Legislation fails to protect fox and hare

How sickening to see the Oireachtas pass a piece of legislation that the Government pledged would update and modernise protection of animals in Ireland but that specifically exempts two of the most horrific blood sports from prohibition.

Under the Bill, hare coursing and fox hunting will be allowed to continue, despite clear and overwhelming evidence of the extreme and unnecessary cruelty involved in both practices. Video footage obtained both by opponents of these practices — and their supporters — prove that the animals targeted suffer dreadfully.

Foxes are not only hounded to exhaustion for the dogs to tear apart. The ones that “escape” underground are often dug out with the aid of spades and terriers and meet an even grizzlier fate than the ones eviscerated by the pack.

In the case of hare coursing, the film footage is augmented by the reports filed by rangers of the national Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), which show that hares are mauled, pinned to the ground, tossed about like rag dolls, or otherwise injured or terrorised at coursing events.

I accept that any debate on animal welfare legislation would be eclipsed by the tumultuous political and economic crises convulsing Ireland and the rest of Europe. But that is no reason to ignore or downplay the scandal of organised animal cruelty posing as “sport”.

A law that the government boasted would radically overhaul our animal welfare standards will exclude two perverse forms of recreation that belong in the Dark Ages and were, even then, opposed by courageous men and women of conscience. Instead of protecting the fox and the hare, treasured facets of our wonderful wildlife heritage, the new law will protect the interests of those who torment and persecute these animals for “sport”.

This is a perfect example of what happens when political cronyism trumps fair minded decision-making. It would be laughable, were it not for the fact that the wily fox and the gentle hare are on the butt end of this very sick joke.

John Fitzgerald

Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports

Callan

Co Kilkenny