A kitten was allegedly attacked by hounds running through woodland during an illegal fox hunt on Christmas Eve.
The seven-month-old cat named Tiger, was found ‘ripped to pieces’ after an illegal hunt carried out by the Badsworth and Bramham Hunt & York & Ainsty South Hunt in Scarcroft, West Yorkshire, it has been claimed.
The ginger and white cat, who had been kept at the animal home Cat Action Trust 1977 in Leeds before being adopted with his brother Felix on August 9, was later found dead by his devastated owner.
Following the alleged attack, footage captured by independent hunt monitor and masters student Luke Steele, showed the pack of canines chasing after a lone fox on the morning of the incident.
During the clip, a lone fox was seen sprinting through grass on the Bramham Estate as it tried to flee from the fierce hounds.
Moments later, the dogs were released and chased after the helpless animal who tried to hide down a badger sett.
Mr Steele said: ‘It’s absolutely sickening to see a fox being chased to exhaustion by a pack of baying hounds across Bramham Park, an area popular with festival-goers who would be horrified to learn of the cruelty inflicted on hunted wildlife at the venue.
‘Bramham Park has important questions to answer about why it hosted the fox hunt in the first place when warned just days before about the Badsworth & Bramham Moor Hunt’s record of chasing and killing wildlife.
‘The Hunting Act is clear that landowners have a responsibility to ensure wildlife is not chased or killed by hounds on their land and those facilitating hunting could easily find themselves on the wrong side of the law.
‘Bramham Park should now fulfil its obligation to prevent wildlife crime and maintain strong community relations by no longer inviting the hunt in light of the events on Christmas Eve.’
Branch leader of Action Trust 1977, Shelia Pickersgill, told Metro.co.uk: ‘The owner found the cat.
‘The dogs came through and the cat was found all over the place.
‘All that’s left of him is bits of fur everywhere. ‘It’s disgusting that this goes on in this day and age. It’s barbaric.’
Bramham Estate Resident Agent Nicholas Pritchard said: ‘The Badsworth and Bramham Moor Hunt requested permission to meet at Bramham Park on Christmas Eve; they were allowed to onto the estate on the understanding that their activities fell within the law.
‘We have been made aware of a serious allegation that the law has been broken and we will cooperate fully with the Police in their investigation.’
Current laws in the UK state that it is illegal to hunt foxes with a pack of dogs however you can use canines to stimulate hunting.
The rules state hunters can use up to two dogs to ‘flush’ out foxes if the wild animals are damaging their property.
MailOnline has approached Badsworth and Bramham Hunt and West Yorkshire Police for comment.
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Source: Mail Online
