Email reports are coming in saying that the Fairfax Hunt‘s kennels at Red Hill Farm, on Stone School Lane, outside Leesburg, here in Loudoun County, have been destroyed today by a sudden and disastrous fire of unknown origin.
Three staff horses and the hound puppies are said to have perished, but apparently many hounds were rescued through a hole cut in the fence.
The Fairfax Hunt meets at fixtures in eastern and western Loudoun County, Virginia, and its pack last year consisted of 31 couple of Crossbred Foxhounds.
What a horrible thing!
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Update 3/11, 2:13 PM EDT:
Professional Huntsman Kevin Palmer is reported to have saved 90% of the pack. Some puppies were apparently among the hounds rescued.
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Update 3/11, 5:13 PM EDT:
The fire started around 7:15 AM. Three horses, ten hounds, and six or seven puppies were killed.
photo:Jason Jacks——————————————-
3/12:
Fox News attributes the source of the fire to an old refrigerator and has videos.
Carrie M
That’s awful. :(
Lynn Martin
I wonder what other hunts can do to help them recover? Perhaps, other hunts can get together to support a fund raising event?
Bob Sykes
Animal rights protestors at another hunt recently murdered one the hunt participants with a remotely controlled airplane
JDZ
Can you provide a link to a news report?
Corinne Magee
The entire litter of new puppies, their mother, and seven other hounds were either killed in the fire or euthanized because of their injuries. Several vets, 3-4 fire engine companies, and numerous neighbors arrived quickly to help. In addition to 3 staff horses and 17 hounds, all the tack, the huntsman’s firearms, and 70 years of breeding records were destroyed. The huntsman, Kevin Palmer, was able to save about 90% of the pack by pulling out a portion of the fencing, and then cutting a hole in the chain link. Neighbors and friends then helped to scour the countryside to gather up the hounds who escaped. We’re hoping to organize a barn raising in the near future. At least one other local hunt has offered to allow Fairfax Hunt members to hunt with them without paying capping fees. Another hunt has offered housing for the hounds in heat, so that they can be safely segrated from the other animals. Approximately 7 of the hounds, who are getting too old to hunt, were turned over to animal rescue, where they will be placed for adoption.
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