A new Animal Welfare Bill has just been published, and while it sets out to protect animals from cruelty and unnecessary suffering – stating among its provisions that to terrify or bait an animal is prohibited – it then exempts hare coursing, which most certainly constitutes baiting, terrifying an animal and causing it unnecessary suffering.
If hare coursing were not cruel, it would not have to be specially exempted, nor would other forms of hunting wild animals with dogs, such as fox hunting, which are also given a pass.
Just two weeks ago, we watched as eight hares were pinned down and seriously mauled by muzzled greyhounds at a coursing meeting at Limerick Racecourse. We have sent video clips of these incidents to our elected representatives so they can be in no doubt about the cruelty involved in this so-called ‘sport’ that Fine Gael and Labour want to preserve.
Hare coursing has been outlawed in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, leaving our republic as the last outpost of this backwoods barbarism. This Fine Gael and Labour Government, and indeed those other political parties that support this cruelty, should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.
Aideen Yourell
spokesperson, Irish Council Against Blood Sports
