PROPAGANDA OR JUST PLAIN LIES TO FOOL THE PEOPLE

 

	Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more BHSA and hunting's desperate bid to save itself 'Giverning body' wants to prove to election candiadates they are 'trail hunting' ELIZA EGRET APR 13   READ IN APP   The British Hound Sports Association (BHSA), hunt's so-called 'governing' body, has released details of its "Autumn Campaign" in the run up to the next General Election. The campaign focuses on proving to the world - and particularly Labour candidates - that 'trail hunting' is legal. As people who care deeply about wildlife, we should pay attention to this tactic. The last two hunting seasons have been disastrous for the hunting industry's public relations. Mainstream media coverage - of a fox being buried alive in a sack, and of foxes being dug out and torn apart by hounds - have exposed to the world just how criminal hunters are. This coverage has, no doubt, influenced the Labour Party into announcing that it will ban hunting with dogs - properly this time - if it gets into power. It is thought that there is a 99% chance that Labour will form the next government, so the hunting industry is, of course, terrified that its time is up. The BHSA's tactic? To convince Labour candidates that it shouldn't touch the Hunting Act. To do this, it will try to convince them that 'trail hunting' is harmless, legitimate fun. A thought-out plan to continue killing We all know that hunts have always insisted that they are trail hunting - laying a scent in advance of the hunt for their hounds to follow - when they have been doing no such thing. But with the final nail in hunting's coffin in sight, the BHSA is now actually encouraging packs to trail hunt. But let's be clear: this isn't because the BHSA has suddenly grown a conscience, nor is it because it wants to protect wildlife. Earlier in the 2023/24 hunting season, Protect the Wild pointed out that we were seeing more hunts actually laying trails. It is a tactic so that hunters can prove to Labour, and to the court system, that they never intend to kill a fox - that their hounds are following a genuine trail, and that any kills are purely accidental. Because under the Hunting Act, a person only commits a crime if the Crown Prosecution Service can prove that there is an intention to kill a mammal. But as South Norfolk Hunt Saboteurs pointed out to Protect the Wild: "Because the trail mixture used by the hunt is of animal-origin, the hunt is still essentially training hounds to hunt animals." And this hunting season, the group has seen firsthand how hunts deliberately lay trails next to coverts, where they know animals will be. But if their hounds then flush out and chase one of these animals, the hunt can then plead that it wasn't deliberate. Trail hunting? The Zetland Hunt hounds searching for a mythical 'trail'. Photo Teesside Against Blood Sports Still a loophole In its campaign announcement, the BHSA has stated that it wants to "have made our mark with [election] candidates." To do this, it plans: "To show and prove that trail hunting and exempt hunting, properly conducted following clear protocols, is a legal sport and not, as claimed by the antis, a loophole." But trail hunting didn't exist before the Hunting Act was brought in. It was exactly that: a loophole so that hunters could continue terrorising wildlife even with the legislation in place. The laying of a scent in trail hunting is done completely for appearances. In his memoir, A Journey, Tony Blair wrote that he devised the Hunting Act "in such a way that, provided certain steps are taken to avoid cruelty when the fox is killed, it isn't banned." He even made a bet with then-Prince Charles, pledging that hunting would still continue after the Act came into force. He was, of course, right. Labour brought in the 'trail hunting' loophole. And now the BHSA is trying to convince this very party that trail hunting is, in fact, not a loophole at all! If the BHSA was actually serious about showing that hunting is a legal sport, it would be ensuring that hunts turn to drag hunting - a legitimate alternative to real hunting. If a pack was drag hunting, hounds would follow a non-animal scent on a designated course that avoids known wildlife habitats. Desperate to appeal to Labour The BHSA continued: "We now call for no changes in the Hunting Act that affect either drag hunting, trail hunting or exempt hunting, all legal sporting activities. To be clear, we are not calling for repeal or amendment of the Act..." And: "In September we will be writing to all candidates and will be sending out a flyer to all hunts for distribution. Our trail hunting demonstration days have gone very well. They have attracted good media attention from both the press and television. They have successfully demonstrated how trail and drag hunting is legally conducted." But Beds and Bucks Hunt Saboteurs hit the nail on the head when it responded to this, saying: "These so called trail hunting demonstrations have been little more than poorly attended events where bored onlookers pay more attention to their limp and sweaty sandwiches than the hounds and its so VERY obvious these hound packs have never followed a trail in their lives. We've witnessed first hand with our local packs pretending to lay trails, the hounds ignore them and given the opportunity will take off after the wildlife with great gusto! You can't change decades of breeding and training overnight." Trail hunting? The Wynnstay Hunt coming out of the National Trust's Erddig Estate. Photo Cheshire Borderland Monitors Trail hunting? The Blackmore and Sparkford Vale hounds kill a fox. Drone footage by North Dorset Sabs All out for 14 September! The BHSA has announced that it will hold a national day of action. It says: "Our plan is to hold on September 14th, just before the Party Conference Season, a National Trail and Drag Hunting Day. Our aim is to have an event in most Police Districts. Over 20 venues, with several hunts demonstrating at each. We want every hunt, including foxhounds, harriers, beagles, bassets, mink hounds, stag hounds and fell packs, to attend in their area even if they are not demonstrating how to lay and hunt a trail. We will invite the media, the Police, Police Commissioners, all candidates, local councillors and we want it well attended by hunt subscribers and supporters. We aim to make a huge impact before the start of the election campaign." Attendance numbers are vital for the BHSA's plan of action. But it will, no doubt, attract more hunt saboteurs and monitors - who will want to keep their close eye on all the packs around the country - than it will pro-hunters. As for Labour, we can only hope that its politicians are smart enough not to be influenced by the hunting lobby. The party will feel under immense pressure not to touch the Hunting Act. But if Labour is serious about protecting England and Wales' wildlife, it will enact our Proper Ban on Hunting and ban hunting with dogs once and for all instead. Upgrade to paid We’re so close to £2,000/month! Can you help us get there by the end of this month? Our content is free but if you choose to take out a paid subscription you’ll be helping activists on the ground take direct action to protect wildlife. Every penny we receive tops up our Equipment Fund to support those in the field. Our pot currently stands at £1990/month, can you help us reach our goal of £2,000/month?   LIKE COMMENT RESTACK   © 2024 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ  Unsubscribe

