Police probing killing of fox by hunt’s hounds

INCIDENT INVOLVING ANIMALS FROM THE BELVOIR HUNT WAS FILMED BY SABOTEURS GROUP

POLICE have launched an inquiry after a fox was caught and killed by hounds from the Belvoir Hunt.

Nottingham Hunt Saboteurs group captured the moment the Belvoir Hunt’s hounds discovered the scent of a fox in scrub in a field between Harby and Stathern, at about 1.30pm on Saturday.

The dogs then chased and caught the animal, with one hound grabbing the fox from its side and inflicting a fatal wound.

A video of the incident – which we consider too distressing to reproduce stills from – shows the hounds then being called away by members of the hunt, as members of the saboteurs group rush to the aid of the fox, which they discover is still alive but close to death.

A saboteur can be heard shouting “Oh my God” in distress, while the hunt’s horns can be heard in the background.

The saboteurs immediately reported the incident to police.

The force confirmed it has launched an investigation.

A spokesman for the saboteurs said: “We saw the hounds come across the field and go into a scrub, where foxes often hide, and they ended up finding one and the hounds killed it.

“The huntsmen didn’t stop the hounds, they just let it happen. After the fox was killed they just carried on with the hunt. It was awful.

“We are at the Belvoir Hunt most weeks and normally we put a stop to it.

“The fox was still alive when we got to it and had to watch it slowly die, it was heartbreaking.

“Police have seen the footage and they took the details of one of the staff members for the Belvoir Hunt.”

The Mercury has contacted the Belvoir Hunt for a comment, but had not received one by the rtime we wnt to press.

A police spokesman said: “An investigation is taking place following a report that a fox was killed in field between Harby, Stathern and Eastwell on Saturday afternoon. The incident was reported to police shortly after 1.30pm. Officers were told the fox had been killed by dogs as part of a hunt. “A number of people have been spoken to in connection with the incident and further inquiries are continuing.

“No arrests have been made at this time.”

The fox was still alive when we got to it and had to watch it slowly die, it was heartbreaking

Saboteur