Whilst The Cottesmore Hunt’s Boxing Day meet went ahead in 2015, Rutland County Council have yet to decide whether this last minute 'rescue' will be a long-term solution. We have already stated elsewhere that in their reasoning for providing a location for The Cottesmore Hunt they have been misleading & over-looked concerns over wildlife crime & animal abuse raised by Oakham Town Council on 25/11/2015; these points must be addressed, yet at the moment Rutland County Council refuses to acknowledge that they were made at all.

As well as The Cottesmore Hunt’s recent conviction for obstructing a badger sett, which can be taken as intent to illegally hunt live foxes as The Fernie Hunt case demonstrates, the League Against Cruel Sports discovered artificial earths in their hunting area in 2011, used only for breeding foxes as The Burns Inquiry 2000 explains. They have also been stopped from carrying out bloodsport by Nottingham Hunt Saboteurs on 03/01/2015, where The Cottesmore Hunt almost killed a fox.

In order to prevent wildlife crime & protect wildlife in keeping with the wishes of the majority of people, we urge Rutland County Council to ensure that this is the last Cottesmore Hunt Boxing Day event held on Rutland County Council land.