Uncovered: Murdered hunt dogs powering our homes
Press enquiries
If you are a journalist with a media enquiry, please contact our Press Office by email at [email protected]
For all other general enquiries, please call 0345 555 7100 or email [email protected].
In news set to shock a nation of animal lovers, murdered hunt dogs are being used to power British homes 鈥� as found by an undercover investigation carried out by the green energy company Ecotricity, in association with ITV News at 10.
The story, revealed exclusively in a ITV News Report comes from a six-month undercover investigation funded by Ecotricity鈥檚 founder, Dale Vince.
Puppies and adult dogs (typically aged 5) that are deemed unsuitable for hunting are shot and thrown in bins that are taken to power stations. Footage showed foxes, badgers and partridges (from shoots) also being dumped into bins.
The resulting electricity is being supplied to homes and businesses by several providers 鈥� including British Gas and Eon.
Captured covertly over a six-month period in 2021, the footage also uncovered evidence of animal cruelty and multiple rule breaches. A kennel worker was filmed bouncing on the stomach of a dead cow while making a phone call, while another drove a quad bike back and forth over a dead cow. The footage was so shocking that ITV had to show its report after the watershed. All video has been handed over to the Police for investigation.
Back in 2018, Ecotricity uncovered the fact that animal 鈥榖y-products鈥� from factory farms (the bodies of pigs, cows and fish) were being used to make electricity and gas. Ecotricity has always excluded energy made this way and sought certification to make this clear - in the process becoming the world鈥檚 only vegan certified energy company 鈥� recognised both by the Vegan Society and Viva! 鈥� the vegan charity.
Dale Vince, Founder of Ecotricity said:
鈥溁使谔逵齛pp identify as a nation of animal lovers 鈥� we love cats and dogs. It was only a few weeks ago that our Prime Minister stepped into personally save the lives of less than 200 dogs and cats from potential harm at the hands of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Meanwhile many thousands of dogs suffer in our country at the hands of the hunting fraternity. I wonder if he鈥檒l intervene to save them?鈥�
鈥淢illions of Brits will be shocked and disgusted to discover how hunts are treating their dogs and will be horrified to find out their lights might be puppy powered.鈥�
Following the investigation, a to support further investigations into cruelty at hunt kennels has been launched 鈥� with Dale Vince pledging to match every pound donated.
Similar articles
Petition: Promote plant-based foods for a healthier Britain
Factory farming of livestock is a major contributor to the climate crisis. It鈥檚 also damaging nature as well as public health, with red and processed meat classified by the World Health Organisation as Group 1 and 2 carcinogens.
MoreJoin our Smart Export Tariff and make money from your solar panels or wind turbine
At Ecotricity everything we do is in pursuit of a greener Britain. Our Smart Export Tariff (SET) is an important step towards this goal, making the most of every kilowatt of green energy generated by domestic solar panels and windmills.
MoreJuly's positive climate news
Climate news can often feel overwhelmingly negative and while it鈥檚 crucial to stay informed about the ways our actions impact the planet, it鈥檚 just as important to spotlight the progress being made.
More