This heart-breaking report contains distressing images and details.
On Monday 23rd December – a time of supposed peace and good will – hunt sabs were confronted with the horrific reality of hunting at the Suffolk-based Thurlow Hunt.
Towards the end of the day, an experienced Herts hunt sab entered woodland at Over Wood to investigate distressing noises. She was confronted by the horrific sight of the Thurlow hounds mauling a muntjac deer. The deer was covered in blood, with her back end ripped to pieces and her tail hanging off. The huntsman and hunt staff – who are supposed to be in charge of the hounds – were nowhere to be seen.
The Herts sab got the majority of hounds away and the deer bolted, but a couple of hounds were persistent and wouldn’t keep off her. The Herts sab protected the terrified deer from the hounds as best she could and shouted for assistance to fellow sabs outside the woodland.
More sabs entered the wood, wrapped the deer’s head in a jumper and tried to hold her still. Sabs rang around to see if they could get help for the poor deer but, after numerous calls to vets and then to the police, while waiting for a “humane dispatcher” the deer died in agony.
The Herts sab commented,
“At least this poor deer didn’t die alone. We sat it out in the dark and chill on the wet ground waiting for her to pass in the wood that was her home. The pictures may be a bit blurry, but we were focused on helping the deer escape the hounds. Probably one of the most heartbreaking scenes we’ve seen in ages and one which will stick with, not just our sab, but the other sabs who came to assist and stayed with the muntjac.”
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