Fox Hunting

Many lives have been saved since February the 18th 2005 when fox hunting became illegal in the United Kingdom (excluding Northern Ireland). A great number of foxes have been spared from being chased and terrorised for hours until they are finally caught and ripped apart by dogs. While many places have refrained from illegally hunting, unfortunately fox hunting still continues in some parts of the U.K. Many aristocrats, farmers and countrymen have continued to hunt because they believe it is their born right to inflict harm on ‘vermin’, as they call foxes. When the hunting ban came into act, they pledged to continue their cruel sport because it is their favourite pastime. The UK police force has been unable to stop hunts continuing and chooses to blame lack of officers and funds for this failing.

The UK Government

Prime Minister David Cameron and his party will undoubtedly try to revoke the ban at some point whilst they are in power. This cannot be allowed to happen. Fox hunting involves the chasing of innocent foxes with large groups of hounds. These hounds terrify the foxes and chase them for many miles. When the fox eventually tires it is ripped apart in the most painful and horrendous fashion. Shockingly Many Liberal Democrat MP’s also support fox hunting, although Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has previously said he would not repeal a ban. Senior liberal democrat officials like Sir Ming Campbell voted to keep fox hunting back in 2004. This worrying fact is a huge concern to animal welfare advocates in Britain who are fearing a repeal.

Foxes Killing Livestock

Hunters claim foxes are vermin and need to be disposed of, they claim they encroach on farmland and eat chickens and other small animals, thus causing a nuisance to farmers. If people do not want their farm chickens to be eaten then the simple solution is locking them up safely at night so nothing can get them to them. Foxes cannot be blamed for searching for food, it is only natural. When a fox kills a chicken, for example, people often claim they kill them for pleasure. In actual fact the foxes kill them for food and return to bury them at a later date. However, when they come back to bury them they will see someone waiting for them with a gun, so will steer clear. Farmers also try to seem compassionate by acting upsets when their animals are killed by a fox. In truth these farmers are happy to send their animals to be slaughtered at an abattoir when profit is involved.

The Fox Hunters

The fox hunters themselves can be some of the most uneducated and malevolent people one could ever come across. Anyone who tries to protest against the hunt is verbally abused, assaulted, pushed to the ground and ran off the road. The hunters install fear into anti-hunt protestors as well as the foxes themselves. Anti-fox hunting protestors can be violently attacked with whips, punches and kicks and can receive brutal injuries. People living in the countryside have their homes and land invaded while the hunters on horseback trample through their gardens and fields destroying everything in their path.

Hunting is a 'Sport'

Fox hunters ironically refer to the hunt as a 'sport' and they view chasing an animal until it can run no further as good sportsmanship. Normally in a sports game there are two sides, with an equal chance of winning. In this cruel game there is only one victor, the fox hunters. Sports are meant to be enjoyable and fox hunters seem to get great pleasure and excitement from this brutal chase and kill.

The Hounds

The real reasons hounds act so blood-thirsty is because the hunters starve these animals, give them little affection and keep them locked up in small pens. When the hunting ban was initially introduced the pro-hunters would claim the dogs would have to suffer and be put down, and pro-hunters tried to evoke everyone's sympathies. However, this statement is completely hypocritical as these animals were already suffering and were made to suffer because of the callous nature of hunters. For many of these dogs, being euthanized would have been a welcome relief considering the cruel treatment they had to endure.

Image by Prime Minister's Office

Action

In order to help stop a possible fox hunting repeal U.K residents can contact their local MP's asking for their views on the issue and what action they would be willing to take if there ever was a repeal. People that defend fox hunting may be unaware of the hypocrisy of hunters and the abuse hounds suffer. Ensuring you know the facts and the truth about hunting will help you if you ever enter a discussion with a hunt supporter.