Pigs Exploited For Entertanment
kildare |
animal rights |
press release 
Wednesday April 02, 2008 23:28
by Bernie Wright - Alliance for Animal Rights
allianceforanimalrights at gmail dot com
local Kildare opposition growing to proposed pig races
PIGS EXPLOITED FOR ENTERTANMENT WITH NAAS County Council SUPPORT.
While Belfast, Cork and Fingal are to be admired for moving with the times by banning the use of animals in roadside shows, Naas on the other hand is showing its retrospect attitude by staging a Pot –bellied pig race in April.It is to coincide with Punchestown Horse Racing to keep the punters in Naas after the horse racing has ended. Its mostly being promoted by the Drinking establishments and restaurants in the town.
Pigs are highly intelligent animals and do not deserve to be degraded, frightened or used as part of what is an event that is basically centered around club and pub participation, basically its a beer festival. Defenceless animals should not be part of this type of atmosphere. This also sends out a message to children that animals are mere toys to be used by humans.
Pigs are highly intelligent animals and do not deserve to be degraded, frightened or used as part of what is an event that is basically centered around club and pub participation, basically its a beer festival. Defenceless animals should not be part of this type of atmosphere. This also sends out a message to children that animals are mere toys to be used by humans.’ We object to the training, transporting and use of these animals’. Bernie Wright AFAR Spokesperson
Kildares Emmet Stagg TD has agreed to support our efforts to stop this neanderthal event.
This race is to be part of a two day and night drink festival in Naas with races between the pubs and clubs interspersed by frightened animals being raced for laughs. This event is opposed by many Kildare residents including Green Party Counsellor Mr Power but has the approval of Darren Scully ( Fine Gael). Many Kildare people have contacted us in AFAR.
‘Its unbelieveable the ways people find to exploit animals for just a laugh or to line their pockets.
"WE call on the Naas County Council to cancel this now.
Bernie Wright.Press Officer
085 7371810 /087 2651720
Comments (6 of 6)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6Not only is the idea to hold a pig race barbaric, but the fact that it has even been suggested, reflects badly on the town of naas as a whole, the council in particular. It portrays us as uncivillised and inhumane. To exploit these animals for ''entertainment'' not only degrades the pigs, but the town itself, and can only serve to lower public opinion of us. We are in the 21st century, proposing an event which would be more suited to medievel times.
The race was held every Punchestown week by young jockeys riding down the main street. It was over in 3 minutes or less. Most of the jockeys were thrown off within seconds. As a local tradition it was harmless and drew a local crowd. Then in about 1996 the town council banned it for insurance or PC reasons.
Indymedia.ie is full of stories about local life being swamped or homogenized by city folks with their industries / motorways / shopping centres / belief systems / supply chains. What hypocracy to want to homogenize us here in Kildare, when we have had to take Dublin's garbage for years. When we want to be left alone to do our own thing some townie will always come along and interfere.
I'm against coursing and hunting, against painful slaughter and keeping of animals etc., but for this race. My grandfathers watched it nearly a century ago and I hope my grandchildren will too.
The event has been approved by the Kildare branch of the ISPCA, and a vet and a pig farmer will be on hand. The pigs never got injured and that is why it continued. What farmer would lend a pig to the race if it was going to be injured?
Along with many of our residents, many of our TDs in Kildare - like Emmet Stagg - were not born in the county and would know little about its past.
The race did not use real pigs, it were people dressed in pig suits of some sort racing on all fours!
The race was cancelled using real animals years ago (which I totally agree with).
Opposed to exploiting pigs! Indeed. A great champion of the vulnerable of course.
With no harm to the pigs and with all risk assessment being covered to both pigs and humans ( should that be the other way around) do you not think that it would be good for us mere mortals to just get on and enjoy life without picking holes. If you have enough time to do that, try and help cancer victims, stroke victims etc instead of championing the cause of something else.
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