Stifling a snigger here...

Deer shot dead after being ‘set free by animal rights activists’

RAYMOND DUNCAN and KIRSTY TAYLOR
March 28 2006

Eight pet deer have been shot dead after animal rights activists claimed to
have set them free.
In their second attack north of the border in less than a week, the Animal
Liberation Front said it destroyed £10,000 worth of fencing at a site in
Lanarkshire – believing it was a deer-farming operation.
However, that element of the Newmill trout fishery business near Lanark
closed six years ago and the 18 red deer retained there were treated as pets
as well as being a visitor attraction.
Ten animals disappeared into woods after more than one mile of fencing was
cut down.
The others were shot to prevent them from either falling into poachers'
hands or causing an accident on a nearby busy road.
Dave Buchanan, who works with his brother Sandy at the farm, described the
activists' actions as "madness".
He said the escaped deer would not have survived the week, adding: "I want
to publicise this because these people will be sitting somewhere thinking
they attacked a deer farm and let these animals go.
"I want them to know they got it wrong and it was a deer park with pet deer
in it and they have caused them to get slaughtered."
Last Wednesday, activists struck at a family-run deer farm near
Auchtermuchty, Fife. It was the first attack of its kind in Scotland.
Slogans which included "scum" as well as a threat ALF protesters would
return were sprayed in paint on the road leading to Reediehill Farm as well
as on a signpost.
In the initial attack, fencing was also destroyed but none of the 450 or so
animals were found to be missing.
The organisation accused the owners of running "a wildlife prison".
Mr Buchanan said that he believed the Newmill incident also happened late
last week but the destroyed fencing was not noticed until Sunday.
He said it must have involved several demonstrators, adding: "They cut the
fencing up into 30ft sections from top to bottom One person couldn't
physically have done that."
He said they had not run a deer farm for about six years. After new
government regulations required too much investment, they concentrated on
the fishery business.
"We kept the deer as pets although at auction they would probably be each
worth between £300 and £400. It's so sad they would cause the death of these
poor animals," he said.
"We had to shoot them because someone could have been killed if their car
struck one. And they could be the victims of poachers. There are many people
out there with dogs."
Mr Buchanan said he believed they had been "picked on" because the name had
remained Newmill trout and deer farm. "They have done a search on the web
and although we're no longer a farm they've seen that.
"We'll have to change the name. Ironically there is a big commercial deer
farm not too far from us."
Two cars at the Lanarkshire site also had their tyres slashed and their
windscreen wipers damaged.
An ALF spokesman yesterday claimed the group was behind both recent
incidents. He insisted it did not matter that the Lanark premises was no
longer deer farm.
"The activists may have been slightly influenced if they had known the deer
were not farmed but they are still in captivity," the spokesman said.
"We are still opposed to imprisonment of animals such as in circuses and
zoos. It is an extension to the moral question of slavery. It would still be
a legitimate ALF action."
A spokesman for Strathclyde Police had earlier said that there was no
evidence to suggest the involvement of animal rights campaigners.
Meanwhile, it is also believed that animal rights activists were behind
vandalism at the Armadale dog and speedway track in West Lothian.
Thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused to electrical systems,
vehicles and safety fencing.
A spokesman said: "The extensive graffiti indicates the culprits are animal
rights activists. It seems likely a recent television programme regarding
treatment of greyhounds has sparked off the action."
He added: "Ironically, the family sport of speedway stands to be a major
victim, even though it has no connection whatever with animals."

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