These include fox hunting, terrier work, cockerel fighting, dog fighting, the shooting industry, greyhound racing, horse racing and polo. Those which involve the death of animals are often called ‘blood sports’.
Fox hunting: is where hunters usually on horseback, follow a pack of hunting dogs aiming to pick up the scent of a fox, chase it and kill it. This results in foxes undergoing a large amount of suffering prior to being killed. Fox hunting with dogs has been banned in Scotland since 2002, and in England and Wales since 2005, but it remains legal in Northern Ireland. However, in 2015 far from dying out, evidence shows that hunts are breaking the law quite regularly and continuing to meet, most notably on sports big occasions such as Boxing day.
Fox hunting is one of the four types of ‘hunting’ traditionally undertaken by organised hunts in Britain. The three other types are stag hunting (red deer), hare hunting (brown hares) and mink hunting. They all use a pack of dogs. The fox is the most iconic and common type. If a fox escapes underground terriers are sent down to trap it. As it stands the hunting act permits up to two dogs to flush a fox towards someone who will shoot it. It can be difficult to stop the dogs killing it, and foxes can no longer be killed by dogs as part of the hunt.
Scientific evidence shows that animals targeted in hunting suffer physical and mental stress when chased by a hunt, whether or not they are eventually killed. However, this remains a contentious issue. The vast majority of the British public support the ban. Many think chasing and killing live animals with dogs is barbaric and outdated in modern Britain, whilst supporters for fox hunting say this helps the countryside, because it removes foxes which attack livestock or wildlife and spread disease.
To suggest fox hunting is about pest control can be dismissed by the fact, that hunts have been caught capturing and raising foxes purely so they can be hunted. In May 2015, The League against Cruel Sport’s (LACS) investigation revealed 16 terrified fox cubs held captive in a barn, linked to a fox hunt in Yorkshire and it’s not an isolated case. Animals are still being killed and the Hunting Act need strengthened. Onekind at www.onekind.org played a key role in securing the protection of Wild Mammals Act in Scotland, making hunting hare and foxes illegal.
Terrier work: since the passing of the Protection of Wild Animals Scotland Act 2002, and the Hunting Act 2004, the League has not observed any decline in the frequency of terrier work. Badgers are often victims, more commonly referred to as ‘badger baiting’ but the fox is more commonly affected. The mink hunting season runs from April to October and takes place along rivers where minks live. Minks spend up to 80% of their time in dens, sleeping and eating food. Each hunt has between 12-16 hounds. The huntsmen control the hounds, and the mink is chased sometimes for up to 2 hours. Minks should not be hunted for sport. If species need controlling, hunting with dogs is an inhumane form of management. You can contact your MP, ask to strengthen the hunting ban or raise awareness about mink hunting.
Cock fighting: this used to be Britain’s national sport, and was banned in 1835, but it is still practiced in some areas of the world. It involves putting two roosters (cocks) in a ring called a cockpit. They are forced to fight to the amusement of onlookers. In addition to the cruelty, gambling is involved. There has been the odd case reported in UK. If you are ever aware of this report it to the SSPCA or contact the police.
Dog fighting: is banned in the UK by the Animal Welfare Act with a maximum sentence of 51 weeks in prison. People can be fined or banned from owning pets. The RSPCA still investigate and prosecute dog fighting offences. Dogs are trained to fight each other with the aim of inflicting as much pain and damage as possible, for the amusement of spectators and gamblers. This tends to be held in secretive places. The most commonly bred dogs are Staffordshire terriers. There has been a rise in ‘casual’ dog fighting where people fight their dogs, and film it on their mobile phones.
Dogs are treated as pieces of sporting equipment. After fights, dogs are left with horrific injuries. If you suspect someone is taking part in this, phone the SSPCA or report it to the police. The LACS commissioned a report which suggests it is still a problem in UK today, despite the ban in 1835. Sign a petition for stronger penalties or raise issues with your MP.
Commercial Game bird shooting industry: is steeped in cruelty on an industrial scale. Millions of birds (pheasants, partridge and grouse) are shot for ‘sport’ during the breeding season. Each year in Britain around half a million grouse are killed. They are driven out of their heather homes, towards a line of paying shooters by employees called beaters. It is suggested that many are not killed outright, but shot and wounded before hurtling to the ground suffering and terrified. Illegal persecutions are relentless. LACS believe the shooting of wild or farmed birds for sport is morally wrong. Many of the birds released on shooting estates actually start their lives on factory farms abroad – at least 50% according to DEFRA.
These young birds can spend 20 hours or more crammed inside a crate, stacked in the back of a lorry travelling from factory farms to their destination in UK. Animal Aid say every year in Britain, around 50 million pheasants and partridges are mass-produced in cages, hatcheries, sheds and pens so they can be shot by people who pay £1,000 per day for the ‘privilege’. Hundreds of thousands of game birds, used for egg production are confined for the whole of their lives in metal battery cages. In addition, around 1 million ducks are shot for sport between 1 September and 31 January – the majority purpose bred in sheds.
Trapping and snaring wild animals: is widespread throughout the UK. To have as many birds as possible to shoot for sport and profit, gamekeepers wage war on animals that predate on game birds. Wire snares and traps are set to target animals such as foxes, stoats and corrids, but many protected and endangered species of animals and even rare legally protected birds get caught in the traps. A snare is a thin wire noose, intended to catch animals around the neck, like a lasso.
