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Anger after hunt dogs run amok

5:50pm Monday 2nd February 2009


THE League Against Cruel Sports has criticised the Avon Vale Hunt after hounds ran onto a farm near Trowbridge and frightened a horse causing it to injure itself.

The 56-year-old owner of the two-and-a half-year-old horse called Billy said she was 'shocked and outraged' after it tried to escape from hounds by scaling a fence, badly injuring itself in the process.

The pack then continued to cause chaos when they entered a nearby cat rescue centre.

The owner of the horse, said: "The hunt clearly had no control over their hounds and it was extremely distressing for both myself and my horse, who suffered severe lacerations to his legs and required expensive veterinary attention, not to mention the emotional trauma he suffered."

Matt Fox, the League's hunting campaigner, said: "Unfortunately this is the latest in a long line of hunt havoc incidents.

"It is unacceptable that some hunts believe they are above the law."

The police were contacted by the owner of the horse about the incident which happened at about 1.30pm on Saturday.


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Your Say YourWiltshire

Mike398, Worcester says...
6:27pm Mon 2 Feb 09

When will these anti social bullies and thugs be dealt with by the police?
They think they have some god given right to cause as much distress and mayhem as they like as they snub their noses at the law of the land.All because they are so intent on harrying a small creature to its death for their debased kicks.

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babz, Shildon says...
7:59am Tue 3 Feb 09

Once again a hunt runs amok terrifying a horse into injuring itself, shocking the owner and then entering a cat rescue centre where there would be cats already traumatised by being abandoned. When is this reign of terror going to end? If the hunting fraternity cannot control their hounds they should be confiscated and they should also be prosecuted. Thugs are not above the law!

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Vox Pop, Trowbridge says...
12:08pm Tue 3 Feb 09

The Hunt has a right to carry out their ‘business’ within the terms of the Hunting Act 2005, i.e. within the Law. But only within the Law. I would advise the victims of this trespass and frightening of the horse/cats to take out an Injunction against the Masters of the Avon Vale Hunt – not as expensive as you might think. That will virtually ensure that if there is any repeat of the trespass they will end up where they deserve to be – in jail.

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RYates, Dublin says...
12:36pm Tue 3 Feb 09

As ever with such reports, the real issue from an animal rights point of view is absent. The chief problem is that nonhuman animals are regarded as property in speciesist societies. There will be little to advance the lot of nonhuman animals until a cultural change is brought about. It is a shame, for example, that Ms. Adams felt the need to call "Billy" the horse "it" - even our language is saturated in speciesist norms and values.

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lastmanstanding, westbury says...
12:58pm Tue 3 Feb 09

I shouldn't hold your breath in antisipation of an appology, let alone help with the vets fees from Major Jonathon Seed or any of the AVH masters, because in their eyes, hunting rules, sod everyone else, and if they were to be in the area, it would be your responsibility to ensure that your animals don't get injured/frightened, the AVH has a canny way of turning the other cheek, and not owning up to their responsibilities. It's a sad fact that the 'huntsman' has next to no command over his hounds!

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dubs, The bronx/Trowbridge says...
4:03pm Tue 3 Feb 09

Vox Pop wrote:
The Hunt has a right to carry out their ‘business’ within the terms of the Hunting Act 2005, i.e. within the Law. But only within the Law. I would advise the victims of this trespass and frightening of the horse/cats to take out an Injunction against the Masters of the Avon Vale Hunt – not as expensive as you might think. That will virtually ensure that if there is any repeat of the trespass they will end up where they deserve to be – in jail.
& what right does any aminal have if the hunt comes across them.

Ban the hunts, that will also ensure there is no repeat of the trespass.


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Mr.Right, Hilperton says...
11:30pm Thu 5 Feb 09

The fox, um, I was brought up in the country, I see the fax damaging whatever it can, however the hunt needs to respect others, by that I mean other people ann thier property, the hunt does tend to look down on everyday folk, however the protesters need to consider thier actions also they are often more out of control than the hounds!

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