Bill to ban hare coursing

Dear Editor,

As a wildlife enthu

siast, I feel it is my duty to encourage your readers to urge their TDs to support the Bill to ban hare coursing which will be voted on in the near future.

Every year approximately 5,000 hares are captured from the wild, causing them terrible distress. This can lead to the spread of the RHD2 virus, which can seriously endanger the Irish hare population. Between 1908-1970 there was a recorded decline of 88% of the Irish hare population. the 1976 Wildlife Act protects the hare from illegal trapping or selling, unless it is for the purpose of coursing them.

So the poor hares are literally being thrown to the dogs! How does this protect them?

8 weeks prior to the coursing events, the hares are imprisoned in “enclosed parks”. Then, during the coursing meetings, the poor hares do not realise that the two greyhounds that are chasing them will not

literally rip them apart, (although they often suffer from other injuries, such as broken backs, internal damage etc) so they are running for their lives.

This terror the innocent hare is made suffer, all for human ‘entertainment’, is inexcusable, unjustified, unnecessary and must be stopped!

You can help to ban this depraved bloodsport by urging your TDs to support the Bill to ban hare coursing. Please show you have a heart and help the Irish hares to live their lives free from torture.

On behalf of the Irish Hare,

Diane Keevans. 10 Vicar Street,

Cork.