coursing cruelty catalogue 2013

7/30/2019 Coursing Cruelty Catalogue 2013

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IRELAND'S

COURSING

CRUELTY CATALOGUE2012/13

An Irish Council Against Blood Sports report



INTRODUCTION

In Dail Eireann in April 2013, our legislators acted shamefully in voting

against amendments to the Animal Welfare Bill that would have removed anexemption for live hare coursing. They betrayed the Irish Hare and turned ablind eye to the cruelty, which continues unabated.

This report features data from the latest coursing documents - obtained by the IrishCouncil Against Blood Sports under the Freedom of Information Act - and outlinesin stark detail the horrendous cruelty involved.

For example, a ranger who monitored a coursing meeting in Gorey, Co Wexford,

last December, described how on releasing hares into the wild after the coursingmeeting, three hares had injuries so serious that they couldn’t move and a fourthlimped off”. Eighteen hares were hit by dogs, 13 injured and one declared killed,with the vet stating that 17 hares were “sick of otherwise unfit” after the meeting.

Please note that the National Parks and Wildlife Service only monitor a small per-centage of coursing meetings so the injuries and deaths recorded here representonly a proportion of the total figure. Also not represented here are the hares thatare injured or die during the netting process, nor those who succumb to stress-

related capture myopathy in the days/weeks after being released back to the wild.

The Fine Gael and Labour Government, with the support of Sinn Fein and FiannaFail, are allowing hare coursing to continue. Copies of this report will be sent toevery politician in Dail Eireann. Our hope is that the incidents highlighted will final-ly open their eyes to the unacceptable cruelty and the urgent need for a ban onhare coursing and full protection for the Irish Hare.

Please help by phoning or emailing your local TDs and demanding that they back

a ban on hare coursing, fox hunting and other acts of cruelty to animals. Click on"Politicians" at www.banbloodsports.com for more details.

Aideen YourellIrish Council Against Blood Sports



IRELAND'S COURSINGCRUELTY CATALOGUEVictims of hare coursing during the 2012/13 season



Liscannor, Co Clare | September 29/30, 2012According to ranger 9 hares were hit, 1 killed, 1 mauled 2 injured. Rangernoted that "one hare was found in box in back of red Isuzu pick-up near pen-ning area as hares being penned. Isuzu with hare was then driven out of field(following my inquiry about this). It would appear that 1-2 healthy hares arebeing held as substitutes for injured hares."

Ennis/Clarecastle, Co Clare | December 8/9, 20127 hares were hit, 1 killed, 2 injured and 1 put down because of injuries, andone died from injuries, with vet noting that 4 hares were "sick or otherwiseunfit" after coursing.

CARLOW

CLARE

It would appear that healthyhares are being held as

substitutes for injured haresLiscannor coursing meeting, September 2012

Co Carlow | November 9/10/11, 20127 hares hit by dogs, 2 killed, according to National Parks and Wildlife Service(NPWS) ranger.



Fermoy, Co Cork | October 17/18, 201210 hares hit over two days, 3 put down because of injuries. Ranger stated that"4 hares found dead early in the morning in escape". The ranger noted thatcoursing park was "very wet due to heavy rain".

Vet noted that 11 hares were unfit for coursing, 7 hares injured during cours-ing, and 7 "sick or otherwise unfit after coursing", with 3 hares euthanised.

Charleville, Co. Cork | October 26/27/28, 20127 hares hit, with veterinary return noting 1 hare was injured on Day 2 and 1hare considered "unfit" on Day 3.

Mallow, Co Cork | October 24/25, 20128 hares hit by greyhounds, with ranger noting that "muzzle came off one dogas it pinned hare". 2 hares were killed and 1 injured "broken leg", 2 died ofinjuries, plus another dead hare at release point.

Mitchelstown, Co Cork | November 3/4, 20127 hares hit by dogs, 2 killed and 3 put down as a result of injuries.

Millstreet, Co Cork | January 4/5, 201310 hares hit, 5 pinned. Ranger noted that "1 hare died shortly after/uponrelease (vet had inspected this animal at end of coursing, Day 1, and said itappeared fit for release)".