In their desperate struggle to escape, animals may suffer horrible and sometimes life- threatening injuries or a lingering death. Even if a snare doesn’t kill the animal, a predator might. In 2012 a government study found only a quarter of those trapped were intended targets, the remainder included badgers, family cats, dogs, deer and even otters. Snares are legal in UK. We are one of 5 European countries where snares are still used. Over a third of reports involve illegal snaring. If you see this let Onekind know at www.onekind.org.
Mouse traps: there are numerous humane traps available, which will remove all physical harm and then you can release the mouse in a wooded area. Don’t buy these horrific ones where their feet gets glued on to a sticky mat. They can spend agonising hours of unspeakable suffering, before dying of starvation or dehydration.
Mountain hare culling: gamekeepers on grouse moors cull mountain hares, due to unwarranted fears they carry a tick born virus which kills grouse chicks, so this is seen as a threat to the grouse shooting industry. This is indiscriminate killing of animals to facilitate the killing of other animals for sport. The Hare Preservation Trust believes that anecdotal evidence of mountain hare culling levels, strongly suggests that the European directive is being broken in Scotland and should not be allowed to continue.
In just one year, 25,000 mountain hares were slaughtered in Scotland. These animals are native to the Highlands, and in their winter white coat, bounding over the snow, are an iconic image of the ‘untameable’ wild Scotland we all love. Yet, they are routinely shot – even in the Cairngorms National Park – by hunting parties out for the thrill, and by gamekeepers. Report mountain hare persecution to Onekind at harecare@onekind.org or support their campaign at www.onekind.org/harecare. If you find an injured hare call the SSPCA.
Greyhound racing: is this a fun day out? Is a flutter worth it? Greyhounds are intelligent, laid back and gentle animals, and make great companions. However, racing is a business and puts profit first. The hidden side of this includes dogs being kept for long periods in lonely kennels, painful injuries from racing and training and illness and neglect. Many dogs end up crippled. This form of entertainment exploits animals and causes suffering and death.
Greyhounds are bred in vast numbers purposely, so that the chances of creating winning dogs are greater. They can live for 16 years, but usually retire at 3-4 years old, when they start to lose their speed. Some are adopted into homes, the majority live out their lives in shelters or are destroyed. It is estimated that in the UK, tens of thousands of greyhounds are euthanized each year for no reason, other than they were not fast enough, or they can’t race anymore.
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) conducted an enquiry and in 2016, noted the greyhound’s racing industry’s reluctance to self-regulate adequately. In some areas greyhounds are starved before a race and may be thrown live bait, such as a rabbit to encourage the kill instinct (blooding) which encourages them to chase the lure. This is illegal but still exists. Greyhound tracks are closing down all over the world and they are only legal in 8 countries, U.K, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, USA, Vietnam, China and Mexico.
If you live in an area where there is a greyhound track contact your MP and ask him/her to look into concerns about abuse in the industry. Join a supporter group to help raise awareness. Throughout USA, Canada and Europe including UK there are retired greyhounds requiring homes so go to www.adopt-greyhound.org/directory/list.cfm for a list and select UK or The Retired Greyhound Trust in the UK are looking for homes for unwanted dogs. Visit www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk for details.
Horse racing: is known as being full of glamour and thrilling, patronised by royalty and upper class people. It is not just a sport but an industry which is directly supported by legal gambling. The government receives millions in tax revenue. Horses are sociable, intelligent animals and enjoy spending time with other horses. In the wild they travel in herds. They are bred, trained and forced to perform. Their sole purpose is to generate a profit for their owner.
Horses are trained to race whilst they are still growing, which puts incredible strain on their frames and legs. Winning the race is the goal, so the jockey will do whatever it takes to make them run faster, regardless of the consequences. Using whips is one way which is legal in UK (banned in Norway). Sometimes they are even drugged to enhance performance or mask injuries. Racehorses are being fatally injured and destroyed on a regular basis all over UK.
Many people who don’t follow horse racing, bet on the Cheltenham and Grand National every year. The British Horseracing Racing Authority (BHA) revealed that between 2010-2015 the number of horses killed yearly, because of racing was 193. Most of these occurred in jump racing or steeple chase, which includes the Grand National and Cheltenham festival. In 2016 the Cheltenham festival was responsible for the deaths of 7 horses, and 3 this year.
The ‘Grand National’ carries a higher risk than many other horse races. It is a longer race with 30 fences to jump. When racing in jumps, the horse has to gallop at high speeds and is forced to clear obstacles of considerable height, whilst being surrounded by other horses attempting the same. As they fatigue, it becomes more difficult to negotiate the obstacles, so a high percentage fall in the last stages of the race.
The LACS considers races of four and a half miles over large and difficult fences too long, and are against whipping of horses, which has been shown to be ineffective and can cause painful welts. It urges the horse to go beyond what it is comfortably able to do, and can result in stress and injuries. Some welfare advocates say that if changes are made, the sport could be more humane, but animal rights activists say the issue is not about the cruelty or danger, but whether we have the right to use horses for entertainment?
Little is done for horses who have outlived their usefulness. Many suffer from a number of injuries, due to sheer exhaustion. Those who can’t race are often euthanized saving the owners veterinary costs. Another option is to sell the horses to research. Horse racing breeds more horses than they can ever race, and disposes of approximately 1,000 unwanted animals each year through abattoirs. It is an industry based on ruthless exploitation. Horses live on average more than 30 years but are lucky to see their 5th birthday. Welfare charities have been demanding that more sanctuaries are provided for horses to live in retirement.
Polo: horses have no choice and are forced to take part in this contact sport. Collisions and a hard fast moving pace is a serious danger to the animals. It can be physically demanding for ponies, who are forced to constantly stop and start and make sharp turns.
Christians Caring For Gods Creatures 