An online petition to confiscate an Orcop man’s dogs has gained more than 18,000 signatures, after he was found guilty of hunting with dogs at Hereford Magistrates’ Court on Friday, July 10th.

During the trial, Magistrates heard that on Wednesday, October 29th, 2014, local police officers pulled over a car towing a trailer for a routine traffic offence - the trailer had no lights working. The situation escalated when Alan Hill, 54, grabbed a bag from the car, and sprinted away with it.

The police gave chase, and Hill was caught with a live fox inside the bag. During the commotion, the fox escaped.

Alan Hill, along with James Smith, 22, and Jack Hudd, 21, were all found guilty of one offence of hunting, contrary to the Hunting Act 2004. All three men were fined £165 each.

Alan Hill was also convicted under the Animal Welfare laws of one offence of failing to take reasonable steps to protect the captured fox, which he’d kept in a rucksack. Hill was fined an additional £165 for this offence. All three men were also ordered to pay £500 each towards prosecution costs.

,br>Hill was found not guilty of not meeting the animal welfare needs of the three dogs that had been used to hunt. Since the verdict, several people have been arguing that Hill should have his dogs confiscated.

For the full story, see this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette.