FROM PROTECT THE WILD — HUNTS FOUND WANTING WITH ANIMAL CARE

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Over 500 incidents of hound neglect and mistreatment this season already CHARLOTTE SMITH JAN 25 ∙ GUEST POST READ IN APP For years, the welfare of foxhounds has been a topic of debate, yet until now, there has been little data to quantify the incidents affecting these animals. At Protect the Wild, we’ve worked tirelessly throughout this hunting season to compile concrete evidence showcasing the welfare challenges foxhounds face. The South Dorset Hunt roughly and inappropriately lifts an adult hound by the scruff of their neck, credit: Weymouth Animal Rights, 12/10/2024. By analysing every hit report published by hunt monitoring and saboteur groups, we have documented 537 incidents of welfare concerns affecting foxhounds from August 10th 2024 to January 20th 2025. These incidents span 75 hunts and cover a range of minor to severe welfare issues. To provide clarity, we categorised the welfare concerns into eight groups: Hounds stuck in fencing (34): Instances where hounds became trapped in fencing, leading to potential injuries and distress. Stranded hounds (53): Situations where hounds were left stranded, facing threats like dehydration, harsh weather, and traffic accidents. Hounds hit or kicked (12): Reports of physical contact causing injury and psychological harm. Hounds hit by vehicles (10): Incidents where hounds were struck by cars, resulting in minor injuries, serious injuries and in some cases fatalities. Hounds with visible injuries (39): Cases of visible wounds or injuries, minor and severe, that occurred during the hunt meet. Hounds being roughly handled (18): Reports of hounds being lifted, restrained or thrown inappropriately. Other incidents (84): This category includes various situations, such as hounds falling from heights (thought about linking the bridge story here), becoming trapped in dangerous conditions such as deep/flowing water, being taken out during severe weather warnings, and running dangerously on roads. Hounds out of control or lost (287): The most frequently reported issue, highlighting risks to the hounds themselves, as well as the harm they may cause to wildlife, livestock, or private property when out of control or lost. This data not only sheds light on the challenges foxhounds face but also raises critical questions about the lack of accountability within the hunting community. Members of the public face stringent regulations regarding dogs deemed “out of control,” yet hunts consistently evade scrutiny despite the clear welfare risks to their animals and the members of the public affected. Beaufort Hunt hounds are filmed out of control, trespassing on private property, Wiltshire Hunt Sabs:18/01/2025. But we are not stopping here. Protect the Wild is committed to continuing this work by gathering further data and producing comprehensive reports covering each hunting season spanning 2022, 2023, and 2024. These reports will document the welfare concerns in greater detail and provide deeper insights into the challenges and hardships foxhounds endure. We will also continue to advocate for these animals and call on hunts to rehome, rather than shoot foxhounds that do not meet the requirements for hunting, those who are too old to hunt, or those injured in ways that allow for recovery. Injured foxhounds, if treated, can retire and be rehomed to live a comfortable and fulfilling life. (See here for our Rehome the Hounds project that proves just that!) Our aim is clear- to ensure foxhounds are treated with the care and respect they deserve while shedding light on practices, and the hunts, that are failing them. Protect the Wild remain dedicated to speaking up for these animals and ensuring their welfare is prioritised and discussed. Essex and Suffolk hunt hound is caught in barbed wire. Credit: South Norfolk Hunt Saboteurs, 18/1/25. Whilst Protect the Wild remains dedicated to helping foxhounds, hunts across the country are weaponising them to oppose a hunting ban, claiming it would leave their future uncertain. This fearmongering tactic deflects accountability away from the hunts, which have had 20 years to adopt legal trail-laying practices but have instead continued illegal fox hunting. It is the responsibility of the hunts to act now and stop shooting foxhounds, cease training them to hunt foxes, and prioritise rehoming. They should prioritise this, rather than using foxhounds as a means to resist a full ban on hunting and manipulate animal lovers. Watch our latest video unpacking the secret deal between the Warwickshire Hunt and Warwickshire Police Watch now A guest post by Charlotte Smith BSc Animal behaviour and Training. MSc Animal Welfare Science, Law and Ethics. SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing