Latest news with #foxhunting
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Campaigners highlight the need for stronger fox hunting laws in city protest
Campaigners from the League Against Cruel Sports have taken to the streets to expose what they call the savagery of fox hunting, which they claim is still going on despite the ban. A member of the league dressed as a huntsman and carrying a fake fox covered in blood paraded down Queen Street in Cardiff and spoke to the public about the need for stronger fox hunting laws. John Petrie, senior campaigns manager with the League Against Cruel Sports, said: 'Fox hunting has been illegal for 20 years and yet this blood sport is still going on across Wales despite the ban. Foxes are still being chased and killed and havoc is being inflicted on rural communities by the hunts. 'The public, shocked by the sight of a hunter in red coat and blood-spattered fox, came up to us to voice their support for stronger fox hunting laws and an end to fox hunting for good.' More than three quarters of the Welsh public supported strengthening a Hunting Act, according to a poll commissioned by the league and carried out by FindOutNow with further analysis by Electoral Calculus. Mr Petrie said: 'It's time to properly strengthen the Hunting Act and end all hunting with hounds and we urge the Welsh public to pledge to take part in the forthcoming government consultation and demand an end to hunting wildlife with dogs. 'This is a pivotal moment for animal welfare and together we can see fox hunting finally banned for good in both Wales and England.'
Telegraph
30-07-2025
- Telegraph
Country show bans two hunting packs after being ‘forced to face reality'
Two hunting packs have been banned from taking part in a country show after members were convicted of illegal fox hunting. The Blackmore & Sparkford Vale (BSV) Hunt and Portman Hunt were due to participate in the hound parade at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show in Dorset, but organisers have confirmed that both have been banned. Anti-fox hunting activists said they are 'delighted' that the county show organisers 'have been forced to face reality'. The organisers of the Dorset show said the society's values had not changed but the decision was in response to recent criminal convictions. Hunt master Tom Lyle and whipper-in Marcus Boundy, of the Portman Hunt, were found guilty of illegally hunting a fox last year and fined. Conall McGrath, George Pierce, Andrew Osborne, and Freddie Osborne of the BSV Hunt were also convicted of illegal hunting after being captured on film hunting a fox with dogs. Pip Donovan, chair and founder of Action Against Foxhunting (AAF), told the Blackmore Vale Magazine: 'We have been challenging the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show over its hound displays for several years. 'Throughout, we maintained that these hunts were breaking the law, but the show refused to acknowledge this. 'Now, with the recent convictions, the organisers have been forced to face reality. We are delighted that neither of these hunts will be displaying this year, and hope that they will never come back again.' The Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show, which has been running for 95 years, still has seven packs lined up to take part in the parade, with a mixture of foxhounds, beagles and bloodhounds. In a statement, show organisers said: 'The society has a long history of celebrating rural life in all its forms, and the hound parade has traditionally been a part of that - offering a short 20-minute glimpse into a longstanding countryside tradition enjoyed by many of our visitors, including local farmers and families alike. 'Whilst there will remain a hound parade at this year's show, after careful consideration the society has asked that both the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt and the Portman Hunt do not participate in the 2025 hound parade. 'We understand that trail hunting remains a divisive issue. This decision does not reflect a shift in the society's values, nor id it a commentary on legal hunting activity. 'Rather it is a response to recent legal convictions and our responsibility to maintain the reputation and charitable aims of the show.' Fox hunting was banned in England and Wales in 2005 following the implementation of the Hunting Act 2004. Hunt groups have since taken part in 'trail' hunting, which replicates traditional hunts without chasing or killing a live animal, but activists feel hunts use this as a cover for fox hunting. Groups of saboteurs regularly monitor hunts for illegal activity and report them to police if they witness anything.
