The Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Foxhounds group, which is one of the oldest fox hunts in Scotland, has folded after 252 years.
Anti-blood sports campaigners rejoiced after the controversial group announced their closure in the wake of new Scottish Government curbs on hunting.
The group has closed weeks after Fife Foxhounds disbanded with many declaring the announcements a “seismic” victory by animal rights campaigners and activist saboteurs writes the Daily Record.
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New laws were passed earlier this year to clamp down on the past time and close loopholes in legislation.
A two-dog limit has been brought in for hunting unless they are provided with special licence and also prohibits trail hunting where dogs follow an animal-based scent.
Shortly after the Bill was passed at Holyrood by MSPs Fife's regional fox hunting group disbanded citing 'financial reasons.'
The Houston based Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Foxhounds, which was established 1771, has now announced its own closure. Activists claim it’s clearly linked to the strict new curbs.
In a statement, local anti-hunting campaigners the Glasgow Hunt Saboteurs said: “This seismic victory comes just a month after the Hunting with Dogs Scotland Bill was passed.
“Clearly the restrictions in place were not workable for the L&R hunt and as a result, the hunt have thrown in the towel.
“We are ecstatic beyond belief to see the demise of the L&R as our group and our predecessors Clydeside Hunt Sabs worked tirelessly for years bringing this hunt to their knees.”
The Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Foxhounds group, which is based half an hour from Glasgow, had their last meet on Saturday, March 5.
Sources say members were informed of the group’s imminent closure at a meet prior to that.
Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Foxhounds did not respond to repeated requests for comment over several weeks. A contact phone number on their website has also been disconnected.
In 2021 a shocking video of a group member taunting activists with a fox carcass to his dogs was posted online.
The tougher new Hunting with Dogs Act replaces a previous 2002 law which aimed to ban fox hunting but saw loopholes exploited by hunts.
Scottish SPCA chief superintendent, Mike Flynn, said, “Following the passing of the Hunting with Dogs Act, this is the second hunting group that has closed in recent weeks.
“Hunting for sport should be consigned to history and that is why we’ve long called for loopholes in Scotland’s hunting legislation to be addressed. This Act is a massive step in the right direction.
“We hope members of the group will ensure their hounds are looked after, or appropriately rehomed, even though they have disbanded.”
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