Get Out’, ‘Get Out’ was an outraged homeowner’s response to an invasion of his garden by a hunting pack of hounds.
The incident took place in Kildimo, a village about 13km from Limerick city, on the 29 September last, during a fox cub hunting session by a local pack of hounds.
The homeowner recorded the hounds running in and out of his property.
The video shows hounds ran through a garden, disturbing flock of hens before running onto the public road into passing traffic. It is believed that hounds were hunting a fox which led them to invade the garden.
No hunt officials were present to control the hounds or remove the hounds from the property.
When hunt officials did arrive, they attempted to gather the hounds while ignoring the homeowner whose property has been trespassed onto.
The identity of the hunt involved is not known, but it is expected that the incident will be reported to Gardaí.
ICABS
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports (ICABS) who highlighted the incident, condemned the arrogance of the hunting officials.
An ICABS spokesperson said, “This is the typical havoc suffered by landowners and residents during hunting season, with hunters releasing packs of killer dogs and allowing them to roam in and out of people’s properties.”
The fox cub hunting season is taking place at the moment prior to the official start of the fox hunting season on the 1st November. This activity involves the huntsman instilling in younger fox hunting/harrier hounds that their role in the pack is to locate and kill fox, alongside rekindling the interest in hunting by the older hounds.
Fox cubs that escape from the hounds are left to flee as the hunters know that foxes that run from the hounds will provide better sport in the main hunting season.
The Law
ICABS has offered guidance to landowners and home owners who suffer a hunting hound invasion. It said that the Gardaí should be contacted and highlight to them that a breach of the Control of Dogs Act, 1986, ref: Section 9 in which dogs must be kept “under effectual control”, is occurring on your property.
Photographs or a video taken of the hounds and hunt officials on your property without your permission would assist any legal case arising for this incident.
In addition, Gardaí should also be informed that a breach of Section 44 of the Wildlife Act, which makes it an offence for any person who is not the owner or occupier of land to carry onto that land, without permission, any firearm, net, or other weapon, instrument or device capable of being used for hunting a wild bird or a wild animal
No Right to Enter
ICABS said that hunters on foot or horseback do not have any right under law to enter any property unless the permission of the landowner or his/her agent has been obtained. It is advised that a notice be inserted in a local newspaper to say that your property is a no animal hunting location.
Local hunts can be also be contacted by registered post to inform them that you do not allow hunting on your land, and they have no permission to enter your property.
When hunt trespass does occur, the name of the hunt involved and the person in charge of the hounds should be obtained. The matter should take the legal route, so avoid an informal apology or a financial compensation offer by the hunt.
ICABS also said that all incidents of hunt trespass should be highlighted and urged those who have suffered a hunt invasion to let details of the event be made available to anti-hunt organisations. This will ensure that such events are not hidden or covered-up by those who wish to do harm to wildlife for entertainment.
View the hunting hound invasion in Kildimo, Co. Limerick
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