Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

What is hunt sabotage?

Hunt sabotage is direct action by using decoy and practical tactics against hunters, trappers and shooters seeking to kill nonhuman animals living freely in Irish nature. We sabotage hunting and blood-sport activity because it is immoral and unjust to murder nonhuman animals for any reason when you do not need to, and in this especially depraved case, for "fun". For a more detailed answer, please visit our page: What is hunt sabotage?

Why do you wear masks/balaclavas?

The main reason anyone wears a balaclava is for security, the only difference is the reason someone wants more security, be that crime, anonymity or safety. We wear them for our safety and for anonymity, we have no intention of breaking the law, and often the opposite happens with hunters breaking the law to assault us [source]. Garda have been known to wear balaclavas when evicting people from their homes [source]. Blindboy from the Rubber Bandits wears a makeshift balaclava [source] for satire and mostly because he doesn’t want fame, the same with the band Daft Punk. A balaclava doesn't always mean scary or violent, think about the normalisation of face-masks during Covid, are they threatening? No, but they do increase your anonymity, and that doesn't make the people wearing them any more violent. Balaclavas for sabs are just as necessary as wearing a face mask during Covid. We also wear balaclavas because hunt sabotage isn't about us, it's about nonhuman animals who are fighting for their lives, families and communities; we try our best to centre nonhuman animals, not us.

"Do you wash, or have jobs?" - the hunt often ask us.

We take pride in our crustiness, so no, we have a strict no washing and jobless policy when joining. It's arguably an accomplishment to be this smelly, jobless and muddy for this long. /S

In sincerity, regardless of the ableism and classism of this witless jab, and unlike hunters, we will not discriminate based on employment status if you want to sab, that is your business and yours alone. We have sabs from all walks of life and all income statuses.

Are hunt saboteurs violent?

No, hunt saboteurs are not violent and do not seek violence. However, if a sab is being assaulted, they are in their rights to defend themselves and have others protect them according to Irish law. Hunters, on the other hand, are incredibly violent and are looking to murder nonhuman animals like foxes while exploiting horses and dogs. Hunters in Ireland have already assaulted, robbed, driven into and intimidated hunt saboteurs foolishly thinking this will stop us; rather it does the opposite.

Who are you?

We are an anonymous non-hierarchical collective of various shapes and sizes who believe oppression is wrong no matter who you are. We remain anonymous for security, and to de-centre ourselves. Learn more about us.

What do I need to join?

A particular distaste for anyone who thinks they have the right to use, abuse and exploit others (dogs, horses) and make them murder someone else (foxes, hares, stags, minks)—a dislike of any form of discrimination and injustice. Join us now.

If I'm disabled/can't drive/can't be in the field, can I still join?

Yes! Whether in front of a computer at home or passenger in the sab vehicle, you can help us. Get in touch with us to see how your skills and can help save and protect nonhuman animals in Ireland.

Are sabs required to be vegan, or eat a plant-based diet?

HSI is a strictly animal rights organisation (i.e. empty cages, not bigger ones), this means we are opposed to speciesism and all forms of use and exploitation of nonhuman animals. Sabs are not required to be vegan (in the ideological, dietary and lifestyle sense); however, if it is possible to become vegan, then we have a moral obligation to be vegan. Out of respect for all nonhuman animals and other sabs, only plant-based food can be brought out during sabbing. Speciesism is unjust, and like racism, sexism and transphobia, needs to expunged from society. When we sabotage hunts, we sabotage speciesism. Speciesism is what we are fighting overall, and eating a plant-based diet, not wearing someone's skin, hair, feathers or fur-pelt and not purchasing products which were tested on nonhuman animals is a few of the ways we can respect nonhuman animals' bodily autonomy and reject speciesism in our daily lives. Above all, we encourage action, especially direct action, against speciesism.