Panama has just banned hare coursing: Ireland should follow!

international | animal rights | press release Tuesday April 03, 2012 15:30 by End Hare Coursing in Ireland

Panama has banned live hare coursing...the government of Ireland should do likewise via the upcoming Animal Health and Welfare Bill.

A Panamanian Tapeti Hare: Panama has just banned live hare coursing...Ireland still allows it!

Panama has banned hare coursing (along with bullfighting, dog fighting and a number of other cruel practices) and while other animal protection issues remain to be addressed, that country deserves huge credit for taking this giant step forward. The animal in the picture is a Tapeti (commonly referred to as a forest rabbit but officially a hare) of the kind prevalent in Panama. Hopefully this graceful creature will now be spared a fate meted out to so many hares here in Ireland, which still allows hare coursing.

Government ministers Phil Hogan and Shane McEntee are promoting the "hare coursing is harmless fun" nonsense within the Oireachtas, despite all the evidence of horrific cruelty in the practise. They want hare coursing exempted from prohibition unde the new Act, which would be a massive step backwards for animal welfare in Ireland.

We should urge the government to follow Panama's example and ban this cruelty...

http://www.change.org/petitions/petition-to-ban-horrifi...eland