It was also noted that 1 hare died in escape overnight and another died inescape after being coursed. No post mortems were conducted on thesehares.

CORK



4 hares found dead early inescape. 7 hares injured during

coursing, 3 hares euthanisedFermoy coursing meeting, October 2012

8 hares hit by greyhounds, 2hares were killed, 1 injured with

"broken leg". 2 died of injuriesMallow coursing meeting, October 2012

10 hares hit, 5 pinned. 1 hare diedshortly after release. 1 hare died in

escape after being coursed

Millstreet coursing meeting, January 2013



DONEGAL

KERRY

East Donegal | November 3/4, 20121 hare hit, injured and put down. The form was not signed by any ranger, andthere were no details about hare releases. Significantly, the ICC control stew-ard noted on his form "Wildlife officer gave permission for hares to stay inpark", presumably to be used for another coursing meeting the followingmonth.

East Donegal | December 8/9, 2012

3 hares hit, 2 injured and 2 died of injuries.

Kilflynn, Co. Kerry | September 28/29/30, 20127 hares hit by greyhounds. 2 killed, 3 "escaped" from paddock. Did ranger wit-ness this escape?

Ballyheigue, Co. Kerry | October 12/13/14, 2012Ranger noted that 2 hares were hit and 1 "died of natural causes".

Abbeydorney, Co. Kerry | October 20/21, 2012

Ranger noted 3 hares pinned and tipped on Day 1 and 2 hit on Day 2. Ofthese, two were injured and had to be put down.

Castleisland, Co. Kerry | October 28/29, 20126 hares hit, according to ranger, while veterinary return noted that 4 hareswere considered "unfit for coursing" at the end of Day 2.

Lixnaw, Co. Kerry | November 2/3, 2012

Ranger noted 1 hare hit, 1 injured and put down.



KERRY Listowel, Co. Kerry | November 9/10/11, 20129 hares hit by greyhounds, 1 injured, 3 killed. Ranger noted that "due to thevery heavy rain prior to coursing, the field was very wet and the going washeavy and this made it difficult for some hares to get home to the escape."Ranger also noted "1 hare missing".

Meanwhile, ICC steward's report noted 12 hares pinned by greyhounds, with1 put down and 3 dying. Vet noted that 4 hares were injured 1 put down and

3 died.

Ballyduff, Co. Kerry | November 16/17/182 hares were hit

Tralee, Co Kerry | December 26/27/28, 201210 hares hit by dogs, 2 hares dead before coursing on Day 2, 2 hares killed,1 "died of natural causes". Ranger noted that "due to the very heavy rain overthe past week, the ground at the front of the escape cut up and this made itdifficult for some hares to escape."

The ranger also noted: "I would like to bring to your attention that 20 hareswent missing from the coursing field before coursing, without any properexplanation. I spoke with D/Garda Gary Carroll at Tralee Garda Station andhe is going to investigate the matter."

12 hares were pinned bygreyhounds, with 1 put downand 3 dying. 1 hare missing

Listowel coursing meeting, November 2012



Freshford, Co Kilkenny | November 1/2, 20122 hares hit by dogs. Vet noted 2 hares injured. In a memo dated November8, 2012, from one NPWS official to another, it was stated that "2 hares diedin captivity prior to coursing" and "one hare was born in the hare park".

Johnstown, Co. Kilkenny | December 1/2, 20126 hares hit, 1 killed, and 1 put down because of injuries. Ranger noted that 5hares had escaped. Did ranger witness these escapes?

Parksgrove, Co. Kilkenny | December 22/23, 20127 hares hit by dogs, 5 killed, 1 injured and put down.

Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny | December 26/27, 20123 hares pinned (ref. ICC report). Vet stated that 3 hares were injured, 1 sickor otherwise unfit after coursing, and 1 put down.

Seven Houses, Co Kilkenny | January 12/13, 20132 hares hit by dogs, 1 injured and 1 died of injuries.

KILKENNY



Newcastlewest, Co Limerick | December 7/8/9, 2012

4 hares hit by dogs.

Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick | December 29/30, 2012

According to ranger's report, 5 hares were hit. The vet's report stated that 4

hares were injured during coursing and 4 "sick or otherwise unfit" afterwards.

The ranger further noted that 7 hares died during the night and were exam-ined by the vet who "performed field post-mortem examinations on two

hares".

The vet stated: "Both animals had grossly visible signs of pneumonia with

pleurisy and peritonitis, consistent with a septicaemia and overwhelming bac-

terial infection. Such signs are reported in hares, amongst other species, dur-

ing times of stress or adverse conditions such as the severe, stormy weather

experienced at that time."

He also noted that "hares were brought down at half time on day 1. I asked

secretary of the club, Mr. S Curtin, if they were running the hares a second

time, got no reply, but another member of the club said they would have to."

This is a breach of licence conditions.

LIMERICK



Tubbercurry, Co Sligo | January 11/12/13, 201316 hares hit by dogs, 1 killed, 9 injured, 2 died from injuries. Vet noted that 10hares were injured, and 10 hares "sick or otherwise unfit after coursing".

Ranger suspected that hares were being re-coursed on Day 3, stating: "Onday 3, 13/01/13, there were 72 hares available for coursing, 67 courses wererun and 8 hares were run and the slipper did not release the dogs as hethought 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 werecoursed twice on day 3." This is a breach of licence conditions.

Westmeath United, Raharney | October 13/14, 20122 hares hit by dogs. The ranger described one hit - "one hare hit was sent intoa high velocity roll by the impact but managed to run back into the escape".Another hare was "hit, causing the hare to roll and flip on the ground".

SLIGO

WESTMEATH

One hare was sent into a highvelocity roll. Another hit hare

was flipped and rolled.Westmeath United coursing meeting, October 2012



Three hares had

"INJURIES SOSERIOUS THEY

COULDN'T MOVE"A fourth limped off.

One hare was"DECLARED KILLED"

Another six were in poorconditions ranging from

VERY POOR TO

ALMOST DEAD



New Ross, Co Wexford | October 6/7, 201218 hares hit, 18 injured, according to ranger. Ranger noted in a memo to hismanager: "Please note the high numbers of hares hit and 'pinned' this year.Despite 10 hares being pinned and having to be lifted and boxed by stewards,79 from 80 were released." There was no reference to these 'boxed' haresbeing examined by vet?

Enniscorthy, Co Wexford | November 23/24/25, 2012

On Day 1, 2 hares were hit, 2 injured and injected with anti-inflammatory byvet. On Day 2, 1 hares was pinned and 1 tossed, with 1 "poss" injury. On Day3, 3 hares pinned, 1 "poss" injury. Vet stated that 2 hares were injured and 2"sick or otherwise unfit" after coursing event.

Gorey, Co. Wexford | Nov 27/28, 201212 hares were hit by dogs, with 2 dying as a result of injuries, according toranger, who was of the opinion that "weather was very cold and wet on the

Sunday and this may have affected the hares". Vet noted that no hares wereinjured during coursing, despite the ranger's report of 2 hares dying of theirinjuries.

Murrintown, Co. Wexford | December 26/27, 201218 hares hit by dogs, 13 injured, 1 "declared killed". Ranger noted in a memothat at a release site, 2 hares were "in poor condition".

He further noted that at another release site, 3 hares had "injuries so seriousthey couldn't move and a fourth limped off", adding: "So while only one harewas declared killed, I am recording at least another 6 were in conditions rang-ing from very poor to almost dead, therefore a minimum of 7 were in very poorcondition."

Meanwhile, the veterinary report stated that 9 hares were considered unfit forcoursing. 7 hares were injured, 1 died and 17 "sick or otherwise unfit aftercoursing."

WEXFORD



Irish Council Against Blood SportsPO Box 88, Mullingar,

Co Westmeath, Ireland.Email: [email protected]

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coursing cruelty catalogue 2013

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