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20 hares hit or pinned by dogs at cruel coursing in Loughrea
11 September 2018
13 hares were hit and 7 were pinned to the ground during cruel coursing at Loughrea, recently published reports have revealed.
According to the documents uploaded to the National Parks and Wildlife Service website, one hare "died and was buried" at the shameful County Galway bloodsport meeting. Despite no post mortem being carried out on this unfortunate hare to establish the cause of death, an accompanying veterinary report claims the creature "died from natural causes". See https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/files/10_%20Loughrea%20Reports.pdf
There is absolutely nothing natural about hares being snatched from the wild in nets, trapped in a coursing enclosure, manhandled and used as live lures for dogs to chase in front of a merciless mob. If this particular hare was one of the hares struck during coursing, its death may have been due to fatal internal injuries. Another possible cause of death was capture myopathy - a stress-related condition which can claim the lives of hares during coursing and in the days/weeks/months after they are released back to the wild.
The coursing documents reveal details about the hares hit and pinned to the ground by the greyhounds during the 3-day meeting held last October.
On Day 1, 4 hares were hit and 1 was pinned. According to an attached veterinary report, none of these hares were examined for injuries.
On Day 2, 4 hares were hit and 3 were pinned.
Three hares were examined for injuries.
On Day 3, 5 hares were hit and 3 were pinned.
Just two hares were examined for injuries.
Hares will once again be running for their lives at Loughrea next month, with the next meeting due to take place on 20th and 21st October. Cruel coursing continues thanks to a licence shamefully issued by Minister Josepha Madigan and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Please help bring coursing to an end by responding to our action alert below.
View video footage of the moment a hare is mauled into the ground at Loughrea coursing meeting (2016)
ACTION ALERT
With warnings from wildlife experts that the species is in trouble, it is now more clear than ever that the Irish Hare must be given full protection. Urgently contact Minister Josepha Madigan and the National Parks and Wildlife Service and demand that they revoke the 2018-19 hare coursing licence and end all forms of hare persecution.
Minister Josepha Madigan
Minister for Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht
Phone: +353 (0)1 631 3800
Email: josepha.madigan@oireachtas.ie, ministers.office@ahg.gov.ie, wildlifelicence@ahg.gov.ie, john.fitzgerald@ahg.gov.ie, Gerry.Leckey@ahg.gov.ie, nature.conservation@ahg.gov.ie
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://facebook.com/JosephaMadiganFG
Tweet to: @josephamadigan
John Fitzgerald
Director, National Parks and Wildlife Service
Phone: +353 (0)1 888 3242
Email: john.fitzgerald@ahg.gov.ie
VIDEOS
See the cruelty of hare coursing on our Youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/icabs
SAMPLE LETTER
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, feel free to send the short sample letter below)
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Dear Minister,
I am one of the majority who want hare coursing outlawed. I am writing to demand that you revoke the 2018-19 hare netting licence that has shamefully been issued. 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] |
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 ask him 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
Tweet to: @campaignforLeo 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
Ban Blood Sports in Ireland
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland
The licence which allows cruel hare coursing
The licence issued by Josepha Madigan which allows coursers to snatch thousands of hares from the wild for use as live lures for greyhounds to chase.
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