Glanbia responds to criticism over association with cruel hare coursing

Glanbia responds to criticism over association with cruel hare coursing
10 December 2015

A hare is hit by a greyhound at a coursing meeting in Clonmel. A statement on Glanbia's Gain website congratulates the owners of the winning greyhounds. The company had an advert in this coursing meeting's booklet.

Dairy company, Glanbia, has responded to a complaint about its association with cruel hare coursing by stating "we do not pass judgement on sports or activities as long as they are undertaken within the confines of the law."

The Irish Council Against Blood Sports had contacted Glanbia to highlight the suffering caused to hares in coursing and to express disgust at its Gain brand's connection to one of Ireland's worst forms of cruelty to animals.

On the Gain website, a shameful statement entitled "Gain dog food dominates at the national [hare coursing] meeting in Clonmel", it is stated "Congratulations to the six Clonmel Champions for 2015... Six brilliant winners and we salute their owners, trainers and breeders."

An advert for "Gain Dog Food/Glanbia Agribusiness" appeared in the booklet for the Clonmel coursing meeting in February at which hares ran for their lives from greyhounds. In November, a prominent notice in the booklet for a hare coursing meet in Carlow stated: "Co. Carlow Coursing Club wish to thank Gain". Listing winning greyhounds at the Irish Coursing Derby as one of its success stories, Gain claims that coursing greyhounds "perform better on Gain than on any other food".

In our correspondence to Glanbia/Gain, ICABS wrote: "It is incredible that in 2015, any company would choose to associate its brands with animal cruelty. Particularly as hare coursing is an internationally condemned bloodsport, is opposed by a majority of people in Ireland and is already illegal in all our neighbouring jurisdictions (Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales). We are sure that the majority of animal lovers who recently visited the Gain stand at 'Ireland's Family Pet Expo' would be horrified to learn of Gain's association with one of Ireland's worst forms of cruelty to animals. We call on your company to fully disassociate from hare coursing."

Contrary to its claim that it hasn't passed judgement, Glanbia clearly has judged it acceptable to align its brand with cruel hare coursing.

ACTION ALERTS

Call on Gain/Glanbia to stop associating with Ireland's cruel hare coursing.

Siobhan Talbot
Group Managing Director
Glanbia plc
Ring Road, Kilkenny, Ireland
Email: ir@glanbia.com, agricsc@glanbia.ie
Tel: +353 56 777 2200
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlanbiaAgri/ and https://www.facebook.com/GAINPetFood
Tweet: @GlanbiaPlc @GainPetFood
Tweet to @GlanbiaPlc

Glanbia and Gain Animal Feeds associating with Ireland’s cruel hare coursing
11 November 2015

Shame on Glanbia and Gain Animal Feeds for associating with Ireland's cruel hare coursing.

"Gain dog food dominates at the national [hare coursing] meeting in Clonmel - Congratulations to the six Clonmel Champions for 2015... Six brilliant winners and we salute their owners, trainers and breeders" - a shameful statement currently displayed on the Gain website. It refers to the winning greyhounds at the 3-day coursing crueltyfest in Clonmel where hares were used as live bait for greyhounds to chase. http://gainfeeds.com/greyhound/news/gain-dog-food-dominates-national-meeting-clonmel/

Gain - owned by dairy company Glanbia (Avonmore, Kilmeaden, Isopure, etc) - produces pet food for cats and dogs as well as feed for greyhounds and horses.

An advert for "Gain Dog Food/Glanbia Agribusiness" appeared in the booklet for the Clonmel coursing meeting in February. This month, a prominent notice in the booklet for a hare coursing meet in Carlow stated: "Co. Carlow Coursing Club wish to thank Gain".

Listing winning greyhounds at the Irish Coursing Derby as one of its success stories, Gain claims that coursing greyhounds "perform better on Gain than on any other food".

In a message to the company, ICABS highlighted the animal cruelty involved in hare coursing.

"We are sure the majority of animal lovers who visited the Gain stand at 'Ireland's Family Pet Expo' this month would be horrified to learn of Gain's association with one of Ireland's worst forms of cruelty to animals," we stated.

ACTION ALERTS

Call on Gain/Glanbia to stop associating with Ireland's cruel hare coursing.

Urge Minister Heather Humphreys to show compassion for the persecuted Irish Hare and withdraw the coursing licence she issued.

Email "Stop the cruelty. Permanently withdraw the hare coursing licence" to 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
Tweet to: @HHumphreysFG
Tweet to @HHumphreysFG

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 permanently withdraw 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 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.

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