LEAGUE AGAINST CRUEL SPORTS NEWS

[THE FUGITIVE]

BRITISH WILDLIFE IS BEING CHASED AND KILLED BY HUNTS

Despite hunting being banned in England and Wales in 2004, campaigners are concerned that thousands of animals are still being targeted and killed every year by hunts, which invented the false alibi of 'trail' hunting after the ban was introduced, to con the British public into thinking they were not breaking the law and covering up their indiscriminate killing.

A campaign to ban 'trail' hunting on National Trust land was narrowly defeated at the organisation's AGM last autumn after its bosses disappointingly gave discretionary votes to back the continuation of the activity.

Eduardo Gonçalves, Chief Executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "The National Trust is letting down its members by turning a blind eye to the illegal activity taking place on its land, under the cover of 'trail' hunting. They firstly ignored the wishes of members and blocked the vote to ban 'trail' hunting on their land. They claimed at the time that they would regulate and monitor 'trail' hunting on their land, but this isn't happening, as the hunts they license have been spotted targeting wild animals. If they have any respect for their members or their reputation, they should take this issue more seriously than they are at present, because the public don't want animals being killed for fun on land which is meant to be protected for all of us.

"Evidence from the public and monitors across England who regularly witness the hunts, suggests that they are still chasing British wildlife, and animals are being torn apart by packs of hounds. The latest polling shows that the vast majority of the British public oppose hunting and I'm sure they'd be horrified to know that the hunts are still killing wildlife for fun and the National Trust is allowing this on its land."

Conditions laid down last autumn by the National Trust, in an attempt to win the vote and to address concerns around the activities of the hunts, are now being reneged on. The National Trust have gone back on their promise to publish the specific dates and routes that 'trail' hunts follow, which would have allowed people to properly monitor their activities and witness and report any illegal hunting.


HUNTS ARE TRESPASSING ON NATIONAL TRUST LAND

14 hunts have been seen trespassing on National Trust land without having a licence to enter since the AGM. The Warwickshire Hunt was witnessed trespassing at the National Trust Farnborough Hall in November, yet was recently issued a licence to hunt on the very same land. Footage of a fox being chased by hounds belonging to the same hunt was in the media only very recently.

The same hunt has also been filmed with terrier men, who accompany hunts and encourage their dogs to find, fight and flush out foxes that have gone underground. The involvement of terrier men with 'trail' hunts raises questions about their activities and was prohibited by the National Trust in the new conditions it introduced.

Eduardo Gonçalves, added: "The majority of people support the ban on fox hunting and are frustrated and angered by the National Trust and their inaction to properly monitor hunt activity and the priority they appear to be giving to the protection of hunts rather than the protection of wildlife. Those that know the truth about 'trail' hunting will be making their voices heard at a series of countrywide protests outside National Trust properties at the end of February."


PETITION

A petition has been launched called 'Stop the Killing of Animals by Hunts' by the League Against Cruel Sports. It calls for the strengthening of hunting legislation and for landowners, including the National Trust, to no longer allow the hunts access to their land to kill British wildlife:


NATIONAL TRUST PROTESTS
Cheshire, Biddulph Grange Gardens, with Cheshire Monitors
Cheshire, Little Moreton Hall, with Cheshire Against The Cull
Cornwall, Gunwalloe Beach, with National Dis-Trust
Cornwall, Lanhydrock National Trust, with Kernow Sabs, Monitors & Animal Rights Team
Cumbria, Sizergh Castle, with National Dis-Trust
Devon, Castle Drogo-National Trust, with Mid Devon Badger Patrol
Dorset, Kingston Lacy, with Weymouth Animal Rights
Gloucestershire, Newark Park, with Cirencester Illegal Hunt Watch & Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs
Gloucestershire (Cheltenham), Sherborne Estate, with League Against Cruel Sports
Leicestershire, Stoneywell Cottage, with Leicester Animal Rights
Lincolnshire, Belton House, with Grantham Against Bloodsports
Lincolnshire, Woolsthorpe Manor, with Grantham Against Bloodsports
North Yorkshire, Ravenscar, with East Yorkshire Coast Hunt Sabs
Northumberland, Cragside House & Gardens, with National Dis-Trust
Oxfordshire (Banbury), Upton House and Gardens, with National Dis-Trust
Somerset (Bridgwater), Fyne Court, with League Against Cruel Sports
Somerset, Dunster Castle, with Somerset Wildlife Crime & Somerset and Devon Anti Hunt
Surrey (Dorking), Polesden Lacy, with Surrey Hunt Monitors
Tyne & Wear, Gibside, with NE Hunt Monitors
Wiltshire, Stourhead, with National Dis-Trust

