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Captive hares video goes viral, sparks fresh calls for coursing ban
26 October 2017

Video footage filmed by ICABS showing dozens of hares captive in a coursing compound in Edenderry has been viewed over 100,000 times on Facebook and sparked fresh calls for a ban on the bloodsport.

These beautiful Irish Hares who should be living free in the countryside as nature intended were instead being held for use as live bait for dogs to chase during the 3-day coursing meeting in Edenderry - all for the amusement of a merciless mob of cheering and gambling bloodsport fanatics.

The hares could be seen sitting helplessly in the rain, some huddling together, others cowering in the long grass.

On the following days, they were released one-by-one ahead of pairs of greyhounds, desperately running to stay ahead. In coursing, hares who get hit suffer injuries and cry out in pain. Previously, at the Edenderry coursing meeting, we have filmed hares being hit hard and sent tumbling head over heels. Every coursing season, hare injuries and deaths occur.

This disgusting activity continues to take place thanks to a licence from Arts & Heritage Minister Heather Humphreys and the National Parks and Wildlife Service who, favouring persecution over protection, have shamefully ignored calls for an end to coursing.

The Edenderry hares are just some of thousands around Ireland snatched from the wild in nets, manhandled into crates and confined in fenced-off fields for coursing. Think of their plight and join us as we renew our appeal to the government to do the right thing and put in place a long overdue ban on hare coursing.

 URGENT ACTION ALERT 

Contact Minister Heather Humphreys and the NPWS and urge them to withdraw the coursing licence and put in place permanent protection for hares.

Heather Humphreys, TD
Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
23 Kildare Street
Dublin 2

Email: Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie, ministers.office@ahg.gov.ie, taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie, wildlifelicence@ahg.gov.ie, Gerry.Leckey@ahg.gov.ie
Tel: +353 (0)1 631 3802 or +353 (0)1 631 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. Otherwise, feel free to send the short sample letter below)

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 and die 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.

I ask you to please act on the wishes of the majority, show compassion and end this cruelty.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

[Name/Location]

Tell the National Parks and Wildlife Service to stop facilitating animal cruelty and refuse any further licences to the Irish Coursing Club.

Gerry Leckey
Wildlife Licensing Unit
National Parks & Wildlife Service
Ely Place, Dublin 2
Tel: +353 (0)1 888 3289
Email: wildlifelicence@ahg.gov.ie,Gerry.Leckey@ahg.gov.ie

The Irish Hare is a protected species but an exemption for coursing in the Animal Health and Welfare Act means coursers are not liable for prosecution for their cruelty. Join us in our call to the government to remove the exemption and provide full and permanent protection to this cherished species.

Contact An Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar and An Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Frances Fitzgerald and ask them to ban hare coursing and give permanent protection to hares.

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar
Department of the Taoiseach,
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie,frances.fitzgerald@oir.ie
Tweet to: @campaignforLeo
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignforleo/

Express your support for a ban on coursing. Sign and share the petitions

Ireland: Ban cruel hare coursing
https://www.change.org/p/ireland-ban-cruel-hare-coursing

Stop Licensing Cruel Hare Coursing
https://www.change.org/p/minister-heather-humphreys-stop-licensing-cruel-hare-coursing

Ban Blood Sports in Ireland
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland

See video filmed by ICABS last season exposing the cruelty of coursing. Our footage shows hares being hit and mauled at coursing meetings around Ireland.

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