Protest against illegal fox hunting to be held in Stroud

Animal welfare campaigners from the League Against Cruel Sports will be demonstrating outside the Subscription Rooms on Friday (November 4). 

They have called upon civic leaders to ban fox hunting - including trail hunting - on its land.

Despite a fox hunting ban coming into force in 2005, the group compiles hundreds of eyewitness reports of suspected illegal fox hunting every year.

The charity is inviting the public to meet campaigners, including their mascot the league fox who will be entertaining families and posing for photos.

Residents will be asked to sign a petition asking councillors and civic leaders to do everything in their power to end fox hunting in the county.

The League Against Cruel Sports mascot fox with a family (Image: League Against Cruel Sports)

Emily Lawrence, regional campaign manager for the League Against Cruel Sports, said:

“We’re campaigning for an end to hunting with dogs across Gloucestershire because fox hunting is sadly still rife in the county despite it being illegal.

“Our launch will be a family friendly event in Stroud featuring the league fox – known for its dancing prowess and enthusiasm for having its photo taken – because the area is a hunting hot spot.

“We’ll be calling on local authorities across the county, including Stroud District Council, to properly ban fox hunting on public land and help make Gloucestershire a hunting free county.”

A previous League Against Cruel Sports protest in Taunton (Image: League Against Cruel Sports)

The last set of eye-witness reports relating to suspected illegal hunting compiled by the League before the pandemic showed Gloucestershire had 45 incidents between November 2019 and March 2020. 

This was the highest figure for any county in England and Wales.

The Countryside Alliance, which has thousands of members across Gloucestershire, said that it would follow any action or developments in relation to the petition and the council closely.

Jim Barrington, who advises the Countryside Alliance on animal welfare, said: “Trail hunting is a legal activity, which involves the laying of an artificial scent for hounds to follow.

"Gloucestershire, like elsewhere across the country, is facing a cost of living crisis.

"All attention should be on alleviating the anxiety that many in the county are feeling, not bullying rural people over their way of life.

“This petition has nothing to do with animal welfare, but everything to do with rural prejudice and warped priorities.”

The protest, which is peaceful and family friendly, is open to everyone concerned about illegal fox hunting in Gloucestershire and will take place outside the Sub Rooms on Friday (November 4) from 12pm to 2pm.