[THE FUGITIVE]

Six-month sentence for dog fighter is not enough

Posted 16th February, 2018

A man has pleaded guilty to dog fighting charges and is now facing 24 weeks in jail and a lifetime ban on keeping animals. The man from Hertfordshire admitted to three offences, including keeping or training a dog for use in connection with an animal fight and causing unnecessary suffering to a dog.

The League Against Cruel Sports has welcomed the news of the conviction and the lifetime ban, but is reiterating its call for the Government to bring in the tougher sentences for animal cruelty as promised.

Suzanne Heaney, dog fighting Programme Manager for the League, said: 

"This case highlights the need to send a clear message to potential perpetrators of this awful animal cruelty, by bringing in tougher sentences that judges will rigorously enforce. A six-month penalty doesn't go nearly far enough in reflecting the horrific pain and distress that dogs endure when they are forced to fight."

The League is calling on the Government to:

Quickly bring in the tougher sentences as promised, directing the courts to treat all dog fighting cases as an automatic five year sentence.
Introduce a national register of those who've been disqualified from keeping animals to make it more difficult for them to get hold of other animals to abuse. It needs to be accessible to the rehoming sector and law enforcement to help them spot unsuitable homes as well as the people who break disqualification orders.
Clamp down on 'free to a good home' ads, acknowledging that animals aren't objects to be picked up and disposed of like old furniture.
"We'd like to see swift action from the Government with the pledge they made for tougher sentences for animal cruelty, so dog fighting offenders are deterred and dogs are better protected against this awful animal abuse. Sadly dog fighting is not a thing of the past - it's still happening today - nearly 200 years after it was banned and it's time we strengthened the law and sent it back into the history books where it belongs", said Suzanne.

[THE FUGITIVE]

League Against Cruel Sports welcome for Labour Party animal welfare plan

Posted 14th February, 2018

The League Against Cruel Sports has welcomed the launch of the Labour Party animal welfare plan which if implemented will bring in much needed protection for British wildlife.

Eduardo Goncalves, CEO of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “We warmly welcome Labour’s commitment to strengthening the Hunting Act 2004, and look forward to contributing to the consultation process. It’s clear that hunts are routinely flouting the law and continuing to kill wildlife across Britain, whether that be through so-called ‘trail hunting’ or by exploiting legal loopholes. This must stop. An overwhelming majority �" more than eight out of ten �" of British people want to see an end to hunting, and we look forward to making that a reality.

“We are also pleased to see a commitment to ban intensive rearing of game birds. Shooting for ‘sport’ operates on an industrial scale, with approximately 35 million birds reared for shooting purposes in the UK every year, with many shot birds simply dumped and left to rot in the countryside. The vast majority of pheasants and red-legged partridges shot are bred in intensive breeding facilities, denied even the welfare standards afforded to poultry. Any industry built on this much suffering has no place in modern Britain.

“There are some proposals which we believe could go further, or be clarified. We look forward to responding to the consultation in order to give British animals the fullest possible protection.”

Conviction proves link between fox hunting and other animal abuse

Posted 5th February, 2018

The long suspected link between fox hunting and other forms of animal abuse has been proven in court in Wales today, says an animal welfare charity.

The League Against Cruel Sports, has welcomed the custodial sentence imposed on David Thomas, the Master of the Dwyryd Hunt, following his conviction for badger baiting and six other animal welfare offences. Three other men were sentenced at Llandudno Magistrates Court today including Jordan Houlston, a terrier man who was also found guilty of animal welfare offences.

Eduardo Gonçalves, Chief Executive at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "Sadly it comes as no surprise that a huntsman has been engaged in other horrific practices involving cruelty to animals. David Thomas, who founded the Dwyryd hunt in 1994, and as both Master and Huntsman is effectively the entire hunt staff, should step down, the hunt itself should be disbanded, and the hounds relocated elsewhere. He shouldn't be allowed any more opportunities to terrorise and kill wildlife.

