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Sportsfile photo agency profiting from animal cruelty images
08 January 2016

The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has expressed disgust to Dublin-based photo agency, Sportsfile, which is profiting from images of hares running for their lives during cruel coursing.

We are calling on Sportsfile - which describes itself as 'Ireland's number one sports photography agency' - to recognise that hare coursing is animal cruelty, not sport. The call comes after Sportsfile tweeted images of hares being chased by greyhounds on a coursing field in Abbeyfeale, Limerick.

One photograph shows a hare in mid-air, desperately trying to get away from the dogs. In its tweet, Sportsfile describes the sickening scenes as "great action".

Sportsfile is shamefully trying to make money off the backs of the terrorised hares, selling the appalling photos for between €25 and €65 each - http://www.sportsfile.com/more-images/1512166/5000/

"It is very disappointing that Sportsfile is happy to profit from images of cruelty to animals," ICABS stated in our appeal. "In coursing, hares forcefully netted from the wild, are used as live bait for greyhounds to chase in an activity that is already illegal in all our neighbouring jurisdictions. Hares suffer the fear and stress of running for their lives; those hit and mauled by the dogs sustain painful injuries. Every coursing season, hare injuries and deaths occur."

 ACTION ALERTS 

Join us in appealing to Sportsfile to recognise that hare coursing is animal cruelty, not sport, and to firmly reject the activity.

Sportsfile,
Patterson House,
14 South Circular Road,
Portobello, Dublin 8, Ireland.

Tel: +353 (0)1 4547400
Email: info@sportsfile.com
Leave comment on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sportsfile/
Tweet to @sportsfile

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

SAMPLE LETTER
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter)

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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