“We need a complete ban on coursing to protect the hare from recreational cruelty...How can young people be trained in animal welfare when hare coursing is allowed in Ireland?” Read Letters by John Fitzgerald and Teresa Mitchell in this week’s Dublin People...
Hare coursing cruelty
Dublin People, October 2nd 2021
Dear Editor.
With hare coursing due to re-commence at the end of this month [September], its apologists are claiming that it helps to “conserve the species” and that the “sportspeople” are monitoring the welfare of the hare population.
I would point out that coursing clubs capture hares for one specific purpose: to set dogs on them.
While the aim is to course, rather than kill, the animals, they suffer immense distress while confined for weeks in unnatural captivity and, despite the muzzling of greyhounds, hares can sustain injury or death on the coursing field.
And hares can die even post-coursing of stress-related ailments brought on by the whole ordeal of captivity and the contrived chase within a wired enclosure in front of cheering fans.
That’s why hare coursing has been banned in so many other jurisdictions, including Northern Ireland.
From an animal welfare standpoint, it is completely indefensible. I’ve heard coursing clubs plead over the years that “we love the hare.”
A hare that is mauled, forcibly struck, has its bones crushed, or is tossed up into the air like a rag doll might beg to differ.
A coursing club might well be anxious to ensure a plentiful supply of hares for the “sport.” Prior to its abolition in Britain in 1835 bear baiting was also held to be an aid to conservation, with advocates claiming that the “pastime” contributed to a robust and healthy bear population.
The people involved were deemed conservationists because they had a special interest in finding enough bears to entertain in the pits.
The health and conservation status of the Irish Hare certainly needs to be monitored, but not by coursing clubs.
We need a complete ban on coursing to protect the hare from recreational cruelty and an all-Ireland action plan to safeguard the future of this iconic species, one of our truly native mammals and a flagship of Irish biodiversity.
Thanking you,
John Fitzgerald
Dear Editor,
Re. ‘Ban on hare coursing’, Southside People 8/9/2021
I agree with John Fitzgerald. Hare coursing is medieval, barbaric and totally inappropriate as a sport. The Nordic countries have led the way in banning coursing many years ago
This week there were horrific stories of young men beating a puppy to death and of a young horse who died following a beating.
While these offences are inexcusable and reflect an inability to understand that animals feel pain, just like humans, it is important to set standards.
How can young people be trained in animal welfare when hare coursing is allowed in Ireland?
The Government must take responsibility and refuse to issue licences for hare coursing, with severe penalties issued for anyone who initiates or persists in its practice.
Yours sincerely
Teresa Mitchell,
Arklow, Co Wicklow
ACTION ALERT
Please join us in urging Heritage Ministers Darragh O'Brien and Malcolm Noonan to revoke the coursing licences they issued and put in place proper protection for the Irish Hare.
Minister Darragh O’Brien (Fianna Fail, Dublin Fingal)
Tel: (01) 618 3802 OR (086) 251 9893
Email: minister@housing.gov.ie; darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DarraghOBrienTD
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DarraghOBrienTD
Malcolm Noonan TD (Green Party, Carlow Kilkenny)
Minister of State for Heritage
Tel: (01) 618 3148 OR (01) 618 3156
Email: mos@housing.gov.ie; malcolm.noonan@oireachtas.ie; info@greenparty.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/votemalcolmnoonan1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/noonan_malcolm
Please sign and share the petitions
Sinn Fein: Support a ban on cruel hare coursing
https://www.change.org/p/sinn-fein-support-a-ban-on-cruel-hare-coursing
Ireland – Ban cruel hare coursing
http://www.change.org/p/ireland-ban-cruel-hare-coursing
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports
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https://twitter.com/banbloodsports
https://www.instagram.com/banbloodsports/
Witness the cruelty of hare coursing in Ireland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Dm0mmXYcv8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVIKc2CS4ko