Fox-hunting with hounds is cruel and unnecessary. It has little effect on reducing fox numbers. In the main, it is practiced by well-heeled snobs who are in it for the social stature of mixing with who they see as the "right" people. At the hint of being portrayed as such, they trot out some hapless individual to pour out a sob story about how his livelihood will be devastated and rural life destroyed if the "sport" is banned. This is scare-mongering nonsense. Only a tiny minority of horses are involved in hunts. In Lothian, Central Scotland, where the local hunt was discontinued ten years ago, the number of horses has increased substantially because of leisure activities thus requiring more stables with associated facilities and services, than at any time previously.

Foxes die a horrible death when caught by hounds. They are caught from behind by the leading hounds and ripped to pieces whilst still alive. The lie put forth by hunters that foxes are killed instantly by a quick bite to the back of the neck was exposed by post mortems at Bristol University for evidence presented to the Burns Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs. These examinations revealed profound trauma by repeated dog bite, little tissue damage in the head, neck and shoulder region but pronounced damage to the ribcage and the thoracic organs, with damage to the abdomen, hindquarters or chest probably being the cause of death. Foxes that attempt to run to ground often find their lair has been intentionally blocked and those that manage to escape underground are frequently dug out and beaten to death with a spade, before their "brush" is cut off in a traditional form of weird ceremony.

But foxes are not the only victims of this barbaric activity. Hounds that reach middle age and those that are disinclined to follow the scent are destroyed and there are numerous incidents where horses and hounds are injured and killed during the chase. It has also been known for hounds to mount a frenzied attack on domestic pets.

A graphic insight into the barbarism and brutality of hunting with dogs is shown in the League Against Cruel Sports video entitled "Chaos In the Countryside" and available by contacting them on 020 7403 6155. The video is free but a donation to cover production costs and postage and packing is appreciated.

Farmers do not suffer greatly from fox attack and many are among those who oppose hunting with dogs. A 1996 MAFF publication stated that only 0.4 % of lambs die from accidents, dog attacks and all other animal predation. This extremely small number includes those killed by foxes. Indeed, it has been said on many occasions that shepherds will blame the fox for killing a lamb when what has actually happened is that the fox has scavenged from one that was already dead. Also, with regard to the favourite accusation of foxes killing chickens - whoever heard of a fox having a key to open a secure poultry pen?

The fox is a friend to the farmer as a predator of rats and rabbits and assists in cleaning up fields by eating the afterbirth during lambing. He is also a predator of deer fawns that begs the question of why there is a need to kill foxes when it is thought by some that deer populations are too high. But that’s another story.

Hunting with dogs is neither an efficient or necessary method of controlling foxes. In fact in some areas there is such a dearth of foxes it is thought that that some hunts are surreptitiously breeding their own and feeding wild cubs. In June 2000 secret filming by the International Fund for Animal Welfare showed an employee of the Beaufort Hunt actually feeding fox cubs.

Various polls have shown that an overwhelming majority of the British electorate are firmly behind banning fox hunting and two thirds of our MPs have already voted for a ban. But probably the most interesting revelation of all was the 1997 Gallop poll for the Daily Telegraph that showed whilst 84% of urban dwellers disapproved of fox hunting, 77% of rural people also disapproved. So this is not a town versus country issue, as the Countryside Alliance would have us believe; it is a nationwide revulsion against those who seek their pleasure from animal cruelty.

On February 13^th 2002, the Scottish Parliament voted by a massive majority to ban hunting with dogs. Tireless campaigners such as Advocates for Animals; RSPCA; The League Against Cruel Sports; Animal Aid; IFAW; the National Anti-Hunt Campaign have all played a vital role in bringing about this legislation by creating public awareness of the obscenity of fox hunting.

The Scottish success will surely spur on these campaigners to maintain the momentum towards a total ban throughout the UK. Nothing succeeds like success!

But small little-known groups of hunt saboteurs and campaigners are also doing their bit to rid us of fox hunting. An example of one of these is the Surrey Anti-hunt Campaign that managed to reduce the number of local inns that hosted hunt meets from nineteen to four. This amazing success was achieved by peaceful demonstration and by encouraging people to write non-abusive letters to the landlords. Recently, a large traditional hunt ball had to be cancelled because a suitable venue could not be found. More power to their elbow!

The Independent 22/03/02

Ironically, it’s the hunters who are now on the run!
Let’s keep up the pressure and go for the kill.

Angus Macmillan. [Roots-of-Blood Campaign]

Angus Macmillan would like to make it clear that whilst he has been more than willing to contribute this article to this issue of RPM this in no way means he agrees with all of its content or conclusions.