Hunts Behaving Badly

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Albrigthon FoxHounds
 In the 80's their then Huntsman Nigel Cox recieved three months suspended sentence for shooting at sabs. (He subsequently went onto join the Waterford Foxhounds where in 1997 five sabs ended up in hospital after the hunt attacked them)
 

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Avon Vale hunt
Numerous complaints were given to the police over the action of hounds in the 
village of Broughton Gifford. One hound managed to damage a campervan as the 
hounds ran through gardens and across roads. [Wildlife Guardian, Winter 97/98]

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Bicester with Whaddon Chase 
24 Oct 96 a hound was killed on  a railway line, while in Spring 97 hounds and riders crossed the line 
at Quainton - video footage of the latter was sent to Railtrack who said they had written a letter to 
the hunt master Ian McKie  warning him that trespass on the railway was a criminal offence. Since 
then LACS monitors have witnessed other such trespasses on 13 & 20 Nov 97 and also 8 Jan 98. 
[Wildlife Guardian, Winter 97/98]

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Cattistock Fox Hounds
27 Nov 97 a number of Rheas, exotic birds from South America, were injured after 
hounds got into their enclosure at a farm near Dorchester and flattened the 
fencing. Some rheas required stitches while others fled in panic.[Wildlife 
Guardian, Winter 97/98]

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Cheshire Forest Foxhounds
Hunters and hounds seen on the railway line between Crewe and Manchester. One hound killed. 
[Wildlife Guardian, Winter 97/98]

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Crowley and Horsham Fox Hounds


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Dunston Harriers
The parish council of Rockland St Mary wrote to this hunt, asking them to stay 
away from their village following an attack on a local family at a meet in the 
village. [Wildlife Guardian, Winter 97/98]

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East Sussex and Romney Marsh Foxhounds
15 Nov 97 hounds trespassed on the Dungeness to Appledore rail line near Romney Marsh. This line 
carries nuclear waste. Video footage shows huntsmen and hounds moving along the center of the 
track. [Wildlife Guardian, Winter 97/98]

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Fernie Hunt
Oct 97 Sabs capture on video a cub-hunt near Lubenham, Leics. where a cat was 
killed in a farm garden.

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Glaisdale Hunt
26 Dec 97 hounds run onto the main Whitby to Guisborough road forcing traffic to slow down. 
[Wildlife Guardian, Winter 97/98]

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Hursley Hambledon
Dec 97 Hunt Retribution Squad attack.
Hunt supporters who took video footage of the alleged "surprise attack" by sabs on hunt supporters 
and their vehicles, which took place at 11.25 am, were able to get their footage to the Meridian
TV studios some miles away for it to still be downloaded and edited in time for the 12.00pm news 
bulletin.

44 sabs were arrested but all but 3 have been released without charge. The police were unable to 
match a single one of them with the clothing of those shown in the video footage. Despite the 
professional nature of the footage, the cameraman was unable to film the number plate of the van. 
[Wildlife Guardian, Winter 97/98] 

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Ludlow Foxhounds
26 Dec 97 featured in a BBC2 documentary "The Hunt" where they are shown to put down a three 
year old hound they no longer needed. 

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Meynell and South Staffordshire Hunt 
1997 Councillors from east Staffordshire write to the hunt over complaints of disruption at the hunt 
meets. [Wildlife Guardian, Winter 97/98]

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North Shropshire Foxhunt

At 1.30pm on 7 Jan 1998 the hunt lost control of its hounds which strayed onto 
the A5 road at Shrawardine. One hound was killed by a lorry and traffic chaos 
was caused. The incident was witnessed by an RSPCA inspector. When the hunt 
master John Davies arrived there was a mile long tailback. [LACS press release 8 Jan 1998; Wildlife 
Guardian, Winter 97/98]

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Pennine Foxhounds
Nov 97 hounds invade the playground of a nursery school where only 5 minutes before hand 33 under 
fives had been at play. No hunt officials where with the hunt at the time.  A fox was killed in a 
neighbouring garden just afterwards. The police had already been called by local residents who had 
seen the hounds worry cattle and chase pet cats and dogs. The MFHA said that the hunt have been 
reprimanded and have recieved an official warning.

1995 A company director reported that he was beaten up by hunters in front of his three year old son 
after he had complained about hunt trespass and damage on his land.

1995 A driver crashed her car after being confronted by hounds on an icy road - 200 pounds worth of 
damage done.

1992 The local council complained to the hunt over trouble with hounds running out of control in 
residential areas; local residents also make complaints regarding hounds in gardens and causing 
traffic problems.

1986 Hunters insist they are entitled to use council owned land - the council threatened legal action 
to enforce their anti-hunt policy.

1986 Police called in to evict the hunt who where digging out on land without permission.

[all reports from Wildlife Guardian, Winter 97/98]

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Pytchley Foxhounds (Northamptonshire)
12 Jan 1998 A five year old pet cat was killed by hounds in the village of Old. 
The hounds were running loose through a residential area at the time. The 
huntsman is said to have told the owner, Mrs Elizabeth Moss, that it had been a 
fox and not her cat. Last year they were fined for polluting a waterway with 
blood. [Wildlife Guardian, Winter 97/98]

1997 the hunt is fined over 5000 for causing pollution to a waterway with blood - the secretary 
Richard Payne pleaded guilty to the charge. [Wildlife Guardian, Winter 97/98]

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Royal Artillary Hunt
28 Oct 97 LACS monitors caught this hunt breaking the recently introduced rules 
that prohibited dig outs on MoD land on Salisbury Plain. Their huntsman (and 
joint master) Major Steed denied knowledge of the changes. Police were called 
out twice to stop digouts on this day. John Spellar, the Undersecretary of State 
for Defense has lauched a review of the activities. [Wildlife Guardian, Winter 
97/98]

This hunt's season lasts into the month of May, when they are likely to be hunting foxes nursing young or the cubs them selves. They also claim that hunting is good training for soldiers.

