Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Last week, a young zebra was brought into a bar in County Clare. Colleagues might imagine I am about to tell a joke but this is actually true. Many people thought it was an April Fool's Day joke. Bizarrely, this is not against the law and it highlights the lack of legislation and enforcement relating to animal welfare. My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue recently called for urgent reform of legislation on dog breeding and enforcement of control of horses. When we consider the various incidents involving horses around the country, it is horrific how society and the Government have been unwilling to enforce the laws or fund enforcement. My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue is calling for the establishment of an independent animal crime unit within the Garda to protect vulnerable animals. The organisation is also launching an "Enough is Enough" campaign. Enforcement should not be a luxury. Silence is, in effect, protecting cruelty. The fact somebody could take a zebra into a pub and face no consequences shows how abysmal the Government's attitude is to animal welfare. This issue must be raised with the Minister and we need a debate on animal welfare, including the welfare of dogs, in the Seanad.