End terrier work petition - Protect the Wild

End Terrier Work - Close the Loophole That Lets Hunts Keep Killing

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Subject

Letter

Dear Secretary of State,

I am writing to urge you to take swift and decisive action to uphold the integrity of the Hunting Act 2004 by withdrawing Defra’s approval of the current Code of Practice for the use of dogs below ground in fox control.

This action is both simple and high impact. It would immediately close one of the most widely exploited loopholes in the Act, a loophole that continues to facilitate illegal fox hunting under the guise of trail hunting. Crucially, this would not require new legislation or a parliamentary vote. It is a regulatory decision entirely within your power as Secretary of State.

Why this matters

The Code of Practice underpins an exemption in Schedule 1, Paragraph 2 of the Hunting Act, which allows the use of a single dog underground to flush a fox for purposes such as protecting livestock or biodiversity.

Yet in practice, it is being routinely used by hunts claiming to be trail hunting.

Trail hunting, supposedly the legal alternative to hunting, involves following an artificial scent trail. It does not require terriermen, terriers, or digging equipment. Nonetheless, these are regularly seen at so-called trail hunts. When hounds chase a live fox, hunts often claim it was an accident, then use the Paragraph 2 exemption to bring in terriermen to dig out the fox.

This is not lawful pest control. It is illegal hunting, with terrier work used as a legal smokescreen.

The evidence

In the 2024 to 2025 season, Protect the Wild documented at least 11 separate dig outs linked to trail hunts, proof that terrier work remains a routine part of these events.

Leaked documents show the British Hound Sports Association requires a specific annual subscription for “registered terriermen,” even though terriermen have no legal role in trail hunting.

In 2020 training webinars, the Hunting Office admitted terriermen were the “soft underbelly” of trail hunting, acknowledging the vulnerability of the exemption they rely on.

The conclusion is clear: the Code of Practice is being used to facilitate the continuation of banned hunting practices.

The opportunity

Withdrawing Defra’s approval of the Code of Practice would:

Immediately render the exemption unusable, as lawful use requires an approved Code

Make terrier work on hunts unlawful, simplifying enforcement

Expose illegal hunting more clearly, improving police and CPS confidence in prosecutions

Demonstrate government commitment to ending wildlife cruelty and upholding the law

This is the fastest, most effective way to restrict hunting with dogs while broader reform is in development.

We therefore call on you to:

Withdraw Defra’s approval of the current Code of Practice for the use of dogs below ground in fox control

Commit to blocking any future Code that could once again be exploited by hunts

This is not a complex legislative matter. It is a regulatory decision that would close the most dangerous loophole in the Hunting Act and restore public trust in the enforcement of the hunting ban.

With this simple step, you have the opportunity to strike a major blow against illegal hunting in Britain, and to do so quickly, cleanly, and decisively.

I look forward to your urgent response.

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End Terrier Work - Close the Loophole That Lets Hunts Keep Killing

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