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Hell and Back using Live Entertainment?

ShaShaBear

Don't know if anyone has heard of this crowd, but they have recently announced a new obstacle course - "The Rat Tunnel", which will have 50 live rats from an undisclosed origin released into it.

At this time, they have not only refused to disclose where they got the rats, but also the sex (we don't know if they are mixed or single sex), whether or not they have been socialised to behave amicably to other rats and people and whether all of the rats have been health-checked to ensure no illnesses are passed to other rats or the contestants.

Looking at their Facebook page, most contestants seem terrified of the idea, and I am surely not the only one who realises that releasing a bunch of terrified contestants into an enclosed space full of rats is going to be a disaster. One concerned person posted a picture of the damage a frightened pet rat can do, and the response was to "make sure the contestants wear long sleeves".

Am I the only one who thinks this should be stopped before there is damage done?

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muddypaws

why on earth would they want to do that? Their usual events are brilliant, but don't involve stunts like this, someone's been watching too much I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here I think. What a shame.

cocker5

Seriously?

I'm doing a hell & back thing in bray on 15th of June.... If this is the case I won't be doing it and will want my €49 registration fee back!

Ill be calling them on Monday!

cocker5

I just looked at their Facebook page and sure enough this is true.

Many people posting their objections...

To say I'm disgusted in an under statement! It's certainly not what I signed up for or paid for when I registered!

It's just not right, I'm by no means a rat lover but they will be trampled on and no doubt scared sh*teless...

Ill be calling them on Tuesday!

Fitzg

this is awful

so irresponsible to abuse any animal is this way just for 'entertainment'. Does anyone know if they can be prosecuted for animal cruelty?
It's also sickening because rats have a bad reputation already and this is just feeding into the hype. Rat's are sensitive, affectionate animals and I would hate to see them abused in this way.

Tranceypoo

Disgusting, agree with another poster who said they've been watching too much 'I'm A Celeb' (also disgusting!)

ShaShaBear

A more recent reply to a threat of protest at the event resulted in them saying that they would make more parking spaces available. Really not sure how to take this!

Ken.

http://www.ispca.ie/cruelty_complaint -online complaint form for ispca.

5 Rogan’s Court, Patrick St, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin. -address of the crowd doing the "event".

-partners of hellandback
http://www.vithit.com/
http://www.killruddery.com/
http://53degreesnorth.ie/

I've emailed all the above to register my disgust at what will happen. Some negative publicity for them might change minds.

honerbright

Most of their responses to peoples concerns about the rat welfare on the facebook page are sarcastic and joking. Such a wonderful bunch of people organizing this.

Fitzg

Thanks Ken, I posted the ISPCA link on the Hell and Back facebook page. I couldn't see anywhere where they specify that the rats will be released into the tunnel but yes - their responses to concerned posters raising the animal welfare question was deplorably immature. I don't believe they are capable of caring for 50 rats

I also contacted the other organisations supporting Hell and Back.
best wishes, Em

Got A John Frusciante

I have a funny feeling they aren't going to use live rats. It's going to be some other stunt. There's no way they'd be reacting so flippantly to so many complaints if they were going to use them. Some guys said he had called the guards and ipsca and they replied saying that he should probably of rang them first to actually see what their plans are.

FoxyVixen

Sounds like a publicity stunt if you ask me.

I'd assume using live animals around participants would increase insurance costs significantly.

Triangla

Is it people dressed as rats or something?

It makes no sense, the rats would just run away and escape as it's an open tunnel.

Plus if anyone gets bitten they would be open to being sued.

That's even before you delve into the obvious animal welfare concerns.

Defo publicity stunt - they can't be that stupid.

Ken.

The email i got back from the ISPCA today
Hi,

Due to our very limited resources the ISPCA is unable to provide an Inspectorate presence in all parts of the country and Dublin is, unfortunately, one of those areas in which we do not have an ISPCA Inspector operating.

However, there are a network of affiliated and independent animal rescue groups with whom we liaise to ensure that cruelty allegations are investigated and we have forwarded on your email to Dublin SPCA, you can contact them on 01 499 4700.

Alternatively if you feel your call is in need of urgent attention please call the local Gardaí Station.

Regards

Anne
ISPCA Cruelty Line Coordinator

ISPCA Head Office

National Animal Centre

Derryglogher Lodge

Keenagh

Fitzg

I got this back from 53 Degrees North
Hi,

Thank you for your e-mail.

We would like to let everyone know that we do not in any way support animal cruelty or agree with using live animals in the Hell&Back recreational races.

We can confirm that there will be NO rats in this race, nor should there be rats used in any future race. We would like to apologise for any distress that this has caused.

Regards,

Rachael McFarlane
53 Degrees North
Unit 3, The Park
Carrickmines
Dublin 18
Ireland

Got A John Frusciante

Fitzg wrote: »

I got this back from 53 Degrees North
Hi,

Thank you for your e-mail.

We would like to let everyone know that we do not in any way support animal cruelty or agree with using live animals in the Hell&Back recreational races.

We can confirm that there will be NO rats in this race, nor should there be rats used in any future race. We would like to apologise for any distress that this has caused.

Regards,

Rachael McFarlane
53 Degrees North
Unit 3, The Park
Carrickmines
Dublin 18
Ireland

Knew it :cool:

ShaShaBear

Got A John Frusciante wrote: »

Knew it :cool:

The email I got was more along these lines:

We are being tongue-in-cheek and flippant about our answers on the main page because we are trying to build up fear around the event BUT at no point will there be contact between the rats and people. There is a professional rat handler working with them who will be monitoring the rats throughout the day and has the right to cancel that obstacle if he feels the rats are anxious, etc. I asked that you do not reveal this to anyone, as we want to keep it "scary"...

I'm assuming they have decided to withdraw the rats, based on both emails.

SillyMangoX

Would anyone PM me the link to the facebook page? I can't find it and would like to send them a message of complaint!

muddypaws

ShaShaBear wrote: »

The email I got was more along these lines:

We are being tongue-in-cheek and flippant about our answers on the main page because we are trying to build up fear around the event BUT at no point will there be contact between the rats and people. There is a professional rat handler working with them who will be monitoring the rats throughout the day and has the right to cancel that obstacle if he feels the rats are anxious, etc. I asked that you do not reveal this to anyone, as we want to keep it "scary"...

I'm assuming they have decided to withdraw the rats, based on both emails.

Interesting, didn't know there were professional rat handlers in Ireland.