Statement on Animal Welfare

In recent times there have been a number of incidents  of animal cruelty reported concerning some members of the Traveller community.  Videos have been posted on social media.  These videos are highly upsetting and emotive and create a lot of ill will towards the Traveller community as a whole.

We know that Travellers in general will join with us when we say that Pavee Point abhors all instances of animal cruelty and that animal cruelty is totally unacceptable.

The perpetrators in these matters need to be held accountable and we urge anyone with information on animal cruelty to report it to the Gardaí so that investigations and prosecutions can take place.

Pavee Point works to promote high standards in animal care and, along with other Traveller organisations, has been involved in promoting positive animal welfare with the relevant players.

It’s unfortunate that the Traveller community as a whole is vilified when videos are posted on social media as there are many examples of good animal welfare and care in the Traveller community.  Animal cruelty exists, unfortunately, in all communities and is not related to a person’s ethnic identity.

Our society, as a whole, needs to work in solidarity on these issues to raise awareness and to enable people to respond in meaningful ways that do not create greater divisions in our society.

Pavee Point recently launched research on Traveller horse ownership which promotes responsible horse ownership with animal welfare at its core.