BBC News
28-07-2025
- BBC News
Hunts to miss agricultural show's hound parade after convictions
Two Dorset hunts have been asked not to participate in an annual parade of hounds at an agricultural show after the convictions of six people for illegal fox and Shaftesbury Agricultural Society said it asked the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt and the Portman Hunt to sit out this year's show on 13 and 14 comes after the convictions of four men linked with the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt in April and two from the Portman Hunt in September agricultural society said the request did not reflect a shift in its values and was not a "commentary on legal hunting activity". The annual show, at the Turnpike Showground in Motcombe, is a celebration of rural life and includes a 20-minute parade of said the parade, which offers a "glimpse into a longstanding countryside tradition" would go ahead.A statement said: "We understand that trail hunting remains a divisive issue. "This decision does not reflect a shift in the society's values, nor is it a commentary on legal hunting activity. "Rather, it is a response to recent legal convictions and our responsibility to maintain the reputation and charitable aims of the show."As well as the parade of hounds, the show will feature medieval jousting, motorcycle stunt riders, livestock parades, show jumping, terrier racing and steam vehicles. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Irish Times
30-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Sinn Féin voting against first-stage Bill banning fox hunting ‘deeply troubling', Social Democrats say
A decision by Sinn Féin vote against an Opposition Bill seeking to ban fox hunting was 'deeply troubling' and potentially undemocratic, the acting Social Democrats leader has said. A Private Members' Bill to ban hunting was introduced to the Dáil on Wednesday by People Before Profit TD Ruth Coppinger. Bills are not normally voted on at that early stage and are given leave to pass to the second stage for a full Dáil debate. However, in an unusual development, a vote was called on the Bill by Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae. Sinn Féin, Independent Ireland and a handful of rural Independent TDs all voted against it at first stage. READ MORE However, the two Government parties, and the other Opposition parties and TDs, voted to give the Bill leave and it passed to second stage. Acting Social Democrats leader Cian O'Callaghan wrote to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald on Thursday to express his deep concern at her party's decision to block the Bill. 'While the Social Democrats believe strongly that blood sports are barbaric and cruel, we recognise the democratic right of Sinn Féin to take an opposing view,' he wrote. 'However, the decision by Sinn Féin to vote to prevent a Bill going to the second stage was unprecedented and deeply troubling.' Mr O'Callaghan said allowing the Bill through would not have denoted opposition or assent. 'As far as I am aware a political party has never attempted to block an Opposition TD tabling a piece of legislation. What is really extraordinary about what happened last night is that it was Sinn Féin – an Opposition party – which attempted to block a Bill from another Opposition grouping – People Before Profit/Solidarity – proceeding to the second stage.' He added that if the practice was continued it would be undemocratic and completely undermine the role of the Opposition. A spokesman for Sinn Féin said its vote was 'no big deal'. He said the party voted against the legislation in the knowledge that it was going to the second stage in any instance. 'We have a different position and took the opportunity to set out our opposition to the legislation,' he said.
Irish Times
27-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Bill to ban foxhunting in Ireland causes discontent in Dáil
Animal rights activists gathered outside the Leinster House on Tuesday today in support of People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger's Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2025, which seeks to ban foxhunting in Ireland. The Billseeks to ban trail hunting, snaring and fox trapping, which she says 'have all proven to be loopholes in the UK', where foxhunting was banned in 2005. 'There's no reason to be killing animals for entertainment', Coppinger said before introducing the Bill on Tuesday, describing the practice as 'an elitist so-called sport'. Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said last week the Government is satisfied by 'voluntary codes of practices' established by the Hunting Association of Ireland. READ MORE These provisions account for the treatment of animals during hunts as well as concerns of landowners on which the hunt is taking place. Under the existing legislation, people may be prosecuted for animal hunting if 'a specific case of animal neglect or cruelty is identified'. Supporters of Ms Coppinger's Bill say this provision does not go far enough. Irish Council Against Blood Sports spokesperson Aideen Yourell spoke outside the Dáil of 'the most appalling conditions' suffered by both the foxes and the hunting hounds. She wasn't overly hopeful about the prospects of the Bill. 'We don't get support from the major parties, and Sinn Féin are hedging their bets', she said. Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins and Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae both opposed the Bill at its first stage, a departure from typical Dáil procedure. Ms Coppinger described this move as 'unprecedented' and 'a stifling of the freedom of debate and the freedom of speech'. Mr Collins labelled foxes as a 'pest species [who] can cause a serious concern to many farmers', while Mr Healy-Rae said 'they come into towns and villages, they go in and out of bins. They're everywhere, they've taken over the place'. Mr Healy-Rae said he was calling a vote on the issue before being told by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy that he could not do that. 'If I'm going to call a vote, I let you know,' she said. Chief whip Mary Butler said the Government was not opposing the Bill at first stage but would consider it at second stage. – Additional reporting PA
