April is traditionally when Sab Groups across the UK take a deep breath after the challenges of the fox and hare hunting seasons, conduct maintenance on our kit, fundraise where needed and enjoy a little downtime before getting stuck into tracking down the mink and otter packs and preparing for combatting the gamebird shoots and badger culling to come.
This has all changed for many of our comrades in the south and west as we increasingly turn our attention to the horrific stag hunting across the west country.
It’s not all been so grim however with a number of high profile and successful prosecutions visited on hunters and terriermen.
3rd of April also saw us remember Tom Worby – who was killed under the wheels of the Cambridgeshire Hunt’s hound van 32 years ago. His killers have never been apprehended. We gave no peace to hunters in his memory last month.
The campaign to combat the utterly barbaric spring stag hunting season in the west country raged throughout the month and saw the Devon & Somerset Stag Hounds sabbed six times, with the Quantock Stag Hounds hit on four occasions by multiple groups. Whilst several beautiful red stags were saved, there were a number that didn’t make it – having endured being chased to exhaustion for hours across harsh terrain and the unseasonably warm weather being often blocked or bolted from cover by the sick spectators. Upsettingly, sabs had to witness the cruel end to proceedings on a number of occasions including botched shootings leaving the animal in huge pain and the ‘carve up’ of the dead quarry for the delight of the ghoulish onlookers. Huge props to all of the sab groups tackling this abhorrence, putting in lots of miles on foot and vehicles in such trying circumstances:
Earlier in the month some of the latest final meets of the entire fox hunting season were sabbed by groups in Cornwall and Devon. Kernow sabs hit the final meet of the Four Burrow Hunt at St Columb and the South Devon Hunt final meet on Dartmoor attended by Devon County, Mendip, Plymouth & West Devon and South Devon Hunt Saboteurs.
Salisbury Plain Sabs have been fundraising to get their vehicle back on the road as it requires significant maintenance and a replacement fuel tank. Link here if you can help them out: https://gofund.me/cbdee4d6
Finally, some good news.
South Wales Hunt Sabs reported that two Llanwnnen Fox Hunt terriermen were convicted of badger persecution.
Meanwhile, North Dorset sabs finally saw justice done for the fox killed by the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt near Buckhorn Weston at the end of 2023, Four members of the hunt were found guilty of hunting a wild mammal with dogs in breach of the Hunting Act. Read more here: Justice for the Pelsham Farm Fox.
West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs – whilst not travelling to Exmoor to combat stag hunting – sabbed the final meet of the Heythrop Hunt and released covert footage of badger sett interference by the Warwickshire hunt in Wolford Wood, a site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
To cap off a typically busy and intense month, they continue the relentless campaign to remove the compromised Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire, Philip Seccombe, with a petition attracting thousands of signatures. Find it here if you wish to add your name: https://chng.it/trSvt7Hsnt
Northants Hunt Sabs attended court to observe the conviction of the notoriously violent Cottersmore Hunt thug, Andrew Kean and sidekick, Barrington Nurse-Phillips. Find the full details here: Not So Kean Now: Another Cottesmore Hunt Thug Convicted.
The Norwich magistrates were busy earlier in the month too – sentencing ex-huntsman of the Essex & Suffolk and Meynell & South Staffs Hunts, Sam Staniland, following his conviction on six charges of animal cruelty. Find the full details here: ‘Sadistic’ Fox Hunter Escapes Real Justice.
Disgraced ex-SpyCop, Andy Coles, stood in the recent local elections for the Tories as a councillor on Peterborough City Council and was met by a campaign supported by sabs past and present to ensure the electorate were fully aware of his despicable past. We were glad to hear that he subsequently was not elected with an Independent candidate winning the Barnack seat. Find the full details on the SpyCops scandal and his disgusting part in it here: The Spycops Scandal – Police Spies Out of Lives!
Lastly, on World Day for Animals in Laboratories, many sabs from across the country attended the protest outside the grotesque MBR Acres in Huntingdon.
Another good news story was reported by Glasgow Hunt Sabs on 9th April – another hunt has bitten the dust – by confirming that the Dumfries & Stewarty Hunt has folded.
It would be remiss of us not to give a quick plug for Sheffield Hunt Sabs fundraising album, ‘Give The Fox A Gun’, which was released a month or so ago. If you love punk music alongside animals then get this in your ears by buying it here: Give The Fox a Gun.
Whilst the groups from Brighton and Kent were engaged in the stag hunting hits in the West Country, West Sussex Hunt Sabs kept the good news coming by revealing that the Wealden Mink Hounds were no longer kennelled with the Chiddingfold Hunt and subsequently it was proven that they had folded. More here: Weally Good News: the Demise of the Wealden Mink Hounds.
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