Ecotricity founder and animal rights campaigner Dale Vince says an investigation carried out by him has found 6,000 dogs are being killed yearly to produce electricity.
In an exclusive interview with GB News, Mr Vince has claimed a six-month investigation, funded by him, has found dogs that are deemed unsuitable for hunting are often killed to help power electricity used in British homes after being paid for by the taxpayer.
Mr Vince says animals are "treated better in Afghanistan" than those used by hunting groups in the UK.
Asked if the UK is right to pride itself on being a nation of dog-lovers, the Ecotricity founder stated: "There's a clear disconnect going on, Boris Johnson intervened to save those dogs in Afghanistan.
"Those dogs were probably safer in Afghanistan, because they don't do this to the dogs over there.
"There are animal refuges in and around Kabul that are still there, and there hasn't been a problem for dogs and cats from the Taliban.
"Over here, we are breeding and killing 6,000 a year, and using them to make electricity, which one is worse?"
RSPCA
Fox hunting has been banned in the UK since 2004, but Mr Vince claims the activity remains in operation across the country, and dogs are used by hunting groups to assist them.
Mr Vince told GB News: "I think the police are taking it too lightly, it's obvious what is happening with the hunts.
"I think they [the police] turn a blind eye to it, there's no shortage of evidence of people tracking hunts and providing evidence, at great risk to themselves quite often.
"These guys pretend they aren't hunting foxes anymore, but our investigation shows they aren't just throwing these dogs in the bins, it's foxes as well. Where are they getting these foxes from?"
Mr Vince says dead animals have been used for a "very long time" to power homes.
He continued: "About three years ago, farm animals were used for the same thing, cows, pigs and actually fish, it was a bit shocking at that time to see how widespread it is.
"It's been going on for a long time, but what we didn't know is that dogs are going into this mix, along with foxes, badgers and partridges actually."
A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said in response to the allegations: “Robust biosecurity is fundamental, to protect human and animal health and our environment.
“It is in the interest of any business or organisation to follow good practice.
"Fallen stock collectors must comply with the law, namely the Animal By-Products regulations, and can only operate under approval from the Animal and Plant Health Agency, who conduct regular inspections.
A portrait of a Whippet dog.
Anthony Devlin
"Any breaches identified will result in enforcement action, which may lead to revocation of approval by APHA and prosecution by local authorities."
Speaking about the six-month investigation, Mr Vince says filming was carried out at five different locations, with the same practices ongoing at each of them.
The Forest Green Rovers Football Club owner stated: "We found the same issues at every single one of them, that tells us that this is a systemic issue, these are not one-offs, these are not rogue operators.
"This is how the hunting industry works, we are going to do some more filming."
A spokesperson from the Hunting Office said: “Hunts provide a valuable service for farmers and landowners across the country dealing with fallen stock and Animal By Products. Premises which collect or receive fallen stock are Government-approved and routinely inspected by the regulatory authorities to ensure compliance."
