Put hunt with cock-fighting (From The Bolton News)

Put hunt with cock-fighting

BARONESS Golding, Peter Luff MP and Mebit Opik MP claim (Letters, Bolton Evening News) that a ban on hunting with dogs will result in an increase in animal suffering, because, according to them, "shooting would undoubtedly replace hunting".

In common with all those who circulate pro-hunt propaganda in order to protect this blood-sport, they would have us believe that foxes have to be killed by one means or another. They don't.

Claims regarding losses caused by foxes are largely based on mythology; moreover, hunting with dogs takes place in many parts of the country where the land is dedicated to crops and cattle -- and hunting can't even pretend to have a purpose.

Those who allow foxes access to free-range poultry by failing to take advantage of modern-day fencing and technology (electric fences are hardly rocket-science ...) are not taking proper care of their stock. So-called fox control is not a requirement of good farming.

The claim that, with dogs, the kill is "all or nothing" is, at best, naive and fails to take into account those foxes which escape by going to ground, later to die a slow death from shock and exhaustion.

As for the suggestion that up to 79 per cent of all foxes which are shot are wounded -- I'd love to know how they gathered their evidence.

Fox populations are self-regulating, as they are dependent on available territories and food supply, with the production of cubs each year fluctuating accordingly. In areas where hunting has ceased, the fox population has remained stable.

I would agree with them on one point, however -- no matter what legislation is brought in, unfortunately there will always be people who get a buzz from killing animals.

But at least when hunting with dogs is banned, this bloodsport can take its place in history alongside cock-fighting and bull-baiting.

(Name and address supplied)