|
Double protests against cruel hare coursing in Edenderry
06 October 2015
On Saturday and Sunday, October 17 & 18 2015, members of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports, the Animal Rights Action Network, Offaly SPCA and Athlone SPCA gathered outside Edenderry coursing club to protest against the use of hares as live bait in front of greyhounds at a coursing event.
Hares are plucked from the wild in nets, compliments of a licence issued by the Minister for Arts & Heritage, Heather Humphreys, even though the Irish hare, a unique species, is supposedly "protected" under the Wildlife Act.
Edenderry coursing club is situated very close to the town, beside the Lidl and Tesco stores, and the hare coursing can be seen from the large window of the upstairs cafe in Tesco, so while patrons sipped their coffee and tea last Saturday and Sunday, they were able to witness the barbaric spectacle of defenceless hares running for their lives in front of two chasing greyhounds. A hare weighs from 6 to 8lb, while the muzzled greyhounds weighing 60 to 80lb, and travelling at speeds of up to 40 mph can do a lot of damage when they strike and maul a hare. Every year, without fail, reports obtained from the National Parks & Wildlife Service document hares injured and killed during coursing.
Sadly and most regrettably, a Catholic priest, Fr. Dan Dunne, PP of Ballyadams Parish, Co. Laois, is listed as the owner of a competing greyhound on the Edenderry coursing card. His dog, Tullamoy Rebel is listed as no. 13 in the Finbar & Bridie Murphy Memorial Derby Trial Stake. Fr Dunne was acting as chairman of a coursing development committee of the Irish Coursing Club in 2010, so not only is he involved in coursing as a greyhound owner, but shamefully, he was actively involved in promoting this cruel "sport" in 2010, and possibly still holds that position.
It's apparent, judging from the paltry attendance at the hare coursing meeting in Edenderry, that the activity is dying out, and has little support from the vast majority in Edenderry, who honked their car horns enthusiastically in support for the protest as they drove in and out of Lidl and Tesco on Saturday and Sunday. It's high time this cruel and abusive activity was outlawed in line with our neighbours in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales.
A big thank you to all the groups and individuals who supported the protests - including those from Offaly and those who travelled from Dublin and other parts of the country. A special thanks to the people of Edenderry for their overwhelming support.
ACTION ALERTS
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. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] |
Express your support for a ban on coursing. Sign and share petitions
Stop Licensing Cruel Hare Coursing
https://www.change.org/p/minister-heather-humphreys-stop-licensing-cruel-hare-coursing
Save Irish hares from cruel coursing
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/minister-simon-coveney-replace-hare-coursing-with-drag-coursing
Ban horrific hare coursing cruelty in Ireland
https://www.change.org/petitions/taoiseach-prime-minister-of-ireland-support-a-bill-to-ban-the-cruel-practise-of-live-hare-coursing-in-ireland
Stop sponsoring hare coursing in Ireland
http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-sponsoring-hare-coursing-in-ireland
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.
Find out their contact details
Please also arrange a meeting with your TDs at their local clinics.
Protest against hare coursing in Edenderry - Saturday, October 17th
06 October 2015
Please join us for a protest against hare coursing on Saturday October 17th outside the coursing field in Edenderry (Next to Lidl and Tesco). The protest begins at 12 midday.
During the 2-day coursing meet, hares violently netted from the countryside will be used as live bait for greyhounds. The hares will suffer the fear and stress of running for their lives and those hit and mauled by the dogs are likely to suffer painful life-threatening injuries such as broken bones or damaged legs and toes.
It's time for a ban on hare coursing. Make your voice heard at our peaceful protest. Please be there for the hares and encourage friends and family members to join you.
Let us know you will be there - visit our protest page on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/events/1038493379514714/
If you are in Dublin and wish to avail of a bus to Edenderry, please get in touch as soon as possible. If we get enough numbers, we will hire a bus.
When: Saturday, October 17th, 2015, 12 midday
Location: Outside Coursing Field (Next to Lidl and Tesco), Edenderry, Co Offaly
Find location on Google Maps https://goo.gl/maps/aZrTKWuNKsk
Find location on Google Street
Get Driving Directions from anywhere in Ireland http://www.theaa.ie/routes/
Thank you. We look forward to seeing you on the 17th.
Videos: Hares in captivity in Edenderry coursing field
Make a donation to ICABS
Please consider making a donation to ICABS. For more details, please click on the button below or follow this link to find out how to become a campaign supporter. Thank you.