CONVICTED OF CAUSING ACTUALLY BODILY HARM -THE EVIDENCE IS THERE

 

View this email in your browser Hi,  Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt Member Guilty of ABH Last week, sabs from North Dorset spent three consecutive days in Bournemouth Crown Court giving evidence and victim statements. On Thursday 4th April, a jury unanimously found Charlie Mayo, a member of the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt (BSV), guilty of Actual Bodily Harm (ABH). The attack took place 28 months ago, in December 2021. North Dorset Sabs were at a meet of the BSV when hounds went into cry. As sabs approached a gateway, hunt rider Edward Doggrel used his horse to try and deter them. Charlie Mayo then stated "you are not coming over the gate mate". Edward Doggrel used his whip to knock the victim’s hat off his head, Charlie Mayo then struck the back of the sab’s head with the bone end of his whip. The sab suffered a 3cm laceration to the scalp, requiring hospital treatment. Charlie Mayo pictured just before the attack. The jury unanimously found Charlie guilty of ABH and he was ordered to pay a substantial amount of court costs and compensation to the victim, avoiding a custodial sentence. The sab required hospital treatment. The judge described Mayo as a 'man of good character' in a character reference that was provided to the court. In response North Dorset Hunt Sabs stated: “To say that ANY members of this family are of good character is laughable. Both Charlie and his other brother, who rides with the hunt, have form for being arrogant, foul mouthed and violent on a weekly basis. Several assaults at the hands of Charlie have taken place since this one in 2021. Although plenty reported to the police, they were deemed to not have enough video evidence to pursue.” Cruelty runs in the family Wildlife persecutors - Anthony, Charlie and Henry Mayo Cruelty runs in the Mayo family, with his Hunt Master father Anthony and brother Henry also riding with the BSV. In December 2022, Charlie’s other brother Harry Mayo, another fox hunter, filmed a sickening video of the notorious Avon Vale Hunt digging a fox out of a badger sett and throwing it to the hounds, with another fox then being chased by hounds. Charlie’s brother Harry Mayo, former first whip at the Berkeley Hunt, was behind the camera at the infamous Avon Vale fox dig-out in December 2022. The courageous North Dorset sab who endured the assault stated: "Justice has finally been served. The jury’s unanimous decision evidently represents the wider public’s increasing distain for hunting. It is yet another nail in coffin for the thuggish BSV and for hunting as a whole, the culture is crumbling, and they know it. The scar on my head will forever serve as a reminder that no matter what violent, desperate, below the belt tactics the hunt use, we will never stop protecting wildlife. I want to thank my comrades at NDHS for their ongoing support, the HSA in general and everyone who has shown their support, love and respect throughout." Please support North Dorset Hunt Sabs at paypalme/NorthDorsetHuntSabs Get involved! Find out how you can be part of our campaign to strengthen the Hunting Act Take Action Spread the word! Please share our news Share via email Copyright (C) 2024 Hunt Saboteurs Association. All rights reserved. You were subscribed to the newsletter from Hunt Saboteurs Association. Our mailing address is: BM HSA, London, WC1N 3XX, U.K. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe

MENINGITIS ALMOST KILLED HIM - HE NOW NEEDS SAFE WHEELS

17 year old Joel needs safe wheels to get him around. 

He knew he wanted to do something with horses and he did that last year. 

And that put a smile on his face. He has a great grin. (And the horses smiles back too - both are happy ) That’s what provided the stimulus for him to get on with it.

He has legs but both of these are prosthetics which he does well on. Meningitis almost killed him; It took one leg off above the knee joint and the other below. What he really now needs is a safe set of wheels. There is terrific stuff out there which will take him off road. Lightweight, robust and purpose built to take a young man where he could not go before.

Research shows that three wheelers are out there but not below 5K and that is todays aim.

Catherine, mum to him, is crowd funding and is already on way but we need more - so can you help to get him mobile so he can shoot a round the paddocks and get his wheels splashing through the puddles and into the mud. That can put more smiles on his face and all who root for this young man.

It is all on this crowdfunded site.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/joels-wheelchair?member=33502255&sharetype=teams&utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

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