounds did their best on a pre-hunt ball day.” Caption on a Westmeath Foxhunt photo shared on the hunt’s page, February 2015.

05/06/2026

And the ‘National’ organisation in receipt of over 2m in government funding alone is where…?