Activists clash with hunt over hound's death in Gloucestershire
HUNT members and saboteurs are blaming each other for the death of a hound that was killed as it ran on to a road.
The hound was out with the Cotswold Vale Hunt on Tuesday morning when it was in collision with a Rover car on the A38, near Norton.
-
Hounds from the Cotswold Vale Hunt
Members of the hunt claim saboteurs used horns to lure the hound on to the road before it was killed.
A statement released by the Countryside Alliance on behalf of hunt members said: "The hunt was harassed by hunt saboteurs during a children's meet.
"The huntsman did all he could to avert this incident, but was unable to do so.
"We are in a climate where animal rights activists are harassing hunts to an unacceptable level and the incident was both dangerous and irresponsible.
"Hunt saboteurs proclaim to love animals, but it is about hating the people who hunt and nothing more."
But Lee Moon, a spokesman from the Hunt Saboteurs Association, said the protesters did not have horns when the hound was run over.
He said: "Five saboteurs were at the hunt, including four women, and my understanding is they had been monitoring the hunt. They had not seen it for 45 minutes and did not do anything to drive it into the A38 – no one blew hunting horns or instigated this tragic incident."
He claims the hunt was split, with some of the 40 hunters on each side of the A38. He believes the hunt was attempting to cross the road when the hound was killed.
Mr Moon said saboteurs sometimes did use horns, like the hunts themselves, but did not do so on that day. He said he disputed the claim the association did not care about animals and said the individuals hunting were not of interest to his organisation.
Fox-hunting involving hunts tracking, chasing, and killing foxes was outlawed in 2005. But hunting by a smell or trail is still lawful. The saboteurs organisation has existed for 47 years. Members of it have been going to the Cotswold Vale Hunt, which meets twice a week, regularly for the last 10 years.
Mr Moon added: "I make no bones about it, we used to interrupt hunts to save animals before fox-hunting was illegal and we will continue until hunts stop completely."
Police were called to the incident shortly after 10am and other dogs were said to be running freely across the road. Officers delayed the traffic until the road was cleared, but did not close it.
73 Comments
View all
by Ellllie
Friday, November 04 2011, 7:20PM
“oh and I'm not giving an argument as you hooray henry types are frustrating to deal with and it genuinely leaves me upset when someone defends killing an animal in the name of sport and tradition. Should be ashamed of yourselves.”
by Ellllie
Friday, November 04 2011, 7:19PM
“Sorry but chasing innocent animals round the countryside in the name of sport is cruel and barbaric. This time the hunt lost a hound as well.”
by TOMY11
Friday, November 04 2011, 7:01PM
“Oops, rubbish previous comment - pressed enter in error.
What I was trying to say was 'Good argument Ellllie'. Its easy to call animals as 'innocent' and humans as 'barbaric' particularly when you offer no evidence to support either comment. The story concerns the death of a hound hit by a car. Keep it relevant and try to construct an actual argument next time.”
by TOMY11
Friday, November 04 2011, 6:56PM
“Good”
by Ellllie
Wednesday, November 02 2011, 7:14PM
“Yet more innocent animals die in the name of "sport". Disgusting, barbaric people.”
by Dizzy_Polone
Monday, October 31 2011, 4:55PM
“Ahh, but this report is not about fox hunting being banned. Or about politics. Or any combination of the two!
I'm actually warming to you Des. It's very amusing how you blunderbuss through any relevant comments and put your own unique twist on issues.
If that fails... write us off as bunny huggers. Sorry to disappoint, but I have numerous alergies. Rabbit fur the most severe. Latex also gives me grief, so not even a Anne Summers bunny I'm sorry to say... ; )”
by Desenchanter
Monday, October 31 2011, 4:14PM
“Side stepping the really important issue by raising the profile of the hunting bill, is exactly what Blair did when confronted with awkward questions on the valdity of sending our troops to die in a foreign land under false pretences Dizzy.
More than anything else about this law, I think this is what irks me more than anything else - It was used as a stooge as a nose rubbing tool, and also to divert from something which really matters, and for these reasons I don't feel it was given due consideration. Only you bunny huggers really have issue with it, for the rest of Nu Labour it was just a political football to kick around by the then stronger side.”
by Dizzy_Polone
Monday, October 31 2011, 3:48PM
“I wouldn't waste your breath Kay. Des'll only go off on a tangent about something totally irrelevant. It's what he does when confronted with things he doesn't want to hear or admit to...
And 'the link' Des. It may not say much more about Otis. (He was held at Gloucester prison for smashing a moniters camera... Something to hide?) It does however point to many, many other violent crimes that huntsmen have been found guilty of. Go on, ignore me. Respond to Kay with a rant about Al-Qaeda/Blair/Bush/Afghanistan, or some other topic that's side stepping the issue.”
by Kay_Powell
Monday, October 31 2011, 3:01PM
“While foxes, rats and rabbits can be classified as vermin because of their numbers and the damage that they are capable of doing, I find it hard to understand how anyone can support hare coursing. I believe that I have only seen one hare in the last ten years. They are hardly pests. They also have a much better chance of escaping a single fox than a pair of greyhounds.”
by Desenchanter
Monday, October 31 2011, 9:14AM
“What about 'the link' Dizzy It doesn't tell any more of a story about the Otis Ferry than has already been covered here already.”