Teal Posted March 30, 2005 Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 Agenda: 2.30pm Adoption of the constitution and election of officers at 2.30 at the Duke of Kendal, Connaught Street, W2 3.00pm The Meet 3.30pm First draw and onwards 5.00pm Hunt tea in the Duke of Kendal You are cordially invited to the inaugural and opening meet of the Connaught Square Squirrel Hunt at 3pm on Sunday 3rd April 2005 at the Duke of Kendal, Connaught Street, London W2. We believe that this is the first hunt to be set up in England and Wales since the ban on hunting with dogs came into force on 17th February It is now illegal to hunt squirrels, even with 1 dog (see below), but "the Nutkins" will hunt legally by drag hunting. The "squirrel hound" will chase a sock on a string and if any squirrels are chased, this will be an error beyond our control. We shall follow the Countryside Alliance advice and notify the police of our intention to hunt legally through Connaught Square (where our Great Leader has bought a home) and Hyde Park. The intention is first to have a good time and secondly highlight the absurdity of the Hunting Act, a law that the Government allowed 70 hours of Parliament's time, compared to the 7 hours with which it allowed Parliament to debate going to war. We have great pleasure in announcing that Felix the Fox will be the guest huntsman for our opening meet. See www.fighttheban.com for information on Felix. We will to meet at the pub at 3 o'clock (adoption of constitution and election of officers at 2.30) and draw our first covert in Connaught Square gardens at around 3.30. The hunt will proceed to Hyde Park to draw further coverts until we get bored, unless the Squirrel Hound chases a squirrel in error in which case the day will end immediately. We are likely to be finished by 5 latest. Then back to the pub for those so inclined. The huntsman and joint masters will be wearing hunt coats: please join them if you feel inclined. The Nutkins intend in due course to adopt our own hunt colours (midnight blue velvet tails slashed to reveal shocking pink lining) and buttons (squirrel rampant). All subscribers may sport the Nutkins' colours or our buttons. Whereas the Nutkins will be happy to welcome visiting packs in due course, we intend to use our own specially trained Squirrel Hound on 3rd. He's a bit of a fighter so please keep visiting hounds on leads. The Nutkins will hunt on Sundays and off throughout the summer months. Please contact either of the Joint Masters if you would like to follow on any day. We shall hold a subscribers dinner and, more importantly, a hunt ball. Details TBA. The longevity and frequency of the hunt will depend on its popularity. If a success, we shall seek to register as a hunt with the Masters of Bloodhounds and Draghounds Association: see www.draghunting.org.uk. We think that this is an important event in its own way and would be glad to see as many people as possible, especially at the meet and first draw. Children are welcome. PLEASE E-MAIL YES (number of people coming) TO connaughtsquaresquirrelhunt@yahoo.co.uk IF YOU CAN ATTEND so we can warn Sean, the publican, how much Drag-Hunting Port to buy: Please e-mail NO if you can't attend but wish to become a member or merely be notified of future events (including the ball). Tally Ho, Ed Seyfried Duncan Macpherson Intended Joint Masters WHY HAVE WE DONE THIS? READ ON ... The Hunting Act is absurd and should be shown to be so. It won't surprise those of you that know us that we have come up with a scheme to involve the pub, silly clothes and demonstrating outside Mr. Blair's new home. (NB He's let it now so don't be nasty to the occupants. It’s not their fault!) But what follows is the truth. You couldn't make it up. Your dog can be put down if it chases a squirrel The Hunting Act 2004 bans hunting with dogs unless his hunting is exempt: . Hunting includes "participating in the pursuit of a wild mammal and one or more dogs are used in the pursuit". It doesn't matter that it’s not your dog or under your control. People mistakenly believe that it’s legal if there are no more than 2 dogs: this is incorrect. (You can flush out game with 2 dogs in limited circumstances) As a result, it is definitely illegal to encourage your dog (or anyone else's for that matter) to chase a squirrel, assuming he does so. It may also be illegal (a) not to stop your dog if it is chasing a squirrel of its own accord; and ( to watch someone's dog chasing a squirrel, at least if you enjoy it. If caught and prosecuted, you can be fined 5,000 pounds and your dog can be forfeited and put down. For chasing a squirrel. That's not all. A policeman may arrest you if he believes that you are about to put your dog on a squirrel. If he thinks that you may already have done, a policeman may search you, your car or your home to obtain evidence (for example your camera or phone). He can do any of this without a warrant. Unlike, for example, if he thinks you have robbed a bank. The problem: Ed's dog chases squirrels The Hunting Act has severely affected the welfare of Ed's Jack Russell, Dillon/Dylan (he can't spell). One of his favourite pastimes of a