Nine dogs seized in badger baiting probe

Published Thursday, 02 February 2012

Two men have been arrested and nine dogs rescued in connection with a UK wide police operation into animal cruelty linked to badger baiting.

We’re sorry. This video is unavailable from your location.

Police and the USPCA investigating badger baiting have carried out five searches in Co Down over the past weeks, in Banbridge, Gilford, Lawrencetown and Rostrevor.

On Thursday officers carried out searches in the Lawrencetown area and four dogs were seized.

A dog with severe facial injuries was also seized in the area on Wednesday, and a 58-year-old man arrested. He has been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Last month, four dogs were found during a raid of a residential property in Rostrevor by officers investigating animal cruelty.

A 33-year-old man was charged and appeared in court as a result.

Seventy cannabis plants and 35kgs of cannabis resin were also found in the house in the Pinewood area of the town during the planned raid.

There are no winners in badger baiting. The dogs suffer every bit as much as the badgers. It ends up with possibly both, certainly one, dying.
David Wilson, USPCA

In the past number of weeks as part of Operation Meles, which aims to prevent badger persecution, nine dogs have been rescued in total and five had serious injuries.

A number of vehicles and equipment have also been seized during the searches.

USPCA's David Wilson said badger baiting, in which the animals are dragged from their setts by terriers and then attacked by the dog, is quite prevalent in Northern Ireland.

"The dogs suffered greatly as a result," Mr Wilson added.

"They never receive veterinary treatment for the injuries they get. Some of these injuries can be horrific. Their jaws can be broken and dragged off, their teeth pulled out."

A police spokesperson said: "Apart from the suffering endured by dogs being used in the activity of badger digging, it is illegal to take, injure or kill any badger or indeed interfere with any badger set.

"It is believed that those involved in this illegal activity see the season as running from Boxing Day until 14th February.

"Police will continue with a robust enforcement of the Animal Welfare and Wildlife legislation where they come upon such matters."

Comments

13 Comments

Sam Brannigan in Belfast wrote (110 days ago):

In response to James.Read the link you suggested.Truly awful that people could be literally so evil to transport badgers for baiting.It just shows what was going on fifteen years ago is still going on today.

In response to the comment made at 15.11 on the 4th.SPORT???!!!!Exactly how is ripping a innocent animal to pieces sport???And your so called "sport" has been banned for nearly two hundred years although with bear baiting.Im glad i dont think like you.And maybe the people like me who are strongly against badger baiting are also strongly against child abuse and the fact that some people in the world are starving.I look forward to you telling me about the charity work you do to make the world a better place.

what about human rights? in lala land wrote (110 days ago):

this has been a sport that has been carried out for centuries, what has the world come to when people are getting there knicker in a twist over a disease carrying no longer endangered species, when they dont seem to have the same sympathy for abused children and starving people....the world has gone nuts.......!

charles in lisbellaw wrote (111 days ago):

Have to laugh at all the comments about "severe justice" being appropriate for the lowlifes who are involved in this badger baiting. You are all of course correct and right thinking upstanding people for saying as much, but you are all forgetting one very important factor. In N. Ireland, the only people who get severe justice from the psni/judiciary are motorists, hard working law abiding taxpayers and family people who have principle. The scumbags who are badger baiting will be pandered to and have their human rights enhanced and coveted by the weak kneed lily livered psni/judiciary. Really people, you should have learned that lesson by now!!.

golferron in South Yorkshire wrote (111 days ago):

Badgers are quite docile creatures. They will not attack another animal but like all wild animals they will defend themselves when attacked. They have developed great strength from digging large deep holes. Despite their fightening strength, no way does this justify the killing of them by using several large dogs. It is a cruel painful death. The sooner informants give information to the Police and these groups of diggers are broken up and sent to prison for the maximum term, the better. 6 months is too lenient. The press are doing a great job in giving a lot of publicity to this evil activity and hopefully this will result in more people been reported for this evil crime.

More Comments

^ Top of Comments