A deadly disease that is fatal to hares and rabbits has again broken out in Ireland, and the use of nets by coursing clubs to capture hares for their cruel "sport" has been identified as one of the ways the disease (the RHD2 Virus) can be spread.
 
The disease kills the animals slowly and agonisingly. And it has the potential to wipe out Ireland's native hare population.
 
So, in addition to being a cruel activity (coursing involves captive hares being chased, mauled and having their bones crushed as fans laugh and mark betting cards), coursing now poses an existential threat to the gentlest creature in the Irish countryside.
 
Let's appeal to the Green Party Ministers in Ireland's new government to intervene as a matter of urgently to ban all capture of hares for coursing owing to this disease threat.
 
Here's a sample message to send to them, or compose one of your own if wish.
 
Dear Minister,
 
I understand that the deadly RHD2 Virus has re-surfaced in the Irish countryside and that the use of nets to capture hares for coursing is known to spread this appalling desease that is fatal to hares and rabbits.
 
Please use your influence to ensure that all capture of hares for the purpose of being used as live bait in coursing be halted immediately.
 
You have pledged many times via your party manifesto and in media statements to protect Ireland's eco-systems, its multi-facted flora and fains.
 
The hare is one of the treasures of your country's wildlife heritage, so please... do not allow this wonderful creature to be sacrificed for the amusement of coursing fans and gamblers.
 
It's time to protect the Irish Hare and end this animal cruelty posing as sport."
 
Thanking you,
 
Email message to:
 
catherine.martin@oireachtas.ie, eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie, malcolm.noonan@oireachtas.ie, pippa.hackett@oireachtas.ie