27-06-2010 Animals Count Urges all MPs to Uphold the Ban On Fox Hunting
Prime Minister David Cameron has reiterated his intention, as expressed in the Conservative election manifesto, to have a free vote on a repeal of the 2004 Hunting Act, in spite of the fact the vast majority of the British public are in favour of keeping the ban on hunting. Furthermore, the effect of having the vote, may serve to create more division within the coalition as Nick Clegg has stated he would vote to keep the Act in its place. Animals Count strongly urges all MPs to vote with a clear conscience, demonstrating that unnecessary cruelty to wild animals should become an aberration of the past.
It is hard to imagine many citizens, whether in the rural or the urban areas actually believe we need to hunt foxes in order to keep them “ under control”, as Cameron has stated. The traditional practice has been to allow the fox to live if he has “gone to ground” and this practice seems to be followed in America where foxes were imported into that country for the purpose of establishing the sport. In Britain, in the 18th Century when the sport as we know it now was developed, foxes were imported by the thousands from Europe in order to provide animals in sufficient numbers to satisfy the aristocratic hunting fraternity.
The argument that foxes are “pests” that should be controlled by the human population is further undermined when defenders such as those of the Countryside Alliance insist that hunting with horses and hounds is an important part of the rural culture and the rural economy would suffer if the activity were stopped. The reality is that “hunting” has actually increased, but that increase is likely to be due to more people taking up drag hunting, where the dogs follow a deliberate false (and non-fox like) scent laid along a pre-set trail. These drag hunts are far safer for both horse and rider, as dangerous areas can be avoided, as well as areas where damage might occur to farms’ livestock or people’s pets.
Furthermore, the point Cameron makes that other methods used to kill foxes such as shooting, using snares or gassing , are more cruel is without any merit. One cannot justify one type of cruel activity by stating other methods are more cruel. Animals Count is not convinced, nor are most other people, that the fox is killed quickly once the dogs get to it. If foxes are killing one’s animals, other methods of prevention or deterrence should be employed, such as fencing or keeping guard animals.
Although the composition of the present Parliament is quite different from when Labour was in power, Prime Minister Cameron and other conservative MPs should bear in mind the views of the great majority of their constituents. whose views on this issue are unlikely to be much changed since that first free vote in 2004 to bring about this important piece of legislation. This Act as it stands does not in fact ban the hunting or killing of wild mammals altogether as the exemptions contained in Schedule 1, “Exempt Hunting” are so broad that if an individual farmer or group of hunters wish to kill a particular animal, even with dogs (the Acts permits no more than 2 dogs to be used to flush out the quarry) it is possible to do so and still remain within the letter of the law. These exemptions should be amended to give greater protection to wild animals.
Finally, it cannot be acceptable that any nation that chooses to call itself advanced and civilised can defend as “culture” and a “sport”, an activity that causes distress, terror and suffering, to another living creature. In this regard, fox hunting is no different to bear baiting or dog fighting, and Animals Count urges all MPs to vote for the Hunting Act to remain in place.
