Hunt says sorry for Marnhull hullaballoo
A HUNT master has apologised to villagers after hounds broke away from their trail scent route and chased through Marnhull after a fox.
Michael Felton, joint master of the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt, said he was sorry if the hounds had upset residents by the New Year's Eve incident.
His apology followed a complaint made by a villager who claimed the hounds had caused alarm as they ran through residential roads off Burton Street.
The villager, who does not want to be identified, said: "A lot of people were really upset and anxious.
"The hounds were running through gardens and trying to scale fences.
"They were not under control and just rampaged through there.
"There weren't many riders but there were followers on quad bikes. It was mayhem for about half an hour."
The villager said people had been anxious about their pets' safety. Some hounds had been seen running through a field of sheep.
Another resident described the incident as chaotic and noisy.
Mr Felton said: "We got slightly out of where we intended to be.
"The hounds follow a trail but it seems they picked up the scent of a fox and went after it.
"There are occasions when foxes jump up and the hounds switch. Hunt staff know if that happens they must stop the hounds at once and get them back on to the trail."
Mr Felton said he was too far behind the hounds to witness the incident but understood three hunt staff were present and called the hounds away as quickly as possible.
He added: "I apologise without reservation if anybody has been upset by it and we would, of course, make reparation if there has been any damage.
"This sort of thing happens very rarely but I can understand all the hullaballoo would make people jumpy and I am sorry."
The hunt had set out from Yenston with approximately 80 riders plus people on quadbikes and in vehicles.
Mr Felton said far fewer riders were with the 35 hounds as they reached Marnhull.
He said he had not heard of any damage caused nor a fox being seen in Marnhull.
A spokesman for Dorset Police said they had gone to Marnhull after receiving a call from a member of the public. No offences had been committed.
Dee Adcock
3 Comments
by suzieb11
Wednesday, January 11 2012, 10:30PM
“Police said no offences had been committed? So dogs all over the road or running loose in a field of sheep isn't an offence? It would be if they were anyone elses' dogs rather than the hunts'. We often read about hounds running loose on busy roads and even railways. How long before there's a serious accident? It's about time the law demanded that hunts present police with a map of where they're going to hold a non-animal scent DRAG hunt - away from roads and coverts where foxes lay up in the day. Or wouldn't a nice day riding and following the hounds be enough for these blood thirsty arrogant people?”
by Auntiecon
Tuesday, January 10 2012, 4:53PM
“Trail hunting my eye!! The hounds are deliberately trained to pick up the scent of fox - that's one of the reasons for cubbing (or so-called Autumn hunting as the devious like to call it) in the autumn which is practice for the 'pups' to go out with the mature dogs to get the idea of hunting their quarry and savaging them. The innocent public and the police are being taken in by these lawbreakers I'm afraid.”
by pullthechain
Saturday, January 07 2012, 11:00PM
“I doubt they were following a trail. Hunts hunt live foxes. Why are the hounds picking up a fox scent then? (as if) I shall tell you, it is because they hunt our poor foxes. It is because they are hoping for repeal and they want the hounds to retain the fox scent. Otherwise train them to follow a trail of onions, garlic whatever, anything but foxes! Why did the police state that no offences had been committed? There were lots of offences. Are the police 'in' with the hunt? Makes one wonder doesn't it?”