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Saltersgate Farmers
26 Dec 97 hounds bring a train to a stop as they kill a hound on the line. Master and huntsman Brian 
Brown admits to the press that the hunters were on top of a bank and could not see what was going 
on. [Wildlife Guardian, Winter 97/98]
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South Notts Foxhunt
14 Jan 1993 hunt rider Steve Barnes forces his horse over sab Sarah Lloyd. As a result she recieved a broken elbow and severe bruising. In 1997 Barnes was found guilty and fined as a result. [HSA]
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Tedworth Fox Hounds
Boxing day 97 three members of this hunt were reported to Ministry of Defense 
police for bye-law offenses.

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Tynedale Hunt
Hounds attacked and killed a 12 year old spaniel. The 60 year old owner., Moira 
Lamb was walking it at the time and dispite covering the dog with her body she 
was unable to prevent it from attack it as the hounds swarmed over her. The 
attack lasted 5 minutes. The spaniel had to be put down several weeks later as a 
result. The owner recieved bruised ribs and has been prescribed sleeping tablets 
in the wake of the attack. [Wildlife Guardian, Winter 97/98]

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West Kent Foxhunt
10/11 hounds strayed onto railway lines and were electrocuted, Jan 98

Janet George is quoted as saying "The dogs were 5 miles away from the railway 
and were due to hunt away from that area. The fox went the wrong way with a very 
strong scent and the hunt staff were unable to catch the hounds and turn them 
off the railway line, which was unfenced. We think the fox may have been 
electrocuted and that is why the tragedy happened. "I have just spoken to the 
Master of West Kent, Leslie Gallop, and he is dreadfully upset. He has lost 11 
very good and much loved hounds and is absolutely devastated by the tragedy."

From the Observer, 25 Jan 98

THOUSANDS of rail passengers, including hundreds on' Eurostar trains, faced 
delays last week -- because of dogs on the line.

Ten hounds from the West Rent hunt were electrocuted when they tried to cross 
the line in pursuit of a fox. Hunt sources blamed the fox for running 'the wrong 
way'.

Transport police sources say the hunt's leaders could be prosecuted for
allowing the hounds to trespass on the tracks. Allegations that huntsmen from 
the East Sussex and Romney hunt trespassed on the Dungeness-Appledore line, used 
to transport nuclear waste from Dungenesspower station in Kent, are already 
being investigated. The League Against Cruel Sports claims to have video 
evidence of 'numerous' other hunts trespassing on lines, including the Cheshire 
Forest hunt and the Bicester hunt in Oxfordshire.
 
In the Eurostar incident the driver of an empty test train stopped just after 
2pm to report a 'horse on fire' on a neighbouring line. Emergency services 
discovered the 'horse' was in fact 10 dogs.

Power was turned off, trapping four trains; including two Eurostars, the 12.04pm 
Paris-London and the 12.01pm Brussels-London. In all, 43 trains were delayed 
between Paddock Wood and Tonbridge in Kent.

Railtrack said:'Crossing the track at other than designated crossing points is 
both a safety hazard and a criminal offence. Hunts and hunt followers are in the 
same position as the general public.' The International Fund for Animal Welfare 
asked Railtrack on Friday for details of all hult trespass incidents on the 
Tonbridge line.

The Dungeness incident was filmed by the Campaign for the Protection of Hunted 
Animals and the video;of hunstmen, horses and dogs on the track passed to the 
Government by Ivor Caplin, MP for Wimbledon.

In a letter to Transport Minister Gavin Strang, Mr Caplin says:'I am
appalled by this wanton disregard for safety and the law shown by thehunt... 
This would be bad enough on its own, but on a railway line that carries nuclear 
waste from Dungeness it is scarcely believable.'

Replying to Mr Caplin, Transport Minister Glenda Jackson said trespass on the 
line could have 'serious safety consequences' and that the video had been passed 
to the transport police.
by David Harrlton
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West Norfolk Foxhounds
1996 two men acting for the hunt were find 5000 a piece plus costs after polluting a stream with 
animal offal. The hunt admitted full responsibility. [Wildlife Guardian, Winter 97/98]

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Western Hunt
Ex rugby player Mr Nicholls was knocked over by hounds that rioted through his 
garden [Wildlife Guardian, Winter 97/98]

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Weston and Banwell Harrier

1997 complaints made by residents of Burnham-on-Sea over hounds running through gardens and 
causing damage. Police warned the hunt to keep the hounds under control. [Wildlife Guardian, Winter 
97/98]

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Wilton Foxhounds
19 Nov 97  a LACS monitor is elbowed in the face by Huntsman Martin Livy - video evidence given to 
the police. [Wildlife Guardian, Winter 97/98]