On Monday 7 October, hounds caused chaos in the community of Oake, Somerset, as the Taunton Vale Harriers lost control of its hounds. This is yet another clear example of how hunts can not be trusted to take care of their dogs.
Oake Parish Council issued a warning on Facebook to residents, saying:
“AVOID OAKE…Currently about 18 hunting hounds have escaped from local kennel and are running around the village. Police are there but best to avoid. If you do need to drive through – go very slow!”
“Absolutely disgusting!! They didn’t escape they were on a hunt!! All the dogs encircled the school and the children had to be taken inside!!! Multiple dogs hit by cars!! Disgusting!!”
‘Mayhem’
Meanwhile, Somerset Sabs gave their account of what happened, saying:
“There was carnage and mayhem in the Somerset village of Oake yesterday. The Taunton Vale Harriers who had met at Blaygroves in Hillcommon earlier that morning were out and they had no control over their hounds. They were running into the traffic, no doubt following the line of a fox, and at least two were hit on the road. They surrounded the school, so the children had to be rushed back inside from their lunch break, and they generally caused utter chaos. No one on horseback was seen trying to stop this madness and round them up, but videos are emerging of them being collected by animal abusers. If anyone has any information for the police regarding this diabolical incident, then please report it on the 101 website.”
Hunts can’t take care of hounds
This is not the first time that hounds have caused havoc in public places, and it won’t be the last. Too often, Protect the Wild has reported that hounds have endangered lives by running down busy roads. Packs of hounds regularly terrorise pets, farm and zoo animals, too, because hunt staff can not – or will not – control them.
Sadly, we also report on dogs being hit and killed by vehicles. On top of this, hounds face a gruesome and unnecessary deaths when they’re struck by trains. We have even reported on dogs falling down a mine shaft – not once, but twice.
All of this is evidence that hunts can not be trusted to be guardians of hounds. The hunting industry likes to parrot the narrative that it loves its dogs, but will readily murder them if they’re too old, too slow, or not good enough hunters.
Protect the Wild is launching a new campaign to rehome the hounds. Dogs are the forgotten victims of hunting, and we know that the public will do a much better job of taking care of them than hunts ever will. Stay tuned for more information on the campaign.
