Eyewitnesses describe the harrowing scene after horrifically injured animal dumped in garden in east of city
17th March 2024
The PSNI is investigating a suspected case of badger baiting in east Belfast after one of the protected animals was found with a broken back and part of its snout bitten off.
Police received a report at around 5.10pm on Saturday about the incident at Downshire Park East.
A post on Facebook described the badger “screaming in obvious pain and distress” after a resident found it on the other side of a fence in their neighbour’s property.
They managed to get the injured animal into a cage and called the USPCA, which transported it to a vet.
The post read: “We were later phoned to say that the critter had to be put down.
“Its spine had been deliberately broken, it had dog bites all over and part of its nose was missing.
“The vet thinks it was thrown over the fence to get rid of it… this was truly disgusting.
“The noise that poor badger made was awful and will stay with me for a long time. It was suffering so much… what scumbag does this?”
The PSNI said: “Across Belfast, we take all crimes seriously, including wildlife crime.
“If you have any information about this incident or believe you have witnessed a wildlife crime taking place, please contact us on 101.”
USPCA chief executive Nora Smith said it was an “all too familiar” story, describing badger baiting is a “brutal and barbaric act”.
“However, the repercussions for those involved are minimal,” she added.
“Last March we produced a report which showcased the true scale of badger baiting in Northern Ireland.
“It also highlighted the lack of enforcement; the prosecution rates for wildlife crime are extremely low.
“Until this changes, thousands of badgers will die in the most hideous way at the hands of badger baiters across the region.”
This is the only part of the UK that does not have specific legislation banning the hunting of wild animals with dogs.
Earlier this month the USPCA and League Against Cruel Sports jointly launched a petition on hunting animals for sport to be made illegal.
England and Wales introduced legislation banning hunting with animals 20 years ago.
Legislation in Scotland dating back to 2002 was replaced with a fresh Act in 2023, which permitted some hunting with dogs in limited circumstances, for example the prevention of disease spreading.
But it remains illegal to chase and kill a wild mammal using a dog in Scotland.
The Stormont Assembly last debated the issue in 2021, when a Bill proposed by the Alliance Party to ban the practice was rejected.
PSNI figures showed there were 86 potential badger persecution offences reported from 2019 to 2021.
Of those, 32 related to suspected badger baiting, 42 concerned disturbing a sett, and 12 related to the use of traps or snares, or the shooting or poisoning of badgers.
There have been three convictions out of 11 prosecutions for offences relating to the killing or injuring of wild animals since 2011.
There’s a very nice gentleman called Pinkerton who’ll probably knew who did this.
Sent from my Galaxy