Axe Vale Video Exposes the Horror of ‘Terrier Work’

Today the HSA is releasing a longer version of the horrific video in which the Axe Vale Harriers terrier gang were filmed digging a fox from a badger sett.

Terrier work – an essential part of illegal fox hunting – usually takes place well away from public view. However, thanks to the courage of Devon County and Mendip sabs, the whole sickening process has now been caught on film in unsparing detail.

Terriermen are employed by hunts when the hunted fox has sought refuge underground. They use their dogs to either bolt the fox to be hunted again, or to attack the fox underground while they dig down towards them.

This is precisely the scene that greeted sabs as they arrived at an Axe Vale Harriers meet near Southleigh, Devon. A major assault on a badger sett was already underway, with piles of freshly dug earth at several sett entrances and yelps and screams audible from below ground.

On seeing sabs, the gang reverted to their default position of violent intimidation, with one terrierman grunting that sabs should, “Fuck off, before you want a hiding, cunt, fuck off” [sic.]

Refusing to be deterred, sabs kept filming. Their video exposes the sheer range of digging equipment routinely carried on supposed ‘trail hunts.’ Four different spades and two digging bars are visible, together with a Bellman & Flint terrier locator kit – a red receiver box which picks up radio signals from a locator collar fitted to the terrier.

The gang use the locator kit to finally pinpoint the terrier and one of the thugs then uses a yellow-handled spade to separate the terrier and fox – causing further injury to both animals – while another grabs the injured fox and flings her into the air. Had sabs not been present, the fox would have been further baited by the terrier, or the Axe Vale Harriers pack called in to continue hunting her.

Attention then turns to the terrier. The injured dog is extracted from the sett and bundled away, with a terrierman attempting to conceal the dog’s injuries from sab cameras. Blood is clearly visible on his hands and jacket as he shoves the poor animal into a metal box mounted on the quad bike.

Needless to say, hunting’s so-called governing body, the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) rushed to defend this atrocity, claiming that the actions of the Axe Vale Harriers gang were legal and that they were a simply a little “over-zealous” in their attack on the badger sett. No wonder the BHSA’s deceptive National Trail Hunting Day was shunned by police, MPs and journalists.

When the HSA shared the video with activist and presenter Chris Packham, he commented:

“You think you’ve seen depravity and cruelty? Then watch these vile inhuman wretches at their evil. Every one of them is breaking the law with their degenerate savagery. This must stop. The government must act now to end hunting with dogs – no excuses, no loopholes, no more wildlife wasted for their sick pleasure. Damn them.”

The Environment Secretary can end terrier work today, by removing guidance written into the Hunting Act that allows it.

Please email Steve Reed to tell him that he must ban this cruel practice immediately!

steve.reed.mp@parliament.uk

Please support the brave hunt saboteurs who obtained this footage:

https://www.facebook.com/devoncountyhuntsaboteurs
https://www.facebook.com/mendiphuntsabs