Some details for y’all
I can put this incident into context for those who might be interested in background information.
There are different types of foxhunting in the US. What most folks might be familiar with is the “English style” of foxhunting, complete with scarlet, Meltons, shiny horses, etc.
But there is another type of foxhunting in the US; particularly in the South. They are often referred to as “night hunters”. In such a case, the hounds are released in the area to be hunted, and the hunter tracks them by the sounds of the hounds speaking.
There is also coon hunting, deer hunting, all sorts of hunting done on foot with one or more scent hounds.
In Virginia, we have been having a LOT of problems with people picking up dogs actively hunting, and being stolen. The hounds are either working, on their way home, or have lost the scent - but they are not dumped dogs, and they are not strays.
In these cases - most, if not all the hounds have been wearing tracking collars. The hounds have been disappearing in a certain area over a span of time, and their collars have been found discarded on the road - or in some cases, in bodies of water like lakes or ponds.
In the case of this trial, PETA employees have been (allegedly), specifically targeting hunting dogs and taking them, removing their tracking collars - and the hounds are never seen again. They are not adopted out - they are euthanized just like all the other animals PETA takes in.
So many hunting dogs have disappeared that legislation was sponsored, and it passed, that makes removing a collar from a hunting dog a felony in Virginia.
Please understand that this was an intentional act - not an act of a kind but mistaken person trying to do a good thing. The area in which this incident occurred had so many hounds disappearing that the police put the area under surveillance.
If any of y’all hunt, you know that hunting dogs are often very shy around strangers, and won’t willingly jump into a waiting vehicle unless it belongs to their owner or another trusted human. I have no doubt that these people somehow restrained an unwilling dog, took off its collar and disposed of it - and also would have disposed of the dog had they not been caught.
There is a local animal rights group (bunch of nutters affiliated with PETA and HSUS) that sent an email out complaining loudly that this legislation was passed protecting hunting dogs.
I’m sure all of us at one time or another has taken in a wayward animal - and promptly contacted the authorities and/or the owner to ensure it was reunited with its owner. This is not the case in the incident referred to in the OP’s post.
Again, many breeds of hunting dogs are released at night, to return the next day. Depending upon the species hunted, the preferences of the hunter, the type of hound - those are all variables. But lots of folks, particularly in the South, hunt with their dogs - and it’s not the “English style” foxhunting many of us are more familiar with.
As an aside, if you ever get the opportunity to go out hunting with these hounds - it is just wonderful.
This person being tried represents just one incident - but as I said - the police were aware of hounds disappearing and tracking collars being found discarded along this stretch of highway. They just happened to catch this one PETA employee - but there are many other disappearances, with witnesses - that had the same particulars.
From what we know of the other trial of two PETA employees (who were convicted of littering for dumping euthanized animals in a strip mall dumpster) - PETA does not operate a shelter - and they are not in the business of adopting out animals. They euthanize almost every animal in their custody - even if they promised the owner a good home or a chance at being adopted.
