NEWS AND VIEWS: The Times reports, as do numerous other media outlets and on social media, that a hunt in Dorset has been suspended and the police are investigating after drone footage showed that hounds ripped apart a live fox trying to escape while the hunt master watched on.
The hunt concerned is the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt (BSV). It is being investigated by the British Hound Sports Association, the governing body (BHSA).
The police said that no arrests have been made but they are following “several active lines of enquiry”.
The video of the hounds catching and killing the fox, was captured in December last year by the campaign group North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs.
On Twitter/X, the North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs say: “Ourselves and the BSV will be featured on C4 News tonight at seven! They are covering the story of a fox killed by the hunt in December recorded by drone, and the BHSA’s response to this blatant breach of the Hunting Act.
Under the Hunting Act 2004, knowingly chasing a live animal with dogs in England and Wales is illegal. It would appear, as the hunt saboteurs have said, that this was a blatant breach of this act.
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The League Against Cruel Sports, a well-known animal welfare charity, has compiled figures showing that there have been over 300 incidents of foxes being pursued by hunts since the beginning of the 2023 fox hunting season in November.
Research online indicates that there are numerous breaches of this Act. You don’t have to look far which indicates, as the above-mentioned drone footage also indicates that some hunting groups simply do not intend to respect the law. If a hunt-master is watching the brutal killing of a fox by their dogs then they simply feel they are immune from the law or it doesn’t apply to them.
The Times also reports that the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale hunt is the worst offending across England and Wales.
On this basis, Emma Judd, head of campaigns at League against Cruel Sports, said: “It’s time for change. The next government needs to strengthen the hunting ban and introduce tougher penalties.”
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Personal view: the countryside lot who like to kill wildlife for fun disgust animal advocates. They see nothing wrong with causing pain and suffering for their amusement.