"Hunting routinely involves the chasing and killing of animals and is bloodthirsty and barbaric. We have long suspected that the people behind hunts are involved in a range of animal welfare abuses involving the killing of animals for fun and this case illustrates the terrible savagery a small but determined minority of people are happy to inflict in the name of 'sport'. The use of terrier men to set their dogs on animals illustrates the cold-blooded and ruthless nature of the hunts.

"Last week we welcomed a report by senior MPs* which included proposals to treat cruelty to wild animals in the same way as domestic or farm animals with the maximum prison sentence increasing from six months to five years in England and Wales. The reality is that if this kind of abuse was judged under the Hunting Act 2004 these men would have received nothing more than a small fine. In 2018 we hope to see these tougher sentences introduced and cruel practices such as badger baiting and illegal hunting treated in the same way and as serious crimes. It's time for the hunts' and animal abusers' crimes to be properly punished."

The four men were charged under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The offences took place at the hunt kennels at Cwm Bowydd Farm in Blaenau Ffestiniog in north Wales where pipes held captive animals for dogs to fight. David Thomas was convicted of unnecessary suffering to a badger after forcing terrified animals to fight with dogs at his farm while other men watched. Along with the artificial badger setts, seven skulls possibly from foxes or badgers were found in the kennels. The evidence used to obtain the convictions was gathered by the RSPCA who conducted a surveillance operation at the hunt kennels.

David Thomas was sentenced to 22 weeks, ordered to pay costs of £5,000 and banned from owning and keeping dogs for eight years. Jordan Houlston �" a terrier man �" was sentenced to 20 weeks, ordered to pay £600 costs with a £115 surcharge, and banned from owning and keeping dogs for eight years. Two other men were also sentenced. Mark Morris was ordered to pay costs of £500 plus a £115 surcharge and to do 150 hours of unpaid work, and a 17-year-old youth who cannot be named who was ordered to pay costs of £200 plus a £20 surcharge. Both received suspended sentences and were banned from owning and keeping dogs for four years.It was revealed in court that the Dwyryd Hunt paid for the services of terrier man Jordan Houlston.

Animal welfare report calls for tougher sentencing for cruelty to British wildlife

Posted 1st February, 2018

The League Against Cruel Sports has welcomed a report by senior MPs published today which includes proposals to treat cruelty to wild animals in the same way as domestic or farm animals with an increase in prison sentences.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) report scrutinises and welcomes the 'important and worthwhile' steps in improving animal welfare included in the draft Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill published in December.

Measures included increasing the maximum prison sentence for animal cruelty from six months to five years in England and Wales and a requirement for the Government to have regard to the welfare needs of animals as sentient beings in formulating and implementing policy.

Eduardo Goncalves, CEO of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "The recognition from the EFRA Committee that cruelty to wild animals is no different from cruelty to domestic or farm animals is long overdue, and will be very welcome. We're currently in a situation where someone can abuse their cat and get six months in prison - soon to be increased to a maximum five years - while the Master of a hunt can lead a pack of hounds to chase and illegally rip a fox apart and at most receive a small fine. This inequality is a smack in the face to any claims we have of being a nation of animal lovers. We strongly welcome the EFRA Committee report and urge the government to listen to their recommendations on sentencing, otherwise their aspirations to be an animal-friendly administration will look hollow.

"We are pleased that the EFRA Committee report recognises the League's comments regarding offences committed under the Hunting Act. Hunting is still frequently in the news, mainly because many suspect that animals are still being chased and killed illegally, often under the guise of 'trail' hunting. An increase in sentencing to the Government's suggested five years in prison for other animal cruelty offences would dissuade many from continuing to partake in their barbarous and unpopular activity.

"We understand the committee's concerns about the implications of including the recognition of animal sentience in future legislation. That issue does need to be fully explored, and DEFRA's consultation may provide enough information to offer more clarity, but we'd urge the government not to back down from what is a positive step forward. We would have concerns that separating out the sentience clause may lead to that issue being kicked into the long grass. Animals think and feel, that is a reality which we must address and understand if we are to be a truly compassionate society."


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