Summer hunt shut down in Staffordshire

The campaign against the mink and otter hunters continues, as hunt sabs shut down a meet of the Dove Valley Mink Hounds yesterday.

The hunt met at Cawarden Springs Farm, Rugeley, Staffs and were hunting along the River Trent in the pouring rain when sabs from the Nottingham, Sheffield, Lincoln and West Midlands groups descended.

What followed was the now traditional walk of shame back to the meet to pack up, with sabs then escorting the hound trailer back to their kennels, putting an end to their already miserable day.

A HSA spokesperson said, “The presence of terriermen – complete with terriers, spades and poles – and a pack of hounds hunting along the riverbank blows any pretence of so-called ‘trail hunting’ out of the water.

This pack were doing what so many others do when they think nobody is watching, hunting as they did before the ban was brought in in 2005.

Unfortunately for them, hunt sabs were tipped-off about their activities and were able to step in where the law has failed.

This is exactly why the next Government must close the loopholes in the Hunting Act that allow riverside vandals such as these, as well as the fox, hare and stag hunters to operate.”

If you see a mink hunt, or have information on this or any other hunt, please tell the confidential Hunt Sab tip-off line as soon as possible on: 07443 148426