The EU ban on battery cages for egg laying hens became mandatory in Ireland on January 1, 2012. The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) reported to the media that up to 100,000 birds would have to be slaughtered “early” as 10 farmers did not have the required cages to comply with new legislation. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1230/1224309632394.html

Ms. Bernie Wright of The Alliance For Animal Rights (AFAR) approached IFA Poultry Chairman, Mr. Alo Mohan, and offered 400 homes for the hens in order to save them from slaughter. One of the homes would have taken 200 hens. Ms. Wright also offered to match the payment the slaughterhouse would have made to the farmer, thus not only reassuring them that the birds would have good homes, but also ensuring that the farmers were not financially compromised by allowing the birds their freedom. Unfortunately, although Mr. Mohan attempted to secure the safe future of the birds by approaching the farmers with this offer, he got no response. On the evening of January 4, 2012 Irish Television News announced that most of the birds had been slaughtered: http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0104/hens.html.

On January 5, 2012 Ms. Wright and Mr. Mohan spoke on Shannonside radio (http://www.shannonside.ie/news-details.php?nid=6833). Mr. Mohan confirmed that 10% of the 80,000-90,000 hens had still not been killed. Ms. Wright repeated her offer of payment to the farmers in return for their release to 400 safe, lifelong homes. She said the farmers may not want to let the public see the poor condition of the birds but that the homes they would be going to are used to seeing battery hens in poor condition and are willing to take them.

It’s an absolute disgrace that these birds have been deprived of their only chance of a life that would have afforded some degree of comfort, care, freedom, rights, pleasure and healing from their tortuous ordeal as battery-caged hens.

What Can I Do?

Please spread the word and write letters to the Irish newspapers and other interested parties letting them know of your outrage at how these birds have been so needlessly deprived and killed. If any birds remain alive, your letter might awaken some compassion in those responsible for them and change their hearts and minds about the decision to kill.

The Irish Times
The Irish Times, The Irish Times Building, PO Box 74, 24-28 Tara Street, Dublin 2;
Fax: 01 675 8035;
Email to: lettersed@irishtimes.com (No attachments please).

The Irish Independent
Letters to the editor: independent.letters@independent.ie

The Evening Herald
Letters to the editor: herald.letters@independent.ie

The Examiner http://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/letters/

For more information, please see AFAR's website: http://allianceforanimalrights.webs.com/ or contact Bernie Wright at 003530872651720

Thank you,

Sandra Higgins, Director
Eden Farm Animal Sanctuary
www.edenfarmanimalsanctuary.com
Ireland