At Poppy’s Picnic, animal welfare is not a slogan. It is the standard behind every decision we make.

This week, something happened that made that standard very real.

A hunt came onto our private land without permission. We witnessed a fox being chased into a badger sett, and around 40 hounds entered our garden. They were out of control, and our own dogs, who were out playing in the garden, were terrified, getting kicked around their sage space as they cowered for safety. Four police cars attended the incident. 

Following the incident, damage was caused to our property. The hunt subsequently made a payment towards repairs, and police issued a formal warning letter in connection with the events of that day. We were told directly by the police that this type of warning represents a serious escalation, and that if a further incident were to occur, the hunt would not be permitted to continue.

Anyone who lives with dogs will understand the seriousness of that moment. Your home is their safe space. To have it suddenly overrun by hounds in full chase is deeply distressing. Our dogs were shaken, and so were we. It left a lasting impression.

Following this incident, we carried out a full review of our supply chain, including our relationship with Lacock Dairy, a long-established Wiltshire farming business.

As part of that process, we looked beyond the product itself and considered the wider values and associations connected to the businesses we work with.

During this review, we became aware of publicly available reporting relating to hunting activity in Wiltshire. This included references to individuals connected to the Lacock Dairy operation, including David Doel, in connection with hunting circles in the area.

This sits within a wider and well-documented national context. In 2023, footage obtained by ITV News showed members of the Avon Vale Hunt digging foxes out of the ground and releasing them to waiting hounds. The footage prompted widespread outrage, a police investigation into alleged wildlife offences, and disciplinary action from the sport’s governing body.

Following that investigation, the British Hound Sports Association permanently expelled the Avon Vale Hunt, its Masters and senior figures after finding serious breaches of its rules. 

The case brought significant scrutiny to hunting practices in Wiltshire and raised broader questions about the enforcement of the Hunting Act. Some reporting and campaign material suggest that hunting activity in the area has continued under different structures or names, including references to what has been described as the Tedworth Hunt. These matters are complex and often contested, and we are not making legal claims about individuals or organisations.

However, taken together with what we directly experienced on our own land, it raised serious concerns for us as we do not support fox hunting or any kind of blood sport.

This decision was not based on one factor alone. It was the combination of what we witnessed first-hand, the police attendance at the incident, the distress caused to our dogs, and the concerns and evidence raised during our supplier review. Taken together, the situation was clear.

We ended our relationship with Lacock Dairy. 

More people than ever are searching for ethical dog food in the UK, for high welfare dog food, and for brands they can trust to act responsibly. For us, this goes beyond ingredients. It includes who we source from, what they stand for, and whether their values align with ours. Animal welfare does not stop at the label. 

We will continue to review every supplier we work with, act when concerns are raised, and choose partners who share our values. Our responsibility is not just to the food we make, but to every animal affected by the choices behind it.

And when something does not feel right, we act. We will do better in our due diligence and make sure this never happens again.