By Ruth aka Kattaddorra
‘The Hunting Act 2004 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which bans the hunting of wild mammals (notably foxes, deer, hares and mink) with dogs in England and Wales; the Act does not cover the use of dogs in the process of flushing out an unidentified wild mammal, nor does it affect drag hunting, where hounds are trained to follow an artificial scent’¹
The League Against Cruel Sports now have a Crimewatch page where anyone can report crimes committed against animals by hunters. I was glad to see this and had a look at the contact page which states:
“Use the form below to report any kind of wildlife crime you come across. From organised hunting to dog fighting, from badger persecution to having trouble with your local shoot. Every piece of information is important
Please state what type of incident you are reporting. What species of animal does the incident relate to…..”
The drop down box listed:
- fox
- deer
- hare
- dog
- badger
- mink
- otter
- pheasant
- partridge
- grouse
- unknown
- other
Hang on…..DOG isn’t wild life and more importantly, where is CAT?
No, cats are not wild life either, although in a way they are classed as so because the Road Traffic Act says accidents involving dogs must be reported, yet accidents involving cats, just like accidents involving wild life, don’t have to be reported.
So, I contacted the League:
‘Hello, I’m wondering why it is, on your website for reporting wild life crimes, on the contact form with the drop down box there are species listed to choose from, including DOG….. but not CAT. Many times we hear of cats attacked and torn to bits by hounds out with hunters, often on their owners property, in their gardens. I don’t think cats should come under ‘other’ Surely a cat attacked and killed by hounds is as serious a crime as it is them killing a dog or any other species. I’m a supporter of the League, always have been but I’m also a member of Cats Protection and upset that it seems they aren’t deemed as important as other animals.’
I was very pleased with their reply:
‘Hi Ruth, Thank you for your message. You make a very valid point! We, unfortunately, receive too many reports of domestic cats being killed by out of control hounds.
I think maybe we had cat under ‘other’ as we receive a lot of specific reports regarding mistreatment of hunting hounds etc. and that is what the dog column is for. However I spoke to one of my colleagues and we both agreed that cats should have their own category and so we have amended the form to reflect the concerns in your message. If you go back to the form it should now appear.
Thank you for getting in touch and highlighting this to us, we really appreciate the feedback.
Kind regards,
The League’
The list now reads:
- fox
- deer
- hare
- dog
- cat
- badger
- mink
- otter
- pheasant
- partridge
- grouse
- unknown
- other
I thanked them, of course, on behalf of all cat lovers. A good result.
Cats need more protection than they have, they can’t speak for themselves so we must do it on their behalf.
Ruth aka Kattaddorra
Ref:
- Wikipedia
Although this is an old post, I’m just now seeing it, since I’m a new reader. Ruth, thank you for speaking up about this, and sharing it here. If each of us could speak up for cats, and other creatures in our way, change could happen.
I’ve seen that petitions have been successful in helping many tortured and hunted animals, so I sign a few every day, and love knowing when they have stopped an inhumane practice. Our voices and our votes count in this arena, though not as much against the government machine who’s intention is to hunt and imprison us for veering away from their mandates.
Sandy, there are thousands of old posts which are very good. Some are excellent. I’d like bring some of them forward so people can revisit them. I am working on that (slowly!). Ruth is a great advocate of declawing and a ban on fox hunting. Fox hunting may be reinstated under this government.
Not so small a victory Ruth a great victory to get cats included by the LACS and let everyone know they are as important as other animals and hunts shouldn’t be allowed to kill them on their own property or anywhere else.
I hate anyone who hunts like poison and if they think they are above the law they better think again while we are around.
Well done Ruth, I’m really proud of my big sister who stands up for cats in every way shape or form that she can, takes any criticism, shrugs it off and does it again anyway. I also saw this from the LACS but it never entered my head to challenge them let alone achieve an almost instant result. Cats do need protection there are far too many people around who think a cat is an “it”, a lower form of life than a dog and much more easily replaceable, well that is NOT SO and we are all here to spread the news! As for Woody-the-Troll he’s pathetic, not fit to lick the boots of any of you lovely kind and caring people who make up the POC family.
Thanks Babz, yes we are all here to make the world better for cats!
You are right, Woody is a pathetic idiot and beneath the contempt of decent caring people.
The League Against Cruel Sports was the first thing I ever joined as a kid. When I was 8 years old in boarding school they allowed us an hour or so every wednesday for personal things like ‘hobbys’ and they allowed us to subscribe to one magazine or weekly/monthly publication of sorts – or you could read a book of your own choice. Freedom eh, you can’t beat it! Anyway I decided I wanted to become a member of the League Against Cruel Sports and I sent off for one of their keyrings and a bookmark I think and maybe a couple stickers or something. When I was 8 years old!
Therefore it’s so nice to read this article Ruth. I never had any personal contact with them but it’s nice to know that they are still around and that they seem like very good people indeed. Wonderful. 🙂
Thanks Marc, you must have had a compassionate nature even at only 8 years old!
Yes the League are still around and although hunting with packs of dogs is supposed to be illegal now the Hunts still try to get away with it, so hunt sabateuring still has to go on.
Hunters have no regard for any animal life, not even their horses or hounds, we hear terrible stories of the way they are treated.
I just don’t know how anyone can take another living beings life for fun 🙁
I don’t know either it’s just horrible. They probably always argue in the name of ‘tradition’ but I don’t believe culture should have so much power – nature is more important than cultural traditions. Yet the Japanese hunt whales in the name of tradition and culture. Whatever. Culture is our enemy in many ways.