It’s illegal in Australia to feed rabbits to greyhounds. Here, it’s called coursing

The animal cruelty scandal that has rocked Australia’s greyhound industry should give us food for thought in Ireland. Trainers were caught on camera feeding live rabbits, possums, and piglets to their dogs, as part of the ‘blooding’ process.

Horrific though the footage was, I note that such practices are illegal in Australia and severe penalties can be imposed on anyone convicted of them.

Here in Ireland, greyhound trainers can legally exploit and terrorise one of the gentlest creatures in the countryside, our native Irish hare. Without any fear of arrest or legal sanction, they can snatch hares from the wild, and then set them up as live bait for greyhounds at coursing events.

Every coursing event is a legalised blooding session: the dogs, though muzzled, are free to inflict injuries that may result in death.

The culprits in Australia’s blooding scandal can expect censure and likely prison terms for using live bait in their sport. Disgrace and public humiliation will be their lot.

Here, you can do it in broad daylight. You can enjoy a flutter and munch a ham sandwich as an innocent hare is forced to fight for its life on coursing’s field of shame.

John Fitzgerald

Campaign for the Abolition Of Cruel Sports

John Fitzgerald

Lower Coyne Street,

Callan,

Co. Kilkenny