The face of Irish Animal welfare ?

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Monday July 21, 2014 09:49

by Mairead Calvert

Sarah Gunther East Galway Animal Sanctuary fined for animal cruelty.

The public and animal welfare organisations feel let down by the Irish judicial system.

E.G A.R (EAST GALWAY ANIMAL RESCUE) Moyglass, Loughrea Run by Sarah Gunther.
Miss Gunther was charged with eight counts of animal cruelty and received a fine of 250 euro at Galway District Court.on the 09/07/2014.

Many people have been appalled by the leniency of the judge in passing sentence on Miss Gunther and the state of the dogs found in her care.
Dogs which were removed from her care were ordered to be placed back into her care.With no surety that this will never happen again.

Miss Gunther in her own words called it an "Error of judgement".
Many believe she has showed no/little remorse for her actions and many worry that this will happen again and again.
It cannot be allowed to happen. What message has this just sent to the Irish public?

Miss Gunther has been very outspoken regarding individuals and rescues in the past and has been quick to point the finger at many Irish rescues regarding their standard of care.
She was also implicated in an on-line hate campaign directed at the family of Lennox. dog seized and destroyed by Belfast council on the 12/07/2012.

There are questions to be answered and larger issues to be addressed.Why was her fine so small? Why was she not banned from keeping animals? Why can she continue as a charity and receive public donations?

This case highlight the need for regulation within Irish animal welfare groups, qualifications, transparency, adequate support and perhaps a sentence that fits the crime of animal abuse.
And that Miss Gunther closes her rescue for good.

The public and animal welfare organisations feel let down by the Irish judicial system.
E.G A.R (EAST GALWAY ANIMAL RESCUE) Moyglass, Loughrea Run by Sarah Gunther. Was charged with eight counts of animal cruelty and received the fine last Wednesday at Galway District Court.

Many people have been appalled by the leniency of the judge in passing sentence on Miss Gunther and the state of the dogs found in her care.
Dogs which were removed from her care were ordered to be placed back into her care.With no surety that this will never happen again.
Miss Gunther in her own words called it an "Error of judgement".
Many believe she has showed no/little remorse for her actions and many worry that this will happen again and again.
It cannot be allowed to happen. What message has this just sent to the Irish public?

Miss Gunther has been very outspoken regarding individuals and rescues in the past and has been quick to point the finger at many Irish rescues regarding their standard of care. She is also a self proclaimed "Bull breed expert"

There are questions to be answered and larger issues to be addressed here.
To highlight the need for regulation, qualifications, transparency, adequate support and perhaps a sentence that fits the crime.
And that Miss Gunther closes her rescue for good and the dogs seized by an garda siochana are NOT returned to her "care".

Please sign the on line petition and call on Simon Convey to address these welfare issues.

Minister for Agriculture at simon.coveney@oir.ie

Dear Mr. Coveney,
I am writing to you following the recent court case of Sarah Gunther, owner of East Galway Animal Rescue, who pleaded guilty to 8 counts of animal abuse and yet was fined only €250. This woman is now trying to reclaim the 8 dogs that were taken from her by the Gardai and the GSPCA. I am aware that you have no power to change the leniency of her punishment, however, to allow a woman who left 8 dogs to die and to have those dogs returned to her will make this country a laughing stock. Not only were there 8 emaciated dogs found, but the skeletal remains of others were also found, in the worst conditions imaginable. We already have one of the worst animal welfare records but this would be a new low. This is a woman who set herself up as a charity, who received money from people (myself included) for the care of animals, who received grants from your Department, who has attacked other rescues at every turn, she has now pleaded guilty to animal abuse. This woman cannot be allowed to continue as a rescue, she cannot be allowed to get these dogs back and she should be punished for fraudulently receiving money.
It is my sincere hope that you and your department will look into this matter, please show us that you are serious about tackling animal abuse and show abusers that the punishment fits the crime.