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Author Topic: Hunting dogs killed on track near Templecombe, 1.1.2022  (Read 5205 times)
grahame
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« on: January 05, 2022, 23:54:54 »

From ITV

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In what could have caused “terrible injuries to people”, four hunting hounds have been killed by a train after running onto a railway line on New Year's Day in Somerset.

Network Rail said: “The driver of a train reported seeing a pack of dogs. Sadly, the train collided with four dogs near Templecombe, Somerset.

Article continues
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PhilWakely
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« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2022, 10:23:05 »

At the risk of provoking a for/against hunting debate, of which I have no intention!

IF the hunt was obeying the law and trail-hunting, then those who laid the trail must have been extremely irresponsible to lay it anywhere near the railway (or major road for that matter). I guess that the hounds picked up the scent of a live quarry and those in charge of the hunt either couldn't or didn't want to attempt to control the pack. In either case, extremely irresponsible!

Whilst I, in common with at least two members of this forum, am (or would like to think I am) a responsible dog owner and love the four-legged member of our family, I have absolutely no sympathy for those associated with the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt.
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froome
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« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2022, 11:17:56 »

At the risk of provoking a for/against hunting debate, of which I have no intention!

IF the hunt was obeying the law and trail-hunting, then those who laid the trail must have been extremely irresponsible to lay it anywhere near the railway (or major road for that matter). I guess that the hounds picked up the scent of a live quarry and those in charge of the hunt either couldn't or didn't want to attempt to control the pack. In either case, extremely irresponsible!

Whilst I, in common with at least two members of this forum, am (or would like to think I am) a responsible dog owner and love the four-legged member of our family, I have absolutely no sympathy for those associated with the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt.

Just as an aside to this, your comments made me wonder whether one of the reasons why railway embankments have become important havens for some wildlife over the decades is because they offered a place to escape hunting dogs. Obviously the habitat they offer, and its general lack of disturbance from humans especially, is the main reason.
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« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2022, 11:42:31 »


It was at one time and certainly still in the 1970/80's, regular practice on at least the BR (British Rail(ways)) WR Reading Division daily passenger operations notice to advise staff, principally for the attention of traincrews, of hunting fixtures near the railway to enable a sharp lookout to be kept for hounds that might have followed the scent of a fox onto railway land etc.

The vast proliferation of scavenging foxes in London and other urban areas, has often been said to be due to the overgrown Railway linesides and land, that since the 1960's/70's has provided ideal cover and corridors from the countryside into the Cities.


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eightonedee
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« Reply #4 on: January 06, 2022, 14:04:27 »

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Just as an aside to this, your comments made me wonder whether one of the reasons why railway embankments have become important havens for some wildlife over the decades is because they offered a place to escape hunting dogs. Obviously the habitat they offer, and its general lack of disturbance from humans especially, is the main reason.

I very much doubt that hunting with dogs has had any material impact, as so little of the countryside is (or was, before the ban) actually hunted. The lack of human disturbance is certainly the most important factor, combined with the lack of periodic destruction by fire since the disappearance of steam in the 1960s.
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RichT54
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« Reply #5 on: January 06, 2022, 15:30:04 »

At least the hunt supporters can't aggressively ride their quad bikes onto the railway tracks and hold up the trains; unlike what I've seen them do on a busy major road.
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JayMac
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« Reply #6 on: January 06, 2022, 18:39:12 »

100% sympathy for the dogs.

Zero sympathy for those that train them. Just like the animals they continue to illegally hunt they have zero concern for the welfare of the dogs they use for their barbaric pleasure.

Scum. The lot of them.

And idiots. Trespassing on the railway to recover the dead dogs rather than reporting the incident.
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grahame
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« Reply #7 on: January 06, 2022, 18:59:10 »

At the risk of provoking a for/against hunting debate, of which I have no intention!

Phil, I posted the original report as no more than a newspaper quote because I feared that any more I might add would colour the story with my personal disgust at those people who have set up and propagate the whole wide situation that led to the dogs being on the railway line.

I see no reason why members should not share their own views - be they in line with the ones I have just alluded to, or to explain to members why the activities that led to this accident (and not for the first time, by a long stretch) should be considered acceptable.
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broadgage
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« Reply #8 on: January 06, 2022, 19:45:38 »

100% sympathy for the dogs.

Zero sympathy for those that train them. Just like the animals they continue to illegally hunt they have zero concern for the welfare of the dogs they use for their barbaric pleasure.

Scum. The lot of them.

And idiots. Trespassing on the railway to recover the dead dogs rather than reporting the incident.

Agree. I used to be "neutral" on the issue of fox hunting but I am now opposed.
I USED to believe that despite the animal cruelty concerns , that fox hunting was an important part of rural life and the rural economy and was PERHAPS worth keeping.

