A hounded animal (4)
I believe the answer is:
hare
'animal' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Swift animal ' mean 'hare' so perhaps 'animal' could also mean 'hare')
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hare that I've seen before include "Mammal - run fast" , "Rabbit-like creature" , "Run with great speed" , "'Swift, long-eared animal (4)'" , "Mammal like a large rabbit" .)