Here in the UK, we are very pleased and proud of our fabulous League Against Cruel Sports (LACS), which is celebrating its 90th year anniversary this year !
Founded by Henry Amos and Ernest Bell in November 1924, the organisation at that time was called the ‘League for the Prohibition of Cruel Sports’. It was established as a breakaway organisation from the RSPCA. The League had its inaugural meeting on 25th November 1924.
The principles of the League were as they still are today – “… that it is iniquitous to inflict suffering, either directly or indirectly, upon sentient animals for the purpose of sport”
Its first journal named ‘Cruel Sports’ was published in 1927. The national appeal against stag hunting followed in 1928. During 1940 the League was forced to move out of its London premises due to bombing. In 1942 the League changed its name to the current ‘League Against Cruel Sports’.
The LACS produces a magazine for all its members, which is named ‘Protect’.
2014 marks a big year for the LACS; as they (and we, its members) now celebrate 10 years since the passing of the UK Hunting Act, which introduced a national ban on the hunting of fox, mink, deer Stag and hare with hounds. It was a great victory for hunted animals back in 2004 in the UK.
As the coalition government here in the UK, led by pro hunt Prime Minister and hunter, David Cameron MP, approaches its final year of power before the next general election, the pro-hunt lobby in the UK are getting very angry by the distinct lack of a free vote in Parliament to repeal the Hunting Act; a vote which was promised by hunter Cameron very early after polling day; almost 4 years ago !
The UK organisation the ‘Countryside Alliance’, which is doing all it can to get a full return to hunting, are now feeling rather betrayed by Cameron and the other MP’s who were in the pro-hunt lobby group.
80% of the British public wish the Hunting Act to remain in place.
The current situation is that if a free vote were to take place in the UK parliament at the moment, the majority of members of parliament (MP’s) would vote to RETAIN the Hunting Act. But as always, the threat to bring back hunting always remains, and because of this we always have to be on our guard. In a very recent poll undertaken by the LACS, 80% of the British general public said that they DO NOT THINK that hunting should be made legal again. This may also be a major reason why David Cameron is not acting to do anything about a free vote in the House of Commons; especially with an election on the near horizon !
The ‘No Joke’ Campaign headed by comedian Dave Spikey.
In November 2013 the LACS launched a nationwide awareness campaign featuring comedian Dave Spikey to highlight the importance of the Hunting Act in protecting British wildlife.
See the video via the following link which shows Dave in the ‘No Joke’ campaign:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7AQVXt7qVI#t=60
You can visit the League Against Cruel Sports at their Website = http://www.league.org.uk/#
The ‘Foxy February’ campaign – love for one of Britain’s finest mammals.
February 2014 is going to be the month to celebrate all things foxy !! The LACS are producing a leaflet on fox myths and facts. They are also putting out photos each day on social media. You can join in and celebrate all that is good about foxes by capturing sightings and images and then forwarding them on to the League.
http://www.league.org.uk/content/801/FoxyFeb?ArticleID=653
Links to some other major UK fox organisations who undertake rescue and ensure the wellbeing of the beloved Vulpine:
The National Fox Welfare Society – http://www.nfws.org.uk/
A completely voluntary organisation that has been running now for over 20 years, dedicated to helping the Red Fox in the UK by providing rescues for sick and injured foxes, treatments for foxes suffering from Sarcoptic Mange, cage traps for critically sick foxes though still mobile. All rescuers, Cage trap setters, fox cub fosterers, release site providers are voluntary.
NFWS also do a great range of T shirts and other merchandise – please visit the site to see all !!
Visit the NFWS rescue gallery at:
http://www.nfws.org.uk/national-fox-welfare-society-fox-photo-gallery.html
The Fox Project – http://www.foxproject.org.uk/
The Fox Project is a registered charity dedicated to the Red Fox.
Established in 1991 as a specialist Wildlife Information Bureau and Fox Deterrence Consultancy, it has incorporated a Wildlife Hospital since 1993 which, today, admits and treats around 700 foxes per year, including 250 cubs.
It appears regularly on TV, radio and other media, both in the UK and internationally, has received awards from RSPCA, International Fund for Animal Welfare, media and TV and is honoured to have Chris Packham as its Patron.
See some of the Fox Project rescues and foxes under care at: http://www.foxproject.org.uk/gallery/
Above – ‘East Kent Murder’ – the real side of foxhunting
– photo by Mark Johnson – SAV Founder.
Go Reynard; run healthy and run free; safe from the hunt !!!
KEEP CRUELTY HISTORY !
… and in Germany ……
Germany – Fox Hunting and the February ‘Fox Week’
The above situation in the UK is so very different to that regarding the terrible abuse of very healthy and beautiful foxes in Germany; where there is even a ‘Fox Week’ held in February when the aim by hunters is to kill as many foxes as they possibly can.
The following are all past SAV posts relating to the German situation, including many photographs and information as supplied by our dedicated German colleague / investigator:
(WARNING) the following links include many graphic photographs.
https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2011/02/06/oh-no-my-elephant-has-a-tapeworm-then-shoot-it-pose-for-photos-and-finally-save-the-human-race-dear-mr-hunter/
https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2013/02/24/germany-fox-week-2013-and-hunting-news/
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, VIDEOS | Leave a comment »