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Ireland's hare coursing cruelty continues in Sligo and Kilkenny
08 January 2016
Hares are again running for their lives this weekend as Ireland's cruel hare coursing continues. At the Ballymote/Tubbercurry (Co Sligo) and Sevenhouses (Co Kilkenny) coursing meetings, hares are being used as live bait for greyhounds to chase. The Sligo meeting is hosting hare coursers from Ballymena where the bloodsport is illegal.
See below for details about what happened to hares at these locations in previous years.
It's time for a ban on Ireland's cruel coursing. Please join us in renewing our appeal to Minister Heather Humphreys to show compassion for the hares and permanently withdraw the licence she shamefully issued for this cruelty. See action alert below.
BALLYMOTE/TUBBERCURRY
Tubbercurry, Co Sligo (+Ballymena) 10/11/13 January, 2014
Coursers stated that 5 hares "required assistance" during coursing. Vet stated that 1 injured hare was "released" and 1 was killed, but the coursers describe that as dying from "natural causes". National Parks Ranger expressed concern about number of hares released to Oyster Island after coursing meeting, saying that "37 were taken off and 44 put back on. I am concerned that there may not be sufficient acreage on Oyster Island for this number of hares."
Tubbercurry, Co Sligo - January 11/12/13, 2013
16 hares hit by dogs, 1 killed, 9 injured, 2 died from injuries. Vet noted that 10 hares were injured, and 10 hares "sick or otherwise unfit after coursing". Ranger suspected that hares were being re-coursed on Day 3, stating: "On day 3, 13/01/13, there were 72 hares available for coursing, 67 courses were run and 8 hares were run and the slipper did not release the dogs as he thought they were not suitable to be coursed. This means that 75 hares were used on day three of the coursing. In my opinion I think that a few hares were coursed twice on day 3." This is a breach of licence conditions.
Tubbercurry & District (28/29/30 October, 2006)
There were 7 hares hit and mauled on day 1, two of which were killed; on day 2, 5 hares were hit and mauled, while 9 hares were hit on day 3, with 1 hare having to be put down because of its injuries.
SEVENHOUSES
Seven Houses, Co Kilkenny - January 12/13, 2013
2 hares hit by dogs, 1 injured and 1 died of injuries.
Sevenhouses, Kilkenny, January 14/15, 2012
12 hares hit by muzzled dogs, 1 killed, 4 injured and 1 put down because of injuries.
ACTION ALERTS
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.)
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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.
Please also arrange a meeting with your TDs at their local clinics.
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