Target: Lauren Poultney, Chief Constable, South Yorkshire Police, England
Goal: Enforce applicable animal bans following the badger-hunting case and investigate any further offenses involving wounded dogs or unlawful wildlife persecution.
Badgers were hunted and killed using dogs that themselves bore extensive facial scarring and untreated lesions. Two terriers involved in the hunt had their tails unlawfully docked.
Lewis Wray and Jake McLay have been sentenced following the investigation. Digital messages and recordings formed part of the evidence, alongside examinations of dogs recovered from a property. The resulting penalties make effective follow-through essential.
A court order protects animals only when its requirements are observed. Police and welfare agencies should coordinate responses to credible reports of breaches and assess any remaining investigative leads. Demand enforcement of applicable disqualifications, protection for animals at risk, and prosecution of substantiated new offenses without treating speculation as proof.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Chief Constable Poultney,
Ensure that the outcome of the badger hunting case involving Lewis Wray and Jake McLay leads to lasting protection for wildlife and domestic animals. Reports of badgers being pursued and killed, together with allegations of untreated wounds and unlawful tail docking in dogs, underline the importance of effective enforcement after sentencing.
Work with the relevant agencies to confirm the terms of the disqualification orders and establish clear arrangements for responding to suspected breaches. Preserve useful evidence concerning any separate offending that has not been resolved. Where new information warrants investigation, assess recordings, witness accounts, and veterinary findings carefully.
Where evidence establishes a breach or another distinct offense, pursue appropriate charges and support proportionate penalties through the prosecuting authority. We ask for practical wildlife protection measures informed by credible local intelligence and a safe way for residents to report concerns. The sentences already imposed should be implemented through lawful procedures, with attention to their protective purpose. Please make accountability durable: uphold the court’s restrictions, investigate substantiated further wrongdoing, and help prevent other animals from experiencing the violence and neglect described in this case.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Lark Ascending
