Hare coursing, in which dogs are set to chase and catch hares, causes severe suffering and death and remains practiced legally in some countries and illegally in others.
The welfare impact of hare coursing on individual animals is severe and well-documented. Hares chased by trained greyhounds experience terror and extreme physiological stress measurable by cortisol levels. Many are caught and mauled, sustaining injuries including broken bones, puncture wounds, and internal trauma. Even hares that escape may die later from stress-induced capture myopathy. As a blood sport that deliberately causes suffering for entertainment, coursing represents a clear animal welfare violation.