AN ANIMAL WELFARE charity has called for the public’s help in stamping out ‘hunting’s dirtiest secret’.
The League Against Cruel Sports says reports have emerged of illegal ‘cub hunts’ in Warwickshire.
Cub hunts involve people training their hounds to kill by targeting fox cubs in local woodland.
The charity estimates 10,000 fox cubs are killed every year across the UK in such a fashion.
They claim cub hunting takes place in early morning or late evening between August and November, and that participants avoid wearing their red coats to detract attention.
Chris Luffingham, Director of Campaigns at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “Despite hunting being banned 13 years ago, hunts sadly continue to illegally target foxes and cub hunting teaches their hounds how to kill and get a taste for their blood.
“Cub hunting is one of the hunting world’s dirtiest secrets and which will shock the vast majority of the public who may be unaware that it is going on.
“Thousands of fox cubs are literally being torn apart in this gruesome practice which exposes the lamentable lies of the hunts that they have stopped targeting British wildlife.
“Armed with the right intelligence, we can monitor and prosecute the hunts responsible for cub hunting and ensure the courts bring the perpetrators to justice.”
The charity is asking people to get in touch if they hear people talking about ‘autumn’ hunting or a ‘meet’ taking place, see a hunt going out in early morning or late evening, or are told by a hunt that they are ‘exercising the hounds’ or ‘out for a social’.
Contact the confidential League Against Cruel Sports Animal Crimewatch reporting service via www.league.org.uk/animal-crimewatch, at [email protected] or by calling 01483 361108.
Cub hunts can be reported to the police by calling 101. A £1,000 reward is given for information which leads to a successful prosecution.
