The animal rights campaigner believes sniffer dogs tracking people is the best way to keep hunting traditions alive, with no fox being torn to pieces.
Renowned guitarist for Queen, Brian May is also an active animal rights campaigner. He was recently involved in what is called the “clean boot” (i.e. boots not coated with blood) Boxing Day hunt, held in Swansea, which sees around a dozen hunters on horseback and a group of sniffer dogs, hunting a bunch of runners instead of foxes.
Wales Online reports that May believes humane (and fun) hunts like this are the best way to keep the hunting traditions alive, but with no fox torn apart in the process. He and the organisers hope the event will bring both animal rights campaigners and hunters together in the preservation of animals and tradition.
Hunters and sniffer dogs track humans
Dubbed the Three Counties Bloodhounds Annual Boxing Day Hunt, the event started shortly after 11:00 AM in Wind Street, Swansea. This hunt involves no animal scents, as the bloodhounds track humans instead of foxes. Reportedly the dogs have not been trained in fox hunting.According to May, people who take part in the event find it a harder ride than the normal fox hunt, but there is no animal cruelty involved. He went on to say no fox gets torn to shreds and the runners who do get caught get thoroughly licked by a bunch of friendly dogs.
Queen rocker makes unusual friendship with farmer
Hunt organiser Byron John invited May, who is the founder of the Save Me Trust, to the event on Wednesday. John is a farmer who struck up a friendship with May when he attended a hunt three years ago in Swansea. Paying tribute to John, May said Byron was a very "brave man," as he has received criticism from the hunting community, and also from various animal rights groups, who have no real understanding of what he is trying to do.This was the first event organised by John since he lost his 53-year-old son Bradley. As reported in a BBC article, Bradley took his own life as the result of bullying at school. John told the BBC they have been running the hunting event for five years and while there has been criticism in the past, John believes animal rights campaigners and hunters should come together to stop the hostility.
John said the hunting community needs to look at ways they can make the sport modern, while keeping the traditions.
Fox hunting in the UK
The traditional fox hunting methods were banned in the UK in 2004, but have been replaced by what is called trail hunting. This sees the horse riders and hounds following a pre-set trail of scents, including fox urine.On Instagram, May wrote the events are the future of hunting in the country, where no animal will be harmed. He added that this type of hunt will not “accidentally” chase foxes.
Wales Online quotes May as posting on his Facebook page to say the public does not want to see cruelty to animals as "entertainment." He said savaging a fox or any other animal using a pack of hounds will never be acceptable. He said there will be other hunts in the coming year that do not support animal cruelty.
