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Red Mills wishes luck to cruel coursers
10 November 2010
ICABS has made a fresh appeal to Red Mills to disassociate from coursing. The call is in response to an advert in a coursing booklet which states "Best of Luck from Red Mills". Photos from the meeting which show hares running for their lives have been brought to the attention of the company.
See photos from the Thurles coursing meeting
Red Mills, which produce Leader and Winner dog foods and the Super Premium Cat range, previously assured ICABS that they had "very strict policies against associating our brand with such sports [as hare coursing]".
| The Red Mills ad which appeared in the booklet for the Thurles and District Coursing Club meeting (October 23 and 24 2010) |
However, in addition to the advert in the Thurles coursing booklet, ICABS notes that the company also was a "sponsor of the presentation sheets" at the Edenderry coursing meeting and also advertised in the club's booklet. Furthermore, according to a report on a coursing website, one of the events at the Tipperary and District Coursing Meeting in February 2010 was the "Red Mills All Age Cup". At a coursing meeting in Templetuohy in January, one of the events listed is the Red Mills All Age Bitch Stake.
In our correspondence, we pointed out that most Irish people want coursing banned and that the activity is illegal in the UK where a ban has majority support and is strictly enforced by the police.
"We hope Red Mills can recognise the inappropriateness of giving financial support to an animal cruelty activity," we appealed. "Both from a moral point of view and also from a business perspective, given the fact that a majority in Ireland and the UK are opposed to coursing."
| Some of cat and dog foods produced by Red Mills. If the company's association with coursing makes you avoid purchasing any of their products, please contact them now at 059-9775800 |
Irish pet food company listed as coursing sponsor
21 October 2010
ICABS has complained to Kilkenny-based pet food company, Red Mills, after learning that it was a "sponsor of the presentation sheets" at the Edenderry coursing club meeting. An ad for the company also appeared in the coursing club's booklet.
Those who attended a major protest outside the Edenderry coursing venue on Sunday (including representatives of several animal welfare groups) were disgusted to learn of Red Mills' association with the coursing cruelty within.
| An advert for Red Mills on Page 14 of Edenderry coursing club's booklet |
In an email to the company this week, ICABS reminded them of an earlier promise in 2006 that "Connolly's Red Mills has very strict policies against associating our brand with such sports [as hare coursing]" and that "it was never our intention to find ourselves directly or indirectly associated with such sports."
Among the products produced by Red Mills are Leader and Winner dog foods and the Super Premium Cat range.
| A hare (far left) runs for its life in front of two greyhounds at a coursing meeting in Edenderry. |
ACTION ALERT
Please join us in urging Red Mills to disassociate from coursing. If the company's assocation with coursing would make you avoid purchasing their products, please point this out in your correspondence.
Mr Michael Connolly
International Business Director
Red Mills
Goresbridge,
Co Kilkenny
Tel: +353-(0)599775800
Fax: +353-(0)599775378
Email: michael.connolly@redmills.ie
[CC info@redmills.co.uk]
Renewed appeal to Red Mills: Please disassociate from coursing
13 October 2010
ICABS has renewed its appeal to pet food company, Red Mills, to disassociate its brand from the cruel blood sport of coursing.
The company had assured ICABS in 2006 that "Connolly's Red Mills has very strict policies against associating our brand with such sports [as hare coursing]" and that "it was never our intention to find ourselves directly or indirectly associated with such sports."
However, ICABS is disappointed to note that, according to a report on a coursing website, one of the events at the Tipperary and District Coursing Meeting in February 2010 was the "Red Mills All Age Cup". At the Edenderry coursing meeting in October, Red Mills is listed as a 'Sponsor of the Presentation Sheets'
Similarly, at a coursing meeting in Templetuohy in January, one of the events listed is the Red Mills All Age Bitch Stake.
Red Mills was also a "Sponsor of the Presentation Sheets" at Edenderry Coursing meeting in October. An advert for the company appeared in the coursing meeting booklet.
In a renewed appeal to Red Mills this month, ICABS expressed our hope that the company would "show compassion for the hares terrorised, injured and killed in coursing" and act to disassociate its brand from the blood sport. We also pointed out that coursing is an illegal activity in all our neighbouring jurisdictions and that a majority of people in the Republic want it made illegal.
Among the products produced by Red Mills are Leader and Winner dog foods and the Super Premium Cat range.
ACTION ALERT
Please join us in urging Red Mills to fully disassociate from coursing.
Mr Michael Connolly
International Business Director
Red Mills
Goresbridge,
Co Kilkenny
Tel: +353-(0)599775800
Fax: +353-(0)599775378
Email: michael.connolly@redmills.ie
SAMPLE LETTER
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter.)
|
Dear Mr Connolly,
I am writing to express my disappointment and surprise that your company's name is associated with the cruel blood sport of hare coursing. According to a coursing report, one of the events at the Tipperary and District Coursing Meeting in February 2010 was the "Red Mills All Age Cup" while at a coursing meeting in Templetuohy in January, one of the events listed is the Red Mills All Age Bitch Stake. Coursing, as you are aware, causes suffering to hares at all stages - from the moment the creatures are forcefully snatched from their habitats up to the point where they are made to run for their lives. Among the many victims are hares suffering from broken bones, dislocated hips and damaged legs and toes. Every season, coursing results in hare deaths and injuries and incalculable stress and suffering. I appeal to Red Mills to act to ensure that your company's name is disassociated from this animal cruelty. Thank you. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] |
ACTION ALERT
Urge Minister John Gormley to follow the example of Northern Ireland and stop licensing coursing. Send a copy of your correspondence to all of your TDs and encourage them to back a ban on the blood sport.
Minister John Gormley
Department of the Environment, Custom House, Dublin 1.
Email: minister@environ.ie
[CC taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie - An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen]
Tel: 01 888 2403. Fax: 01 878 8640.
Find out the names of your TDs and their email addresses
http://www.oireachtas.ie/members%2Dhist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=30&disp=const
http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=12684&&CatID=138
SAMPLE LETTER
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter.)
|
Dear Minister Gormley
I am one of the majority who want coursing banned. I urge you to follow the example of Northern Ireland and act now to bring this cruel activity to an end. Thank you. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] |
PREVIOUSLY: Coursing support ceased - Red Mills
(From Animal Voice, Winter 2006-07)
ICABS is delighted to report that the Connolly's Red Mills company has responded positively to one of our appeals and promised that its support for coursing events has now ended.
"We understand that the Red Mills company has been a sponsor of several coursing events over the years, most recently at the Tipperary and District coursing meeting in February 2006," we stated. "We hope that you can stop helping to keep this blood sport alive by providing financial support."
A company spokesperson responded: "Connolly's Red Mills has very strict policies against associating our brand with such sports and indeed invasive procedures on animals. On the contrary, our whole emphasis as a company is the proper welfare of animals, through providing excellent nutrition."
"It was never our intention to find ourselves directly or indirectly associated with such sports and I can confirm that all financial support for coursing events has ceased," he added. "We are examining all our marketing structures in order to ensure that the allocation of funds are not made available directly or - within the limits of our control - indirectly, to such sports."
ICABS has thanked the company for this positive response.
| Update: Please scroll up for our renewed appeal to the company |
Slideshow: the cruelty of hare coursing in Ireland
Further Reading
The Facts About Hare Coursing
Stress and Capture Myopathy in Hares
Irish Hare: "conservation status is poor"
Hares and rabbits factsheet
More information about hare coursing
Coursing: Leaflet | Photos | Videos | Petition
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