Sunday afternoon in Hyde Park is chasing squirrels (and occasionally, foxes, although maybe not any more after the last one turned on him). Ed likes to indulge his dog and sometimes has to pick him up to point our where the squirrels are, especially when the grass is long in summer. Dillon/Dylan has only ever caught one squirrel (and that was in Ed's bedroom) but he loves trying. Ed's actions are now illegal, as is the encouragement given by fellow walkers and sometimes passers-by. If Ed is reported or caught, a policeman could break into his home and take his phone, Ed would get a criminal record and Dillon/Dylan put down. The solution: a drag hunt. The only way out of this is drag hunting. We intend to replicate as far as possible for Dillon/Dylan's pleasure the experience of chasing squirrels without actually chasing any squirrels. We thought first of killing a squirrel and then pulling it on the end of a string, which is perfectly legal, but its not easy in Central London. Anyway, Dillon/Dylan will chase most things if encouraged. He is, after all, a dog. So we believe that we can assist Dillon/Dylan in achieving his dog-Nirvana by tying a sock filled with nice doggy things to fishing line and pulling it through the grass. For authenticity, the grass should be close to a tree frequented by squirrels and our fake squirrel should "run" towards the tree and then be pulled up it. Technical experiments are currently in progress to assess how to create the most realistic squirrel-type motion. We emphasize that we do not intend Dillon/Dylan to chase a squirrel. Obviously. Because that would be illegal. Publicise the absurdity in the law While we don't think any policeman in his right mind would want to prosecute someone for setting his dog on a squirrel in Hyde Park, it is nevertheless illegal to do so. It is absurd to ban a traditional and harmless pastime enjoyed by otherwise law-abiding and civilised people for some theoretical notion of animal welfare that can only lead to more of that animal being killed. Sounds familiar? What is more, having a law that no-one intends to implement brings law in general into disrepute. Most importantly, it is not for the Government to determine what laws it wishes to implement. That way leads to a police state, whereby everyone is doing something illegal but people will only be prosecuted if you irritate the Government or some civil servant. Anyhow, people should know that putting a dog onto a squirrel is illegal. We thought the best way to tell them would be an event. The best type of event is a fun one. There you go. See you on Sunday! Ed & Duncan Anyone going or heard about it? I got an email this morning, sounds like it could be a laugh! http://www.fighttheban.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul in North Lincs. Posted March 30, 2005 Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 I didnt think it was April fools until Friday!!!! Paul in North Lincs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clanchief Posted March 30, 2005 Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 After all that typing he should have remembered the grey squirrell is not indiginous so therefore is akin to the rainbow trout and can be taken all year round and does not have the same protection. now if we proved there was a fox from america breeding with local foxes we can really let the games begin ? clan solic sacerdobias Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 If you would like to add a genuine squirrels tail to your drag sock let me know as I have some I've put by for fly tying. Wonder if the Merc will still be up on bricks with no wheels outside Mr. B. Liars new house ?? Tally Ho !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimescar-keeper Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 They should organise more of these. How about one in the North?? Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridinghunter Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 A somewhat belated reply!... The Connaught Square Squirrel Hunt is alive and flourishing. I joined the Opening Meet, just over a week ago, and am looking forward to the next (see the 2007 Meet card on the website:http://www.csshhq.org.uk/ ). The fact that our Great Leader has now evicted his temporary tenant as a prelude to his own eviction from Premier Homes, and is moving in to the Square, adds a certain frissance to the proceedings. This is one of the most civilised and native responses to the nonsense that is the Hunting Act and is thoroughly good fun. Liberty through absurdity! :unsure: Alwyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 Alwyn it is a very small world at times! Ollie from Bebo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 Meet up in Soho for drinks after and ??:lol:??:lol: LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flash Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 lol hey alwyn, its greabobeob off bebo, i like the idea of a organised squirel hunt, really put a dent in the begars population. cheers flash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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