CRUELTY CONCERNS OVER TWO GALWAY COURSING EVENTS

Date Published: 14-May-2012

The Irish Council Against Blood Sport is renewing its call to ban coursing after concerns about the treatment of hares including at two Galway fixtures despite the muzzling of dogs.

According to a report on hare coursing meetings for the 2011/2012 season secured under the freedom of information act, fixtures in Loughrea and Oranmore saw hares mauled by dogs causing serious injuries.

The report was carried out by the national parks and wildlife services

It found that in Loughrea 14 hares were hit by dogs, three were injured, three were put down as a result of injuries and three were missing while in Oranmore ten hares were hit by dogs and four were mauled.

Spokeperson for the Irish Council Aginst Blood Sport, Aideen Yourell is appealing to the government to follow England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and ban the sport.