Make your voices heard for the hares

“Those who care about our wildlife heritage, and the welfare of animals, must make their voices heard” – Read John Fitzgerald’s Letter to the Editor in the Irish Daily Mail and please scroll down for action alert…

Side with the hares!
Irish Daily Mail: Nov. 8th 2022

Over the past month hares have been running from greyhounds through water-logged or storm swept coursing fields across Ireland.

You could say they’ve succumbed to the effects of Climate Change, like every other species on this planet, including us. But global warming isn’t to blame for the fact that these unfortunate creatures are snatched from their natural home in the countryside, held in unnatural captivity for weeks and then used as live bait for dogs. And we can’t blame anomalies in the weather when we see a hare mauled, or having its bones crushed, or being tossed up into the air at one of these Roman Circuses.

The Irish Hare already has to contend with a countrywide decline in numbers due to habitat loss resulting from urbanisation and the downside of modern agriculture.

A “pastime” that involves wholesale disruption of its abode, apart from the suffering it inflicts on each hare affected, can only add to its woes as a species.

Coursing also spreads disease, including the deadly RHD2 virus that kills hares and is highly contagious. It has been rampant in Ireland since 2019.

With the planet facing possible catastrophe, the fate of this iconic creature might not rate as a major issue in people’s minds, but for the hare it’s a matter of life and death, preservation or possible disappearance.

TDs in many constituencies are loath to take the hare’s side because they fear the electoral consequences. Hares can’t vote, but coursing fans can.

Those who care about our wildlife heritage, and the welfare of animals, must therefore make their voices heard.

We need a change in the political climate so that this abhorrent excuse for a sport can be pushed to extinction.

John Fitzgerald,
Callan, Co Kilkenny

ACTION ALERT

HELP THE HARES: Urgently contact Heritage Minister Darragh O’Brien and Minister of State Malcolm Noonan and tell them to withdraw the 2022-23 hare coursing licences and also stop the hunting and shooting of Irish Hares.

Email “Stop all hare coursing, hunting and shooting NOW” to minister@housing.gov.ie; mos@housing.gov.ie

Minister Darragh O’Brien (Fianna Fail, Dublin Fingal)
Tel: (01) 618 3802 OR (086) 251 9893
Email: minister@housing.gov.ie; darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DarraghOBrienTD
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DarraghOBrienTD

Malcolm Noonan TD (Green Party, Carlow Kilkenny)
Minister of State for Heritage
Tel: (01) 888 2425 OR (01) 618 3156
Email: mos@housing.gov.ie; malcolm.noonan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/votemalcolmnoonan1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/noonan_malcolm

It is time for politicians to consign hare coursing and greyhound racing to history. Join us in contacting all TDs and urging them to act. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/33

Urge the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Green Party, Sinn Fein and Labour to respect the wishes of the majority and ban hare coursing and end all funding to greyhound racing.

Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Leo Varadkar TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Eamon Ryan TD
Leader, Green Party
Tel: 01 618 3894
Email: eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EamonRyanGP/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EamonRyan

Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD

Ivana Bacik TD
Leader, The Labour Party
Tel: (01) 6183136
Email: ivana.bacik@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivanabacik
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bacikivana/

Please sign and share the petitions

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

Sinn Fein: Support a ban on cruel hare coursing
https://www.change.org/p/sinn-fein-support-a-ban-on-cruel-hare-coursing

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

Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports