Dorset worst county in England for illegal foxhunting incidents
The League Against Cruel Sports is calling for laws to be strengthened
The League Against Cruel Sports are calling on laws against fox hunting to be strengthened.
A new report from the charity found the illegal practice still regularly takes place in the South West, with Dorset having the highest number of incidents in England.
The figures show 11 foxes seen being chased, 17 incidents of suspected illegal cub hunting, and 45 incidents of hunts wreaking havoc on rural communities across Dorset this season.
Currently, hunting foxes with a pack of dogs is illegal but people can use dogs to simulate hunting, for example ‘drag’ or ‘trail’ hunting.
Campaigners argue trial hunts are used as a cover for illegal hunting activity and want to see the practice completely banned.
John Petrie, senior campaigns manager for the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “As we approach the twentieth anniversary of the Hunting Act coming into force, these figures evidence why the law needs to be strengthened.”
“Setting packs of hounds on fox cubs in the Somerset countryside so they can become accustomed to tearing foxes apart will simply horrify the vast majority of the public.
“It’s time for change and for the exemptions in the law to be removed, so-called trail hunting outlawed, and custodial sentences introduced for those who commit the worst hunting crimes.”
The figures for England and Wales show 106 foxes being chased, 127 incidents of suspected illegal cub hunting, and 315 incidents of hunts.
John added: “Tragically fox hunting is going on as it did before the ban and we need the Government to act and ensure the fox hunting season, which has just begun, is the last one we ever experience and that the savage practice of cub hunting is ended for good.”