Hunt saboteurs association Press Release November 28th 2012
Graphic footage of the Ledbury Hunt killing a fox has today been released. The incident happened on the 23rd November 2012 in a private garden in Eldersfield, Gloucestershire and was captured on film by members of Three Counties and Coventry Hunt saboteurs.
They were sadly too late to rescue the fox, but one did obtain film of the hounds repeatedly savaging the animal for a protracted period, whilst she and a colleague attempted to get the dogs off it. It is unclear at what point the fox succumbed to its multiple wounds, but when they were able to retrieve the animal from the pack it had been effectively disembowelled.
Footage of the kill, and from beforehand, is being examined by lawyers from the RSPCA to determine if there are grounds for prosecution under the Hunting Act. Results of a post-mortem are being withheld pending a decision.
This incident is a sad contrast to the events of a week earlier when hunt monitors from POWA saved a fox from the Old Berks Hunt. Footage of that incident is here . The BBC South TV News report on it is here.
All Press enquiries: 07774 279133 press@huntsabs.org.uk http://hsa.enviroweb.org/
A young vixen owes her life to the quick thinking and courage of a hunt monitor who literally dived in and grabbed her from amongst the hounds that were just about to maul her to death..
The young woman was out monitoring the Old Berks Fox Hounds last Wednesday, 14th November. The Hunt met at Elmwood House, Black Bourton in Oxfordshire. Not long after the hunt moved off , the Huntsman sent the hound pack into woodland and thick undergrowth.
Just after 11.30 am, the hounds found the fox in scrub next to large slurry tanks on the edge of a farm.
Fortunately for the fox, her "guardian angel" was only feet away. With no thought for her own safety, the monitor shouted at the hounds as they closed in on the fox, and running forward, was able to snatch the terrified animal. She then scooped her up, away from amongst the hounds, which would in moments have undoubtedly torn the young animal to pieces. The fox had already been bowled over onto her back, leaving her stomach exposed.
Despite having been bitten by the terrified fox, the monitor hurried the traumatised animal away, cradled in her arms, whilst her colleague, who filmed the whole incident, called for help.
Being followed by a Hunt participant, they reached a fellow monitor's car and the fox was then driven away to safety. She was checked for injuries, and thanks to the monitor's lightening reactions, was found to have no serious bites.
The fox's rescuer (who wishes to remain anonymous) said of her actions:-
“I just reacted. I couldn't leave the poor little thing to be torn apart by the dogs. But it was worth all the pain and stress and I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I feel privileged to have been able to rescue her. Words cannot express my contempt for people who terrify and kill defenceless wild animals."
The fox has now been rehabilitated into an area where she will be safe from the hunt. The footage clearly shows that when the hounds reach the fox, there is no "quick nip to the back of the neck", as claimed by hunters, a claim always disputed by post mortem evidence of foxes killed by hounds.
The Chairman of the Old Berks Hunt is Lord Astor, the stepfather of Samantha Cameron
These Hounds Off notices are for anyone who has made their property into a hunt-free wildlife sanctuary. Please print them off, laminate, and post them somewhere prominent. If you can get your neighbours, family and friends to do the same then so much the better! For more information visit www.houndsoff.co.uk
Click the image below for a full sized PDF, or here for a JPG.
Hunting is apparently more popular now than ever - or would be if you believed what you read or saw in this year’s post-boxing day media. 300,000 people out supporting hunting? More popular than watching football? In their dreams! That’s over a thousand people at each meet (on average) when, apart from a few prestigious meets, most hunts rarely see more than a few retired military types, drunken farmers and barbour-clad social-climbing incomers.
Journalists (experts when it comes to working out pints or grammes) should surely question the numbers put out?
