TWO MEN ALLEGEDLY baited a wild duck from a lake and then fed it live to a pitbull terrier according to a report.
The incident is claimed to have happened at the lakeside in Emo Court Gardens in Co Laois, an OPW operated public park.
In a letter to local paper the Leinster Express a woman claims to have witnessed the attack.
“I would like to make you aware of a horrific incident I witnessed on Wednesday, July 29 in Emo Court Gardens,” the letter says.
A bull terrier, not muzzled, was walked by two men to the lake. The men proceeded to take out a fishing hook, attach some bread, and throw it into the lake where a large number of ducks were swimming.
A duck became caught on the hook and the men then pulled it into the bank. An elderly lady passing asked the men to return the duck to the water and the men laughed and cursed at her.
They then brought the duck and dog further down the bank and fed the duck to their pit bull terrier. Obviously I have huge concerns about incidents such as this for a number of reasons.
It seems in recent times dogs have been allowed access to the Emo Court facilities from where they had previously been prohibited, something the writer of the letter to the Leinster Express describes as ‘regretful’.
Local councillor Tom Mulhall described the incident as “totally uncalled for”.
“For things like this to happen, large dogs running wild, it just can’t be allowed,” he told TheJournal.ie.
If the OPW have to provide security there that would certainly be an option.
People all over Laois use this wonderful facility. A lot of families experienced this horrible incident, I totally condemn it.
A request has been made to the OPW for comment regarding the incident.
A spokesperson for the ISPCA said that the society is aware of the incident and urged anyone with information on it to contact them on their emergency line 1890 515 515, or alternatively to email their chief inspector Conor Dowling at helpline@ispca.ie.
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