1,000 signatures reached
To: Simon Wood -Head of facilities at North Bristol NHS trust and Carillion plc construction support services.
HELP STOP THE FOX CULL AT SOUTHMEAD HOSPITAL, BRISTOL
We request that we are given reassurance in writing that no foxes will be killed or harmed at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.
That advice will be sought from Wildlife experts who wish to protect the foxes, such as The Fox Project and The National Fox Welfare Society and they will be allowed to asses the area and the foxes to decipher the best and most compassionate course of action (if any) to deter the foxes from the maternity unit.
Two foxes have been caught already, one whom had a limp but was recovering, we have been told they have been 'treated humanely' We request to know what has happened to these foxes, if they have been shot or killed we request for the Hospital trust to be open about this and explain their justification for this murder.
That advice will be sought from Wildlife experts who wish to protect the foxes, such as The Fox Project and The National Fox Welfare Society and they will be allowed to asses the area and the foxes to decipher the best and most compassionate course of action (if any) to deter the foxes from the maternity unit.
Two foxes have been caught already, one whom had a limp but was recovering, we have been told they have been 'treated humanely' We request to know what has happened to these foxes, if they have been shot or killed we request for the Hospital trust to be open about this and explain their justification for this murder.
Why is this important?
The foxes at Southmead hospital grounds have lived there peacefully for many years, they have caused no harm and many patients find joy in watching them from the hospital.
The hospital have expressed that they plan to cull the foxes as they believe they pose a 'risk' to their patients.
Southmead hospital claim the foxes are coming nearer to the maternity unit and some appear to be unwell. Often when foxes are suffering from illness they become bolder and more visible, the foxes need our help, they do not need to be culled.
The laws regarding foxes, as stated in the Protection of Wild Mammals Act 1996, are as follows:
‘If, save as permitted by this Act, any person mutilates, kicks, beats, nails or otherwise impales, stabs, burns, stones, crushes, drowns, drags or asphyxiates any wild mammal with intent to inflict unnecessary suffering he shall be guilty of an offence.’
‘Destroying, blocking, or filling up a fox earth that contains live foxes is an offence under this act.’
Two foxes we believe have already been trapped and 'dealt with humanely' however the hospital has not disclosed how they have 'dealt with' the foxes and what they consider to be humane, we have requested to find this out and an explanation of what action was taken and why.
The illness they are most likely to suffer from are mange, Toxplasmosis and Toxocariasis HOWEVER there is very little to NO danger of a human catching these from a fox, therefore the concern is based on fiction not fact and the foxes are being punished totally unnecessarily.
An extension to the hospital was build in 2011 on land which was previously inhabited by the foxes and they were forced to move out of, consequently they now have less space to live, peacefully, away from humans and have no choice but to make do with the remaining grounds which may bring them nearer to the building and humans.
Foxes are extremely unlikely to go into the buildings and if this is a concern of the hospitals then building security is what should be considered which has nothing to do with the foxes. Most foxes will instinctively run from humans and will certainly not just come up and bite you, foxes are not aggressive by nature and usually all media stories of foxes biting people or maiming babies are completely unfounded and diverting away from the truth, giving foxes more bad press in order to justify the cruel acts many humans inflict upon them and encouraging people to see them as 'vermin' and believe the myths. The concerns of the hospital appear unfounded and factually incorrect in terms of the risk foxes pose to their patients.
It has also been known for many of the staff to feed and encourage the foxes. We believe it is extremely cruel and unfair to encourage an animal to a place, nurture them, play on their instincts to seek out food for their young and families, teach them to trust you and then decide after many years they are now deemed a 'health hazard' and kill them all.
Foxes are beautiful, intelligent, sentient creatures, if they could choose to live peacefully and away from humans we believe they would, we are rapidly destroying their natural habitats and homes and they consequently are being forced to move into areas nearer people. Both in the town and country foxes are being maimed, killed and persecuted, where do we expect them to live? they have just a much right to be here as we do and they were here first.
If you care about foxes and wildlife and wish to help them please sign this petition to show North Bristol NHS trust and Southmead Hospital you will not tolerate this completely unnecessary cruelty and will stand in solidarity with others to assure no foxes are harmed and that the trust acts compassionately and in the foxes best interest. We need your help!
Thank you very much for your support.
The hospital have expressed that they plan to cull the foxes as they believe they pose a 'risk' to their patients.
Southmead hospital claim the foxes are coming nearer to the maternity unit and some appear to be unwell. Often when foxes are suffering from illness they become bolder and more visible, the foxes need our help, they do not need to be culled.
The laws regarding foxes, as stated in the Protection of Wild Mammals Act 1996, are as follows:
‘If, save as permitted by this Act, any person mutilates, kicks, beats, nails or otherwise impales, stabs, burns, stones, crushes, drowns, drags or asphyxiates any wild mammal with intent to inflict unnecessary suffering he shall be guilty of an offence.’
‘Destroying, blocking, or filling up a fox earth that contains live foxes is an offence under this act.’
Two foxes we believe have already been trapped and 'dealt with humanely' however the hospital has not disclosed how they have 'dealt with' the foxes and what they consider to be humane, we have requested to find this out and an explanation of what action was taken and why.
The illness they are most likely to suffer from are mange, Toxplasmosis and Toxocariasis HOWEVER there is very little to NO danger of a human catching these from a fox, therefore the concern is based on fiction not fact and the foxes are being punished totally unnecessarily.
An extension to the hospital was build in 2011 on land which was previously inhabited by the foxes and they were forced to move out of, consequently they now have less space to live, peacefully, away from humans and have no choice but to make do with the remaining grounds which may bring them nearer to the building and humans.
Foxes are extremely unlikely to go into the buildings and if this is a concern of the hospitals then building security is what should be considered which has nothing to do with the foxes. Most foxes will instinctively run from humans and will certainly not just come up and bite you, foxes are not aggressive by nature and usually all media stories of foxes biting people or maiming babies are completely unfounded and diverting away from the truth, giving foxes more bad press in order to justify the cruel acts many humans inflict upon them and encouraging people to see them as 'vermin' and believe the myths. The concerns of the hospital appear unfounded and factually incorrect in terms of the risk foxes pose to their patients.
It has also been known for many of the staff to feed and encourage the foxes. We believe it is extremely cruel and unfair to encourage an animal to a place, nurture them, play on their instincts to seek out food for their young and families, teach them to trust you and then decide after many years they are now deemed a 'health hazard' and kill them all.
Foxes are beautiful, intelligent, sentient creatures, if they could choose to live peacefully and away from humans we believe they would, we are rapidly destroying their natural habitats and homes and they consequently are being forced to move into areas nearer people. Both in the town and country foxes are being maimed, killed and persecuted, where do we expect them to live? they have just a much right to be here as we do and they were here first.
If you care about foxes and wildlife and wish to help them please sign this petition to show North Bristol NHS trust and Southmead Hospital you will not tolerate this completely unnecessary cruelty and will stand in solidarity with others to assure no foxes are harmed and that the trust acts compassionately and in the foxes best interest. We need your help!
Thank you very much for your support.
