EXCLUSIVE: The League Against Cruel Sports has written to SNP ministers over claims a mounted hunt may have exploited a new licensing scheme to continue the blood sport.
Fox hunts could STILL be taking place in Scotland despite a landmark ban amid fears huntsmen are exploiting a loophole, the Daily Record reveals today.
A new ban on hunting with dogs came into effect last year which it was hoped would be watertight - placing a two-dog limit on hunts unless a special licence is sought strictly for reasons such as protecting livestock or wildlife. As licence applications are made by individuals, the official admitted in June that “without knowing which individuals are working for which hunts we cannot be sure if we have issued other licences for… hunts” elsewhere in the country.
Robbie Marsland, Scotland and Northern Ireland director for the anti-blood sports group, said: “Before the new ban, the League routinely filmed hunts running a coach and horses through the old legislation. “We are devastated to discover that at least one mounted hunt was able to exploit a new loophole last season and we worry that more will learn this trick in the new hunting season which is just around the corner.
Responding to the revelations, Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess said: "This is very concerning. A lot of us warned that the licensing system was a mistake and that it would simply create new loopholes. The government insisted otherwise, but that is exactly what has happened. The Lauderdale Hunt, which was established in 1910, claims on its website that since the new ban was passed last year, it has pivoted to cruelty-free hunts where bloodhounds instead chase human runners.
“We are committed to having appropriate, proportionate, and robust compliance monitoring in place for this licensed activity. Additionally, several compliance monitoring visits were not able to be carried out as the scheduled activity was cancelled.”
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