Hound Coursing

Be they large or small, all dogs are welcome to run the course at Castle Wars. For more information, please contact the .

Their Excellencies South Downs invite all those coming to Castle Wars to join them for a Hunt Brunch on the coursing field at 10:30am, with enticing warm delicacies made by Baroness Marie de Kerimure and coursing entertainment provided by the Meridian Hound Guild. (Bring a mug for warm drinks)

All are welcome to join us. There will be opportunities to release a hound for those interested. Bring your camera and get a picture with the hounds, or just come to rub ears and socialize.

The use of hunting hounds is an ubiquitous part of period life. The guild runs a course to simulate hunting rabbits, hares and other game as would be seen in Europe and Asia. Our hounds run for the pleasure of running, not for competition.

Help in setting the field and holding/releasing hounds is always welcome. You do not need to be a guild member to participate. We will begin setup at 9:30am.

Dog owners need to arrive by 10am to complete paperwork and wrap the dog's front stop-pad/dew claws.

Coursing is a fun activity for dogs of general good health and temperament. They should have reasonably good recall after release. All breeds are welcome.

If you plan to bring a dog to site, please follow the Barony's Event Animal Rules.

The paper rabies certificate for your dog is required to enter site.

South Downs Animal Rules

Note: Equids fall under Society and Meridian Equestrian rules and are not addressed here.

Control/Confinement

Animals must be:

• Secured on a lead, in a crate, or in a turnout pen at all times unless engaged in a SCA sanctioned and scheduled activity, such as coursing.
• Under sight/sound supervision of a responsible teen or adult at all times.

Vaccinations

• Current veterinarian issued rabies vaccination certificate (paper or ID card) is required for dogs, cats and other animals (ie - ferrets) required by law to have rabies vaccination in the county/state where the event is held.
• Rabies tags are not sufficient.
• A copy of the rabies vaccination certificate is required to be shown when registering upon arrival at site.

Expected Behavior

• Owners are responsible for the animal they bring to site. The person who brings the animal to site is considered the owner, unless the legal owner is on site and identified.
• Animals will not engage in disruptive or aggressive behavior.
• Animal waste must be disposed of in an appropriate and timely manner.
• All animals brought to site will be registered upon arrival and wear their site token for the duration of the event. Service animals will have a visually different site token denoting their status.
• Animals must be sufficiently sheltered from weather and maintained in a reasonable manner (food, water, etc.).

Owner responsibility agreement

Owners will sign an agreement upon arrival at site:

• Accepting responsibility for the health and well-being of their animal.
• Accepting responsibility for all injury or damage caused by their animal.
• Confirming that the animal is in good health and not aggressive or disruptive.
• Agrees to comply with Barony of the South Downs Animal Rules and understands that they may be asked to remove the animal from site if they fail to comply.

Service Animals

In compliance with ADA laws:

• As of 3/15/2011 the ADA defines a service animal as a dog (or a miniature horse in some special cases) and performs behaviors directly related to the handler's disability.
• Service animals are not pets. Their work requires them to stay with their disabled handler to provide services the handler cannot do for themselves. Public businesses are required to give them access.
• Service animals must be contained (see Control/Confinement) unless the behaviors for which the service animal is needed cannot be adequately performed while contained. They must remain under the control of their partner at all times while working. Off duty service animals must be contained.
• Owners of aggressive or disruptive service animals may be asked to remove their animal from site (see Violations).
• Emotional support animals are not service animals. Service animals are trained to perform behaviors that are not natural to the animal to compensate for actions which the disabled person cannot do for themselves. ESAs provide support and companionship, but do not have specific trained behaviors. ESAs do not have ADA protection for access to businesses.

Violations

• Owners will receive one warning from the animal steward, with notification to the event steward and seneschal of the Barony of the South Downs. On a second incident the owner may be asked to remove the animal from site. In circumstances of gross violation (i.e. - dangerous behavior) the owner may be asked to remove the animal from site immediately after the first incident.
• Animals with repeated and/or gross violations may be banned from future baronial sponsored events and activities.
• Abuse or neglect of animals will be reported to the appropriate legal authorities.
• The chain of command for disputes is:
1. Event Animal Steward
2. Event Steward
3. Baronial Seneschal
4. Kingdom Seneschal