Replace equipment stolen by Hursley Hambleton Hunt

*UPDATE #2: Collectively, we have decided to no longer accept donations for our fundraiser. It is absolutely incredible that this generosity and level of support has not stopped but we feel that we do not want to over do-it. With that in mind, we are also incredibly grateful that we have achieved a longterm goal of raising money for a much needed vehicle which would accommodate our growing team. Honestly, we thought we wouldn’t be able to purchase a vehicle for another year or so!

We want to thank everyone who has shared our fundraiser on social media and elsewhere, for all the kind comments and messages of support and solidarity and a special thank you to Protect the Wild who have played a key part in the success of this fundraiser.

With that being said, we sincerely hope that the kindness and generosity of people does not stop; we want it to continue elsewhere. This time of year is life and death for many, not just wildlife. Our team have a mutual interest in intersectionality and believe it is important to support and highlight other causes, movements, solidarity work, mutual and beyond. So, we strongly encourage that anyone who was intending on sending us a donation consider doing this elsewhere. Food banks, animal sanctuaries, community projects, other hunt sabotage and wildlife protection groups and more all would appreciate this.

However, we would like to encourage others to support Happy Pants Ranch Charity with their fundraiser. They are a great animal sanctuary home to over 450 animals who have been abused and require special needs, but face closure following an eviction notice by the local council. Money raised will help them relocate which would save the animals from homeless and enable the sanctuary to continue their invaluable work for years to come.

Please find their GoFundme here: https://gofund.me/11db3817

Once again, huge thanks, gratitude and appreciation!

In solidarity,

South Thames Hunt Sabs*

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*UPDATE #1: We are truly overwhelmed and grateful for the level of support we have been shown in such a small amount of time since we published what happened to us on Saturday. The amount of kind messages and comments we have received, let alone the generous donations made to help us with replacing the stole equipment, reaffirms the power of solidarity and the scale of the anti-hunting movement. We have reached our initial target and have exceeded this to the extent that we are almost speechless! As a group, we have decided that these additional funds will be put aside for a group vehicle which is has been our longterm fundraising goal. Thanks to the kindness of our supporters, fellow comrade and those that remain anonymous, we are getting so much closer to getting an appropriate vehicle to cater for the interest we have had in expanding our team.

Updates on how this money will be spent will be published in due course.

Those from Hursley Hambledon Hunt, and indeed other undesirables, will no doubt be reading this. We make our intentions clear and known; we will not stop until hunting is finished. It is what the community wants and it is what wildlife deserves.

With love, rage and solidarity,

South Thames Hunt Sabs*

On Saturday 21st December 2024 our team attended a meet of Hursley Hambledon Hunt along with joined along with South Hampshire Hunt Sabs, Guildford Hunt Sabs, Surrey Hunt Sabs and Wildlife Guardians. Frustrated that they were caught killing a deer during a meet the previous week, the hunt were desperate to continue unabated and made significant efforts to stop any interference or evidence gathering of them hunting foxes. Specifically, they used intimidation, bullying and violence to deter us. This included being man-handled, hair being pulled and assaulted. Though this was intense and challenging for us, we maintained our presence and continued to do what we could throughout the day.

However, events took a severe turn for the worse. After the majority of the ride packed up and with around 30 minutes of daylight left, the hunt doubled-down on their ambitions to hunt and kill a fox. Hounds were in full cry in woodland and being hunted by the remaining hunting body who were accompanied by terrier men. Whilst we attempted to rate the hounds off, our small team of 3 were set upon by 9 including hunt master Kieran Hawkes, his sister Lauren and father Mike. We were held down, beaten and had a mobile phone and GoPro stolen. One of our sabs was stamped on her face and punched leaving her with a bruised face and black eye, while another left with a gash in his head after being repeatedly hit with the blunt end of a whip and having to attend A&E. The other was held and forced to watch the traumatic event. Shaken and injured, we are confident they were unable to kill the hunted fox.

A full and more detailed account of the days events can be found on our Facebook and Instagram.

We have set up this GoFundMe fundraiser to replace the mobile phone and GoPro camera that was stolen from us. Additionally, we are also investing in a good quality first aid kit for emergency use.

We would like to thank the HSA and Protect the Wild for their support of our new group so far and appreciate the support of our followers and solidarity shown from other groups.

We aren’t going anywhere!

South Thames Hunt Saboteurs