I NOW believe that the benefits of fox hunting were greatly exaggerated, it has now been banned for some years with very little impact except on those directly involved. When foxes need controlling in order to protect sheep or for other GOOD REASON I favour shooting them by suitably trained persons. In the absence of good reasons to kill foxes then "live and let live"

I still have mixed feelings about drag hunting. On balance I support a ban, but feel less strongly about this than about the hunting of live animals. Incidents like the one reported are a powerful argument in favour of a ban.

The National Trust have banned, or are about to ban drag hunting on their land, a positive step IMHO (in my humble opinion). Hopefully other land owners will adopt similar policies.
« Last Edit: January 06, 2022, 20:34:52 by broadgage » Logged

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broadgage
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« Reply #9 on: January 06, 2022, 19:54:40 »

On a lighter, but related note, I recall a primary school exam intended to test general knowledge/common sense.
One question was

Which of the following is the odd one out ?

Fox hunt.
Hare coursing.
Whist drive.
Grouse shoot.
Stag hunt.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
Phil
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« Reply #10 on: January 06, 2022, 20:23:04 »

There seems to be an assumption here that it was members of the hunt who allowed the dogs to stray on the line. That may well be the case. I don't know. However I am personally aware of an incident near Erlestoke in Wiltshire some five or six years ago when hunt saboteurs deliberately redirected a pack of hunt dogs onto the main Westbury-Pewsey line.

I don't have a great deal of sympathy with those who hunt living creatures for recreational purposes; but ever after that I have nothing but revulsion for the sick individuals who feel it to be necessary to intentionally put the lives of both animals and the travelling public at risk.

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grahame
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« Reply #11 on: January 06, 2022, 21:05:27 »

On a lighter, but related note, I recall a primary school exam intended to test general knowledge/common sense.
One question was

Which of the following is the odd one out ?

Fox hunt.
Hare coursing.
Whist drive.
Grouse shoot.
Stag hunt.


Was it the Grouse Shoot because in those days it was the only one that switched between "illegal" and "legal" in early August each year?
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #12 on: January 06, 2022, 22:10:34 »

There seems to be an assumption here that it was members of the hunt who allowed the dogs to stray on the line. That may well be the case. I don't know. However I am personally aware of an incident near Erlestoke in Wiltshire some five or six years ago when hunt saboteurs deliberately redirected a pack of hunt dogs onto the main Westbury-Pewsey line.

I don't have a great deal of sympathy with those who hunt living creatures for recreational purposes; but ever after that I have nothing but revulsion for the sick individuals who feel it to be necessary to intentionally put the lives of both animals and the travelling public at risk.



Absolutely.

I've seen "animal loving" hunt saboteurs scattering marbles and ball bearings in an attempt to bring down horses.

Saboteurs & huntsmen (those who continue to break the law as opposed to legal drag hunting) are two cheeks of the same arse.
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JayMac
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« Reply #13 on: January 06, 2022, 22:38:10 »

There seems to be an assumption here that it was members of the hunt who allowed the dogs to stray on the line. That may well be the case. I don't know. However I am personally aware of an incident near Erlestoke in Wiltshire some five or six years ago when hunt saboteurs deliberately redirected a pack of hunt dogs onto the main Westbury-Pewsey line.

I don't have a great deal of sympathy with those who hunt living creatures for recreational purposes; but ever after that I have nothing but revulsion for the sick individuals who feel it to be necessary to intentionally put the lives of both animals and the travelling public at risk.

The Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt would be shouting from the rooftops if there was even the tiniest bit of evidence that Sabs were responsible for the deaths of these dogs.

I too have revulsion for those who endanger the lives of animals and the travelling public. Like the B&SVH failing to control their hounds. Laying deliberately weak trails so that the pack can continue to sniff out foxes. Then blaming the hounds when they do what the hunt have trained them to do. Hunts continue to use captured foxes to train hounds. They continue the barbaric practice of cubbing.

Yes, there are one or two Sabs who go too far in disrupting hunts. But if the hunts weren't acting illegally in the first place there'd be no need for hunt monitoring and disruption to continue.

I find it just a little incredulous that there are these anecdotes of hunt saboteurs acting illegally yet so little evidence and few prosecutions. On the flip side its really easy to find evidence of huntspeople and their supporters acting illegally, and being prosecuted. You'd think that huntspeople would be doing all they can to prove that Sabs are acting illegally.

Oh, and trail hunting and breeding dogs to hunt need banning too.
« Last Edit: January 06, 2022, 23:12:08 by bignosemac » Logged

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broadgage
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« Reply #14 on: January 07, 2022, 05:12:57 »

For those who insist on hunting, alternatives exist  Cheesy

Not certain that direct link to the video is appropriate, but here is a news report https://metro.co.uk/2007/08/13/outrage-at-chav-hunting-videos-26824/

In very poor taste, but it made me laugh I am afraid.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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