British law says that cruelty is ‘ the causing of unnecessary suffering’. This means because there is the other way of shooting the fox which is said to be a more human method of controlling its population, the suffering caused to foxes not only in the kill but also in the chase is cruel and unnecessary. Just think if animals such as a dog or a cat were to be chased and killed in the same way, are you going to tell me that those responsible would not be convicted of cruelty for “causing unnecessary suffering” to an animal, no.
In my opinion, fox hunting with dogs is unnecessary. Foxes may cause some damage to farmers but not to the extent that fox has to be killed. Farmers are always complaining that foxes are a pest and that they loose farmers money but if you look at it at another angle foxes are actually responsible for saving farmers approximately £100 million every year in agricultural damage by eating rodents and rabbits – a major cause of crop damage.
There has been evidence to show that the fox’s death results from massive injuries to the chest and other vital organs. The chase alone causes suffering to the fox, look at it in this way you are the fox you have just had a hard morning hunting to feed your young like any loving parent would all of a sudden you hear the sound of dogs, guns etc you start to run and drop you prize kill and instead concentrate on living you can hear the flesh of the freshly caught rabbit you just dropped being ripped apart and the howls of the murderers as they fight to get a bigger piece you think your same and have lost them but they are back on your tail in no time. You have two choices of which both outcomes look grim you could carry on running hoping you could outrun them or you could go underground and hope and pray they don’t find you. Now can you still say that this way of controlling the fox population is not cruel?
Everybody asks the question “ what’s going to happen to the dogs if hunting with hounds is abolished” well yes for many the only option is for them to be put to sleep, but that’s mainly because there are to vicious and to cruel and not used to human pets so they will not be able to be re-homed, but for the others and in that case the majority of the dogs can be trained and re-homed to a loving family. A farmer would then as, “Well don’t you think that’s cruel, having the hounds put to sleep? And in my opinion no it isn’t many dogs are mistreated and brutally beaten up during their life on the farm. For others as soon as their hunting days are over they are shot, as they are no longer any use to the farmer, some are bread to exhaustion and are better off in another place.
Lots of people have lots of different opinions about fox hunting and about whether it should be banned or not.
Many people think that it is cruel and that it is wrong to kill any kind of animal in the depraved way that the foxes are killed. Most people that live in the cities seem to be against fox hunting but maybe that is because they have never taken part in it and haven't been brought up around it either.
I can see why people in the country take part in fox hunting but what I don't really understand is why or how they can enjoy it.
I am sure that they get some kind of adrenaline buzz when they are chasing the foxes but I personally think that fox hunting is very unfair on the foxes but I do understand that the population of foxes does have to be kept down.
I know that foxes cause a lot of trouble to farmers and their animals, but I am sure that somebody could think of a better way to lower the population of them in Britain.
Although the Government has voted for the ban of fox hunting it is still a long way from happening and there are still a lot of factors that will effect the final decision.
The farmers will not give up without a fight, and I am sure that it will be a long period of time before everything is sorted out, and before any new laws for or against it have been made.
My personal opinion is that I don't think that it is right. I think that there must be other ways of killing the foxes so that they die instantly without any pain and without the trauma, but in saying that I do understand that fox hunting is almost part of family tradition in the countryside but will it be for much longer???
Thank you for listening to me, and my opinion, I am not trying to change you mind. I’m only trying to help you see the case from another angle and form our point of view. Thank you
