Hares are running for their lives today and over the weekend in Counties Sligo, Cork and Kilkenny as the shameful coursing season continues.
The cruel bloodsport is taking place at the three-day Ballymena/Kilcreevin/BallyMote/Tubbercurry, Clonakilty and Sevenhouses/Waterford coursing meetings. (Ballymena coursers come over the border for their bloodsport because it is illegal in Northern Ireland).
Also on Sunday, hares will be terrorised at an open coursing meet in Dromina in Cork.
At last year's Tubbercurry meet, 80 hares were captured for the cruelty event, including 51 from Oyster Island off the coast of Sligo. Over the three days, 8 hares were pinned and mauled into the ground by greyhounds, 6 more suffered hits and 4 were confirmed injured by a vet. https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/files/tubbercurry-report-2018.pdf
At last year's Sevenhouses meeting, one hare was pinned to the ground, retrieved by a courser and examined by a vet for injuries. There was no National Parks monitoring involved so the actual number of hares hit or pinned cannot be verified.
All hares used in coursing suffer fear and stress, while those caught and hit into the ground are at risk of sustaining life-ending internal injuries.
This sick activity is facilitated by Josepha Madigan, a Minister for Culture and Heritage who, instead of affording every protection to the Irish Hare at a time when fears are growing for the future of the species, opts to pander to the minority of bloodsport enthusiasts who use and abuse wildlife for their amusement. Without the licences issued by Minister Madigan, coursing would not be taking place this week and every week up until the end of February.
See recent video footage showing the cruelty of hare coursing https://www.facebook.com/banbloodsports/posts/1942962425819306
ACTION ALERT
Please join the "Ban Hare Coursing" peaceful protest outside Powerstown Park in Clonmel, County Tipperary on Sunday, 3rd February 2019 from 12pm to 2pm.
https://www.facebook.com/events/2140777926174635/
With warnings from wildlife experts that the Irish Hare is in trouble, it is now more clear than ever that the species must be given FULL PROTECTION - no hare coursing, no hare hunting, no hare shooting. Urgently contact Minister Josepha Madigan and the National Parks and Wildlife Service and demand that they revoke the 2018-19 hare coursing licence and end all forms of hare persecution.
Minister Josepha Madigan
Minister for Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht
Phone: +353 (0)1 631 3800
Email: josepha.madigan@oireachtas.ie, ministers.office@ahg.gov.ie, wildlifelicence@ahg.gov.ie, john.fitzgerald@ahg.gov.ie, Gerry.Leckey@ahg.gov.ie, nature.conservation@ahg.gov.ie
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://facebook.com/JosephaMadiganFG
Tweet to: @josephamadigan
John Fitzgerald
Director, National Parks and Wildlife Service
Phone: +353 (0)1 888 3242
Email: john.fitzgerald@ahg.gov.ie
SAMPLE LETTER
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, feel free to send the short sample letter below)
Dear Minister Madigan,
I am one of the majority who want hare coursing outlawed. I am writing to demand that you revoke the 2018-19 hare netting licence that has shamefully been issued.
In coursing, hares suffer and die at all stages - during the capture, during the time they are kept in captivity and during the coursing meetings where they run for their lives in front of greyhounds. Among the injuries recorded are broken legs, damaged toes and dislocated hips.
I ask you to please act on the wishes of the majority, show compassion and end this cruelty.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
[Name/Location]
The Irish Hare is a protected species but an exemption for coursing in the Animal Health and Welfare Act means coursers are not liable for prosecution for their cruelty. Join us in our call to the government to remove the exemption and provide full and permanent protection to this cherished species.
Contact An Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar and ask him to ban hare coursing and give permanent protection to hares.
An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie
Tweet to: @campaignforLeo Tweet to @campaignforLeo
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignforleo/
Please contact all your local politicians and ask them to push for a ban on this blood sport. Encourage your friends, family and workmates to contact them too. Visit the Oireachtas website for names of TDs and their email addresses http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=32&disp=mem Write to your TDs at: Dail Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 337 889. Please also arrange a meeting with your TDs at their local clinics.
Support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports