Leading pro coursing vet condems hare cruelty

international | miscellaneous | opinion/analysis Friday July 29, 2011 23:27 by Ending cruelty to animals

A leading vet exposes cruelty at major coursing event

The hare in coursing...a mere plaything

Top authority on greyhound injuries condemns ill-treatment of hares and greyhounds at “showpiece” Irish coursing event!

As Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan considers an application from the Irish Coursing Club for a license to net thousands of hares for a new coursing season, a letter has surfaced that sheds new light on how hares are treated by coursing clubs.

The contents of this letter are hugely significant because 1) the writer is a person who commands enormous respect within the greyhound industry, 2) is highly qualified in the subject he is commenting on, and 3) has no links with any group campaigning for a ban on hare coursing.

The letter (reproduced below) was written by retired vet, Paddy Sweeney, to the CEO of the Irish Coursing Club, Mr. DJ Histon earlier this year.

Mr. Sweeney, who now resides in Beverley, East Yorkshire, is a world renowned authority on greyhound injuries and something of a legend in hare coursing and greyhound racing circles.

Far from being associated with any anti- hare coursing or animal rights group he is a longtime supporter of the practise. This year, he travelled to Clonmel in County Tipperary to view the three-day National Coursing Meeting

In the letter to the ICC CEO, dated February 24th 2011, Mr. Sweeney complains of injured greyhounds being used to course hares at the National Coursing Meeting and also expresses concern at what he describes as a high number of hares being “pinned” down by greyhounds at the event.  He alleges that the hares used at the three day showpiece coursing event were poorly trained and cites the view of a greyhound trainer that the ground on the first day of the event was unsuitable for either hares or greyhounds.

Mr. Sweeney had previously written to the Sporting Press, official publication of the ICC, stating his concerns, but his letter was not published. He takes Mr. Histon to task over this lack of openness.

Mr. Sweeney’s revelations concerning the running of the so-called showpiece of hare coursing, the three day event or “festival” at which coursing is supposedly shown at its best, must surely focus the mind of Minister Deenihan as he decides on whether to allow netting of hares for another coursing season.

He should give the thumbs-down to the ICC or, if he can’t do that for political reasons, attach harsh new conditions to the hare netting license to stamp out some of the appalling and well proven cruelty of hare coursing, a “sport” that clearly compromises the welfare (to use that maddening euphemism) of both hares and greyhounds and should have been banned years ago.

Here is the text of Mr. Sweeney’s letter:

                                                                                                                                       24 February 2011

Dear C.E.O. & Secretary I.C.C.

Since I received this message on my Ansofone on February 3----“Now Paddy, how can you as a Vet, reputed to be a lover of dogs, continue to support people who used a lame dog to earn money chasing hares yesterday.  You ought to be ashamed of yourself”.  ( The caller withheld their name ) --- my response was to inform you of criticism I heard about the preparation for and the stewardship of the National Meeting.  None of it was published.  That does not bother me.  What is important is that you know of every event that may affect your industry.  In writing to the Sporting Press since 1958 I never had a sentence rejected by Kitty Butler, Jim Murphy, Comndt. Fitzpatrick or Jerry Desmond – all of whom appreciated the value of a free and open press in the vitality of our sport.

      I will not have time to bother you again.  Any that I may have will be devoted to lobbying politicians here to repeal the anti-Hunting Act.

I telephoned Michael Field about the “lame dog”.  As would be expected from one of our staunchest exponents he was quite open about the big issue of the final day.  He told me:  “ Yes my dog got a bad fall in the semi-final.  “ I called my vet and left him with the decision about contesting the final.  He did not find any reason to withdraw him and I don’t see him any the worse for running – now 24 hours later. “

     I phoned an experienced trainer for his opinion. “He took an almighty tumble and if you had seen it you would expect him to be sore somewhere”.

     I spoke to a good judge of greyhounds who had a clear view of the dog falling and getting up. “ When he tried to walk he seemed to have a dead left hind leg. ”

     A friend who has owned many hounds told me he had seen the dog walking into slips and for two steps it seemed hesitant about putting weight on a hind leg.

     I also telephoned one of the official vets to the meeting who would have been aware of the intense public concern for the dog when falling after a game display in the semi-final.

     He shared my surprise that they had no request by a steward for an examination and report on his condition.

     I asked a senior member of the committee why no such action was taken.    He said he was not consulted about this and other important decisions during the three days.

     Mr. Field’s vet was at a disadvantage in not having a close view of the dog’s fall and first few steps after struggling to get up.   We may assume the dog was shocked and confused for a minute or two before being comforted by the fondling hands of the girls massaging him.  He also might have benefited from the time-worn and proven slow walk down to the kennels.  Instead he was subjected to new mental trauma – being loaded on to a buggy and moved through a sea of strange faces.  This often unnecessary frivolity was recently introduced in English tracks to placate innocent racegoers worried by the sight of a dog being carried in the arms of someone who loves it.

     My guess is that Kyle Ranger had given his all in five stressful runs that altered his biochemistry and haematology profiles prior to his final brave effort.

I spoke to one of the field stewards who are dedicated to the care of the hares.  He admitted that the decision to start coursing was risky and not unanimous.   The cold weather prevented the conditioning and training of the hares reaching the standard usually associated with this meeting.   The  number  “pinned” was too high and unacceptable especially to spectators unfamiliar with farming and country life.

     A prominent owner/trainer was adamant that the ground on Monday was not safe for hares or hounds.    He was critical of the delay in laying the covers to protect the turf from frost.  He told me Hounds veering off the central strip (which had been covered) suddenly found themselves on hard ground that provided no grip.    He had travelled from the North   hopefully with five sound dogs and returned dejected with only two.   Five miles away the Open meeting fixed for the previous day had been abandoned.

My final call was to a bookmaker.   He told me of a pair of dissatisfied customers who backed the Ranger with him.   They were shocked to see him hit the ground.    Thinking he would be unfit for the final they still expected to be collecting – at half the odds.   They got another shock when saw him being put in the slips.   That resulted in nought for them.

An English couple at their first coursing meeting telephoned me after returning.   They had a great time and enjoyed the experience except for the injured dogs and the one trying to run while so fare behind in the final.

What seems necessary now is consideration of measures to prevent repetition of damage to our reputation.   I would suggest the election of a special welfare committee of seven to include a chairperson, three vets and three others – at least two of whom being women – with authority to care for the greyhounds, the hares, and the filled.

                                                                                                                                                       Yours,

Paddy Sweeney

...End of letter...