More revelations on AHAR

This place is clearly taking on animals it cant afford to keep properly, a rescue should be exactly that, not a hell hole like this place. Trouble is the less well informed people will support it.
 
Yes, they are a charity. I think all the conspiracy theories are getting a little wild here; it is rather ramshackle, in an out of the way place with not a lot in the way of "official" animal welfare. I don't like the sentimental waffling on FB, but that seems to generate donations and without donations it isn't possible to run an animal rescue. It's not how I would run a rescue (buying from the meat man, etc.), but then I'm not running a rescue - at least they are providing something for animals which otherwise would have pretty much NOTHING and NOWHERE to go to. This isn't the UK.[/QUOTE

The main problem, IMHO, seems to be they arent always 'rescuing', they are buying. Yes horses at fairs arent always particularly well handled, you only had to look at the 'Gypsy Kids' programme last night, go to Appleby, Stow or low-class sales at Beeston, llandybyther etc in UK, or Puck Ballinasloe in ROI. There will always be meatmen, knackermen types buying the low class, low value animals. BUT - and Im sure Im going to get slated here- surely euthanasia, PTS, or factory is the best place for some of these?
I think if AHAR (and it happened in the UK with Wiccaways ) keep buying animals - its Ballinasloe soon and they bought 90 there last year- it makes it impossible for them to care properly for the real rescues? They have just bought 30 horses from the meatman. They already have their stables full, and horses/donkeys in all the fields. Winters coming, the grazing in the winter in Kerry is bogland and doesnt stand up to having horses on in winter. Homes will get scarcer as the bad weather and dark evenings come. Where are they all going to go? Maybe they shoulve stayed where they were, with the "meatman".
 
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Yes, they are a charity. I think all the conspiracy theories are getting a little wild here; it is rather ramshackle, in an out of the way place with not a lot in the way of "official" animal welfare. I don't like the sentimental waffling on FB, but that seems to generate donations and without donations it isn't possible to run an animal rescue. It's not how I would run a rescue (buying from the meat man, etc.), but then I'm not running a rescue - at least they are providing something for animals which otherwise would have pretty much NOTHING and NOWHERE to go to. This isn't the UK.[/QUOTE

The main problem, IMHO, seems to be they arent always 'rescuing', they are buying. Yes horses at fairs arent always particularly well handled, you only had to look at the 'Gypsy Kids' programme last night, go to Appleby, Stow or low-class sales at Beeston, llandybyther etc in UK, or Puck Ballinasloe in ROI. There will always be meatmen, knackermen types buying the low class, low value animals. BUT - and Im sure Im going to get slated here- surely euthanasia, PTS, or factory is the best place for some of these?
I think if AHAR (and it happened in the UK with Wiccaways ) keep buying animals - its Ballinasloe soon and they bought 90 there last year- it makes it impossible for them to care properly for the real rescues? They have just bought 30 horses from the meatman. They already have their stables full, and horses/donkeys in all the fields. Winters coming, the grazing in the winter in Kerry is bogland and doesnt stand up to having horses on in winter. Homes will get scarcer as the bad weather and dark evenings come. Where are they all going to go? Maybe they shoulve stayed where they were, with the "meatman".

I can only agree. I also keep wondering why they 'buy' animals..possibly cause no one will surrender to them any more? The number of animals disappearing without a trace form the public eye after they have been milked for the very last penny is astonishing.People asking for updates are usually blocked..It's a cult, not a rescue. It's hoarding in the worsted sense of the word as a hoarder still loves the animals in their care.there's no love here
 
I donate to AHAR when I can, I believe they do a great job and I follow them on Facebook. They seem to give all their animals a great home, well that is what is portrayed on Facebook. I haven't watched any videos or read any news papers regarding AHAR, so cannot comment on any negativities. I do believe this lady has the best intentions.
 
well, from someone who has been there I can only advise you to donate to a charity you can actually visit without restrictions. AHAR is NOT a good place
 
Their own in-house meatman to be precise..her birthday wish my ***** :mad:

Yes she knows how to pull the heart strings and manipulate the supporters into donating to pay for the equines. This has become a regular pattern for AHAR to acquire or 'purchase' equines from a 'meat man' dealer and dogs too. The same as the regular transport of dogs to the UK mostly to Allsorts Dog Rescue every two weeks or so and others dropped off enroute. They have in recent times exported more and more equines to the UK. It is as if we the people in the UK are desperate to acquire equines and dogs when we have our own problems with surplace unwanted equines and dogs sadly all seeking good homes, why when we cannot rehome our own are we importing hundreds more? I have no problem witha few at a time but are these regular consistent transports necessary when it appears that some of the equines are not genuine rescued animals but specifically purchased from dealers for the purpose of export.
 
well, from someone who has been there I can only advise you to donate to a charity you can actually visit without restrictions. AHAR is NOT a good place

No, it's not, but it is the ONLY place for some of these animals. I completely agree that the meat man is the best answer for many of the horses that end up there, and buying animals from the fairs is really only perpetuating the trade. What is really needed is legislation which would give the ISPCA (Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) real teeth to go in and sieze animals in bad situations. Having dealt with the ISPCA over a horse cruelty situation several years ago I know how powerless they are (or were; legislation has been tightened up).
 
