At trial in February, Taunton Dean District Judge David Taylor made it clear that the Quantock Staghounds had conducted an illegal hunt in January 2018 (pictured above). What prevented hunt members Richard Down and Martin Watts from being individually prosecuted was that the footage captured didn’t clearly identify them.
It was noted in court that both the huntsman and whipper-in had changed out of their hunting pinks after the meet, into tweed jackets for the hunt itself, purposefully making it more difficult to be identified.
We must provide a clearer picture by investing in our camera capture systems - we can’t do this without your incredible support.
You can help us provide the whole story
Without having these key surveillance tools, we aren’t able to obtain vital footage showcasing blatant cruelty to animals and see lawbreakers punished for their crimes.
Smaller, more covert, automatic long-range cameras
In 2016 we captured long-range footage of terriermen locating one of our covert cameras. Not only did we lose the camera, but we also lost the footage that had been recorded. Now, smaller, more covert trail cameras are available, which would be harder to find. They also automatically transmit footage and email pictures when motion-activated, all of which safeguards vital footage in the unlikely event that one is found and taken in the future.
Drones
By using drones to monitor hunts from a distance, we can protect both our professional investigators and their precious footage. By filming the hunt in its entirety, it’s easier to show the full picture and give a clear account of suspected illegal activity.
By supporting our professional investigators today we can better equip them with smaller, more covert long-range cameras, drones and pilot training, keeping them safe while they collect footage that could lead to custodial sentences for the worst offenders.
Your support today will allow us to purchase smaller, more covert long-range cameras, invest in drones and pilot train our professional investigators, keeping the professional investigators safe and ensuring the footage is clear.
If you too won’t stand for cruelty to animals, please support our professional investigators today and equip them with the tools they need to catch animal abusers in the act.