Hares will again be running for their lives this weekend as Ireland's cruel hare coursing continues. At Ballyheighue (Co Kerry), Cashel (Co Tipperary), Westmeath and Regional (Limerick) meetings, hares that have been forcefully netted from the wild will be used as live bait for greyhounds. See below for information about what happened to hares at these meetings in recent years. Witness the cruelty of hare coursing at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRkXOvbUPNNjMc6LShwiiXBfnDAPbykf- ______________ BALLYHEIGHUE ______________ Ballyheighue, Co Kerry 11/12 October 2013 Coursers stated that 3 hares "required assistance". Ballyheigue, Co. Kerry - October 12/13/14, 2012 Ranger noted that 2 hares were hit and 1 "died of natural causes". Ballyheighue, Co. Kerry, October 14/15/16, 2011 Ranger didn’t attend on Day 1. 4 hares struck over 2 days, with 1 hare killed and 1 dying of “natural causes”. ______________ WESTMEATH ______________ Westmeath United 12/13 October, 2013 Coursers stated that 3 hares "required assistance" during coursing on day 1, and that these were examined by a vet, who stated that 3 hares were "not suitable" for coursing. On release, coursers state that 2 missing hares had "escaped". Westmeath United, Raharney - October 13/14, 2012 2 hares hit by dogs. The ranger described one hit - "one hare hit was sent into a high velocity roll by the impact but managed to run back into the escape". Another hare was "hit, causing the hare to roll and flip on the ground". Westmeath United, October 15/16, 2011 Ranger described coursing as follows: “There were 9 hares hit on Day 1. Of these, one hare was tossed and rolled on the ground; another hare was tossed and mauled; another was mauled on the ground by the two dogs and placed in a wooden box; another was hit about five times and mauled on the ground by the dogs. When the dog owners came running in, one of them grabbed the hare and lifted it away from the dogs by its side and then the steward took it from him and handled it in a more appropriate manner. The hare cried with what I presume was distress during this incident. The steward placed this hare in the wooden box. Another hare was tossed and badly mauled by the dogs later in the day. In all, 3 hit hares were retrieved and placed in a wooden box,” which was subsequently taken away by the vet, who stated in his report that 1 died and 2 were released. ______________ LIMERICK REGIONAL ______________ Limerick Regional, Clarina, October 15/16, 2012 15 hares hit by dogs, 5 “pinned” and 10 “tipped”, 5 injured and 2 died of injuries. Ranger stated that a post mortem was sought on the hares that died, with his line manager requesting via a note on the form the findings of the post mortem, stating “I presume it was internal injuries rather than muzzles coming off?” Ranger noted “Yes – muzzles did not come off.” ______________________ >>> ACTION ALERTS <<< ______________________ Sign and share our petition - Stop Licensing Cruel Hare Coursing https://www.change.org/p/minister-heather-humphreys-stop-licensing-cruel-hare-coursing Urge Minister Heather Humphreys to show compassion for the persecuted Irish Hare and revoke the coursing licence she issued. Email "Stop the cruelty. Revoke the hare coursing licence" to Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie [Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie,ministers.office@ahg.gov.ie,taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie,joan.burton@oireachtas.ie,wildlifelicence@ahg.gov.ie,Gerry.Leckey@ahg.gov.ie] Tel: (01) 631 3802 or (01) 631 3800 Leave a comment on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/heather.humphreysfg SAMPLE LETTER (If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, feel free to send the short sample letter below. Be assertive, but polite, in all correspondence. Thank you.) Dear Minister, I am one of the majority who want hare coursing outlawed. I am writing to urge you to revoke the licence you issued to the Irish Coursing Club. In coursing, hares suffer 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. Every season, hare injuries and deaths are documented. I ask you to please act on the wishes of the majority, show compassion and permanently revoke the licence. Thank you. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] Appeal to the Minister for Agriculture Please appeal to the Minister for Agriculture to remove an exemption for hare coursing from the Animal Health and Welfare Act. Simon Coveney, TD Minister for Agriculture Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Email: Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie Tel: 01-607 2884 or LoCall 1890-200510. Fax: 01-661 1013. Urgently contact An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and ask him to back a ban on hare coursing. An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny Department of the Taoiseach, Government Buildings, Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2 Telephone: 01-6194020 Fax: 01-6764048 Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie Contact all your local TDs now. Demand that they urgently push for a ban on hare coursing and all bloodsports. Tell them you are one of the majority who want coursing banned. Remind them that coursing is already illegal in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. Urge them to respect the wishes of the majority of the electorate and back a ban.