I donate to AHAR when I can, I believe they do a great job and I follow them on Facebook. They seem to give all their animals a great home, well that is what is portrayed on Facebook. I haven't watched any videos or read any news papers regarding AHAR, so cannot comment on any negativities. I do believe this lady has the best intentions.

Key point there, you can portray yourself as whoever you want to be online.

Cortez I do likely think there is a combination of factors over there, AHAR partly gets rid of the some of the problem for an ISPCA that can do very little about the issues anyway.
 
No, it's not, but it is the ONLY place for some of these animals. I completely agree that the meat man is the best answer for many of the horses that end up there, and buying animals from the fairs is really only perpetuating the trade. What is really needed is legislation which would give the ISPCA (Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) real teeth to go in and sieze animals in bad situations. Having dealt with the ISPCA over a horse cruelty situation several years ago I know how powerless they are (or were; legislation has been tightened up).

I agree it can be the ONLY place. Thats why I say that in those cases a gently and dignified passing is the better choice than being left in a place where 50% of the animals taken in only come out in a black bag - or simply disappear.I have horses, dogs,cats and goats. And i would NEVER EVER surrender any of them to AHAR- I'd give them a dignified passing, knowing they were loved. Not dumped in a sh***hole.
 
I donate to AHAR when I can, I believe they do a great job and I follow them on Facebook. They seem to give all their animals a great home, well that is what is portrayed on Facebook. I haven't watched any videos or read any news papers regarding AHAR, so cannot comment on any negativities. I do believe this lady has the best intentions.

You can be anything you want on FB :) If you want to give to AHAR - your choice, fair enough. But give the money direct to the vet, feed supplier, farrier, not just paypal or cash to AHAR, then you know the money WILL be used for the animals.

Cortez, it isnt really 'ramshackle' and 'out of the way'..... the stables and indoor school were built less than 10 years ago as an equestrian facility, and the fields fenced properly. It is only 3 miles from Castleisland town and a mile or less off the main road. Very easy to get to, luckily, seeing the size of the truck that delivered the recent batch of equines.
 
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You can be anything you want on FB :) If you want to give to AHAR - your choice, fair enough. But give the money direct to the vet, feed supplier, farrier, not just paypal or cash to AHAR, then you know the money WILL be used for the animals.

Cortez, it isnt really 'ramshackle' and 'out of the way'..... the stables and indoor school were built less than 10 years ago as an equestrian facility, and the fields fenced properly. It is only 3 miles from Castleisland town and a mile or less off the main road. Very easy to get to, luckily, seeing the size of the truck that delivered the recent batch of equines.

Stormox you have obviously seen a photo of the transporter I have too. Is it permissable, legally (disregarding AHARs comment to an enquiry) to transport 26 equines in a cattle truck?
 
Stormox you have obviously seen a photo of the transporter I have too. Is it permissable, legally (disregarding AHARs comment to an enquiry) to transport 26 equines in a cattle truck?

Well, to be honest, they were being illegally transported anyway, as none of them appear to be passported. I'm no expert on the transportation laws, I believe its law that the vehicle is escape proof, strong enough to hold the animals, enough ventilation and no sharp edges to hurt anything, there also must be access. But is there any other differences between a horse truck and a cattle truck? Im not sure.
 
Well, to be honest, they were being illegally transported anyway, as none of them appear to be passported. I'm no expert on the transportation laws, I believe its law that the vehicle is escape proof, strong enough to hold the animals, enough ventilation and no sharp edges to hurt anything, there also must be access. But is there any other differences between a horse truck and a cattle truck? Im not sure.

Maybe this will help. okay this relates to England but as most Animal Transport Legislation is EU Legislation I would imagine it would be very similar for the ROI (maybe someone can advise who is a resident in the ROI). As you so rightly say transportation without passports is illegal. This is something that happens all the time with equine arriving at AHAR they say they Passport them after arrival. Is that satisfactory does not sound right to me.
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/tradingsta...ness-animalhealth/tsguide-horse-transport.htm
 
No all equines must travel with passports. And yes it will be same rules in ROI and UK as its EU laws re lorries/trailers. But the passport laws are such a joke- in both countries- it would be very hard to police them.
There was actually a post on here a while back about using a cattle trailer for a pony, and the general consensus seems to be its fine.
 
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This is the transport that they came in:

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having already told them off for nicking pics of the interweb I opted out of that one ;) although they maintained if no copywrite it doesn't matter.

It looks like an open tractor livestock trailer to me. An open trailer in ireland sounds soggy :p
 
having already told them off for nicking pics of the interweb I opted out of that one ;) although they maintained if no copywrite it doesn't matter.

It looks like an open tractor livestock trailer to me. An open trailer in ireland sounds soggy :p

I just copied it from their page so they clearly paid you no attention! However naively I assumed that was a snap shot that they had taken. Did they lift if off google images??
 
I still cannot understand what this place is trying to achieve apart from buying and selling (dealing) do they do rehab? Do they take the animals back if there are problems when they are in new homes? Do they help with behaviour problems?
 
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having already told them off for nicking pics of the interweb I opted out of that one ;) although they maintained if no copywrite it doesn't matter.

It looks like an open tractor livestock trailer to me. An open trailer in ireland sounds soggy :p

So did they use this trailer/transporter or did they nick the photo off the Internet and said this was the trailer they used when in fact they used another? Sorry, confused.
 
So did they use this trailer/transporter or did they nick the photo off the Internet and said this was the trailer they used when in fact they used another? Sorry, confused.

I believe this is what they used but they said the council used it too so it was "okay"

Many were stallions so I expect a few surprises to come next year in the form of mules and more ponies.
 
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I still cannot understand what this place is trying to achieve apart from buying and selling (dealing) do they do rehab? Do they take the animals back if there are problems when they are in new homes? Do they help with behaviour problems?

The livestock trailer is precisely what it says on the tin: for transporting livestock, nothing wrong with that.

I can't quite believe that I am (sort of) defending something of which I strongly disapprove, but the tone of this post is unpleasant and accusatory. Perhaps you are unaware of the situation in countries other than your own (I am aware that there are posters here like myself from Ireland). This is a registered charity, operating outside of the remit of the ISPCA but subject to government regulation; it is a "private" rescue, of which there are several in Ireland.

I cannot speak for them (they are voluble enough at that themselves), they are not "selling" animals - all rescues ask for a donation, they would'nt be able to continue without. I am about to collect a dog from them for which I paid a donation (direct to the vet) which I know does not cover the full cost of neuter/vaccs/micro chip. I have another dog from another rescue for which I also paid a donation fee.

As far as I know horses are vaccinated, wormed, de-loused, castrated, passported and have farrier and other necessary vet treatment before they are rehomed, but they are not a training establishment, any more than the RSPCA is. I volunteer my time when I can to the local ISPCA horse centre to handle horses for them, and have backed a few that were suitable, something that vastly improves their chances of getting a home.

These people are trying their best in the midst of an absolute avalanche of neglected, unwanted, abandoned animals. The answers are complex, largely rooted in stopping the breeding of these creatures in the first place. No, they should not be buying horses from the meat man; that is where I think the vast majority of these horses should go. But please don't trouble yourselves thinking there are vast profits being made, or that money is the motivation behind AHAR's actions. For the non-equines they are doing SOMETHING in a situation in which the alternative is NOTHING.
 
As far as I know horses are vaccinated, wormed, de-loused, castrated, passported and have farrier and other necessary vet treatment before they are rehomed,

this is definitely not the case unfortunately, that's why i have such an issue with them. People receive horses off them with no documentation, often the wrong sex, or uncastrated. People have surrendered horses to them, and then found out the horses weren't fed or cared for correctly and look like skeletons after a few months of ahars 'care' They can't even care correctly for the horses they have in their care, so it impossible that they could handle and treat this new batch correctly.


I genuinely believe the owner has good intentions but is a hoarder and overwhelms herself and is unable to provide basic care and it's let slide because it's for the 'greater good' in her eyes. There is no way a small overwhelmed charity can assess the health, rideablilty or rehoming potential of that many horses. The larger official charities would struggle to. What will happen is the horses will be passed on as quickly as possible to naive caring souls. A lot of whom will end up taking nasty falls or damage from horses that probably ended up at the meatman for a good reason.

If she had a proper system and proper accountablility for every horse that comes in then that would be something, but their isn't.
 
The thing that bothers me, Cortez, is not the 'above board' FB and 'sat afternoon visiting' picture of the place. Thats all perfect, I am sure. (Well, it is, Ive been) its the fact that the manager seems not to be able to see sense at times. Putting a wild rabbit with mixi in intensive care, amputating the wing of a magpie, keeping a dying donkey in her sitting room, keeping the coloured pony with contracted tendons and associated club foot alive (and IMHO suffering) taking in dogs and horses which she has no room for, which are perfectly healthy animals for sale at a fair, they aren't all being cruelly treated - a true animal lover, and manager of a rescue should be more selective in how they manage donations.
I am not sure where this last lot came from, it cant be far from their premises as at 4pm they were asking for donations and transport help, and at 7pm approx they had arrived in the big truck, which presumably cant travel very fast. But if anyone asks a legitimate question, such as "How come 'the meatman' has so many unpassported equines " on their FB page they aren't answered, just comments deleted and banned.
I think they would do themselves a BIG favour if they stopped banning people who asked legitimate questions and answer them truthfully. I dont expect them to be 'open all hours' for the public, just to be more open and honest. For example -IF the Rottie x pups died of parvo, (and this is purely an example of a question someone has asked) admit it- they probably had it when they arrived, it wouldn't be AHARs fault if they couldn't be saved, why not just tell the true story?
 
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