League for the Prohibition of Cruel Sports

The organised opposition to hunting with dogs in the UK found its roots in the late 19th century when Henry Salt founded the Humanitarian League in 1891. Salt, a staunch advocate for animal rights and humanitarian causes, initiated what would become a significant campaign against the cruelty of blood sports.

The Humanitarian League: Its Rise and Fall

Under Salt’s guidance, the Humanitarian League addressed a broad spectrum of social issues, with a strong emphasis on animal welfare. In 1901 it succeeded in forcing the abolition of the Royal Windsor Buckhounds. However, the tumultuous period of World War I and the personal loss of his wife, Kate, in 1919 deeply affected Salt. Consequently, it was decided to disband the League, bringing an end to what had been the most concerted and effective effort against blood sports to that point.¹

A New Beginning: Formation of the League for Prohibition of Cruel Sports

The dissolution of the Humanitarian League did not mark the end of the fight against blood sports. Henry B. Amos, Secretary of the Vegetarian Society, and Ernest Bell, President of the Vegetarian Society and former chairman of the Humanitarian League², recognised the need for an organisation solely aimed at combating blood sports. Amos and Bell, with Henry Salt’s³ encouragement, established the League for Prohibition of Cruel Sports⁴ (LPCS) in 1925⁵.

Leadership and Membership

Many former members of the Humanitarian League joined the new League. Sir George Greenwood, a former committee member of the Humanitarian League, became the first president of the LPCS, with Henry Salt serving as vice president.⁶

By 1927, the League for the Prohibition of Cruel Sports leadership consisted of:

League for the Prohibition of Cruel Sports and the RSPCA

There has been some misconception that the LPCS was a breakaway faction from the RSPCA. This misunderstanding seems to stem from efforts by the modern League Against Cruel Sports⁷ to gain brand ‘respectability’. While Amos and Bell were indeed frustrated with the RSPCA’s refusal to oppose hunting with dogs, the formation of the LPCS was driven by the need for a separate organisation specifically focused on hunting. At the time, the RSPCA was heavily influenced by powerful pro-hunt members, necessitating an independent society to take on this issue.

Those chronicling the history of the anti-hunt movement have pointed out that this situation was similar to that during the time of the Humanitarian League. Thus, the need for a dedicated group like LPCS was not a result of a breakaway but rather a strategic necessity. Many LPCS committee members, such as Lady Cory and the Hon. Stephen Coleridge, were active within the RSPCA, illustrating the complex relationships between these organisations.

Internal Struggles and Splits

Despite its noble mission, the League experienced internal challenges. In 1931, the Hon. Stephen Coleridge resigned as president due to dissatisfaction with the conduct of certain members.⁸ Around the same time, Ernest Bell also stepped down.⁹ Lady Cory succeeded Coleridge but resigned in July 1932¹⁰, objecting to the League’s journal being used to criticise other societies and individuals.¹¹ This turmoil led to a faction of members forming the National Society for the Abolition of Cruel Sports (NSACS) in July 1932.¹²

Evolution and Legacy

In 1942, in a strategic move to avoid paying income tax¹³, the League for the Prohibition of Cruel Sports was renamed the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS).¹⁴ This organisation continued to grow and expand its influence, becoming a significant force in the animal rights movement.

The legacy of Henry Salt and the early pioneers of animal rights endures through the ongoing efforts of organisations like LACS. Their unwavering commitment laid the foundation for a continued and organised struggle against blood sports, ensuring that the voice for animal rights remains strong and resolute.

1. Cruel Sports, League for the Prohibition of Cruel Sports, 1927, p. 1. ↩︎
2. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. League Doings, October-December 1946. ↩︎
3. Henry Stephens Salt, Cruel Sports, June 1939, p. 48 ↩︎
4. In its early days, the organisation was referred to in press releases and publications as the “League for Prohibition of Cruel Sports,” omitting the definite article “the.” It later standardised its name as the “League for the Prohibition of Cruel Sports,” which became its formal title. ↩︎
5. Ten Years’ Work, Cruel Sports, June 1935, p. 43 ↩︎
6. Cruel Sports, January 1928 ↩︎
7. Celebrating 90 Years of Protecting Wildlife pamphlet (2014), League Against Cruel Sports, p. 3. ↩︎
8. Cruel Sports, 1931, p. 33. ↩︎
9. Thomas, Richard H. (1983), The Politics of Hunting (Gower Publishing Company Limited), p. 86. [No citation]. ↩︎
10. The Reading Standard, September 10, 1932, p. 11. ↩︎
11. Western Mail, October 31, p. 13a. Henry B. Amos disputed the Lady Cory’s claim. ↩︎
12. Thomas, Richard H. (1983), The Politics of Hunting (Gower Publishing Company Limited), p. 86. [No citation]. An announcement on the NSACS foundation was published in The Guardian, November 3, 1932, p. 10. ↩︎
13. Pedler, Ian (2008), Save Our Stags (Black Daps Press), p. 55. ↩︎
14. Letters in the press dated February 1942 still bore the LPCS name. One of the first appearances of the League Against Cruel Sports name was in a letter published in The Mercury and Guardian on April 29, 1942, p. 4, from its Secretary, J. C. Sharp. The LPCS was referred to as the ‘League Against Cruel Sports’ in the Herald and Express, August 26, 1927, p. 3. At an LPCS meeting at the Queen’s Hall, Faversham on June 1, 1938, the LPCS Chairman, Mr. F. R. Bones, of Broughton, stated that he was in his position because “he was in sympathy with the League against cruel sports.” (The Faversham and North East Kent News, June 4, 1938, p. 1). ↩︎