On 9th November 2023 four horsemen from our local Hunt allowed between 10 and 20 hounds to enter the field and terrify our sheep. 

Not for the first time, when questioned about their actions they expressed no concern for the livestock they had traumatised and expressed no apology for their actions, they simply rode away.

Huntsmen still run packs of hounds across the British countryside supposedly for exercise and to follow scent drag-trails.  Even if true, multiple horsemen and women accompanied by 10 or 20 fox hounds chase any wildlife or farm livestock they encounter, terrifying animals they chase and killing any they catch.

If an individual dog owner fails to control their animal and it chases livestock in a field, the dog owner can be prosecuted even if their dog only chases the livestock: "in such a way as may reasonably be expected to cause injury or suffering to the livestock or, in the case of females, abortion, or loss of or diminution in their produce".  The dog does not need to physically injure the livestock. 

However, Section 2A(b) of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 exempts owners of packs of hounds from prosecution if their dogs worry or kill livestock on agricultural land.

The Section 2A(b) exemption is an outdated relic that places Hunts above the law, allowing them to operate without care or consideration for any member of the community or animal. 

Parliament should amended the 1953 Act to remove this exemption at the earliest opportunity.