Derry City and Strabane councillors have called for animal cruelty practices within the district to come to an end.
It comes after Alliance councillor Rachel Ferguson brought forward a motion calling for the end of ending animal cruelty and the improvement of animal welfare.
Cllr Ferguson said she had been inundated with messages calling for a ban on the issue.
Animal rights campaigners were left “staggered” last year after Stormont threw out a bill to ban hunting with dogs.
However, councillors showed their support for the motion with 22 votes for, 11 against and 7 abstentions.
The motion read: “This Council notes the widespread support across Derry City and Strabane District for the ending of animal cruelty and the improvement of animal welfare; expresses disappointment at the lack of legislative progression on banning the hunting of mammals with dogs in Northern Ireland Assembly.
“Furthermore, this Council reaffirms our support for ending this barbaric practice and agrees to write to DAERA and the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Affairs, to show our support for ending the practice of hunting for mammals with dogs.”
Sinn Féin voted against a Private Members’ Bill while DUP MLAs got a free vote with some backing the bill while others voted against it.
“I have had many people coming to me looking for this ban," Cllr Ferguson said.
“Local schools and students have been personally lobbying me to ban the hunting of mammals and these school children understand that it is an inhumane and barbaric practice.
“The public does not support this type of hunting, they support a ban so I hope our council will show our support in the banning of mammals with dogs.”
SDLP Councillor Shauna Cusack, who backed the motion, added: “I have never understood the thrill or pleasure anyone could get from a sport or practice which involves abusing or killing animals for entertainment. We should be fighting to protect them, not protecting those fighting them.
“We need to get our priorities right, we need to get the legislation right and we need to do the right thing by supporting this motion today and any future motion in the assembly.”
Sinn Fein Councillor Paul Fleming said while his party was against 'the unnecessary infliction of cruelty to animals', the bill brought before Stormont in December was "flawed".
He added: “We do also understand the importance for many in rural communities of traditional rural activities like hunting. We believe the regulation of hunting of wild animals is the best approach rather than an outright ban.
“The Bill brought recently in the Assembly was flawed, it was also rushed and it is imperative that we take the time to bring forward a Bill that addresses all of the issues.”
Independent Councillor Gary Donnelly said: “This isn’t sport, it is a disgusting and sadistic practice.”
