Ripping live animals apart is a wonderful British tradition that should be preseved.

[ItsAWonderfulCervix]

Let's overturn the ban. After all boxing day just isn't any fun without a few dead foxes and blood and guts and stuff.

And while we're at it, don't you just love a bit of badger baiting for variety When shredding foxes gets dull.

Westmorland. What positives are there to hunting?
Why do we need to keep the fox population down?

Westmorland

Rather ignorant to assume that everyone opposed to fox hunting is some townie, totally ignorant about how the countryside works

If the ultimate goal is for the animal to be dead, how does the method of execution make any difference morally?
Chased by hounds, or shot and poisoned, either way the chances of the fox dying instantly are slim.

Dawndonna animals need to die for reasons other than food and I never said the connection was as simple as removal from meat = hunting ok.

I was pointing out that the majority of those decrying the hunt are less connected and respectful and protective of the country and it's animals than those that do. That is hypocrisy.

May I see those figures please?

Today is Foxing Day.

End of.

I have put a link to the Defra article further back.

I've been anti-fox hunting for many many years. Studied the ritual/historical aspect at university and am still against it.

The history argument doesn't fly with me - fox hunting started as a way of training our calvary horses...no calvary since the first world war so no need anymore.

In terms of people saying it is a more humane way to control fox population, I'd also disagree. Fox populations are part of an ecosystem that has been in balance long before fox hunting started.

The other popular argument is about it being a 'sport'. Can't agree with this either. During a hunt meet I had to watch during uni, the fox evaded the hunt pack and got away into a burrow. It was then dug out, shot and thrown into the pack of dogs. Great.

I was so pleased when the ban came in - I hope it continues.

The same idiots who decry hunting and eat shite supermarket meat - er, what do you think leaves the trail for the "drag"? Unicorn dust or a dead animal? For the love of god DO try to apply your brain.

During a hunt meet I had to watch during uni, the fox evaded the hunt pack and got away into a burrow. It was then dug out, shot and thrown into the pack of dogs. Great.

How can anyone support that.

It was hideous RandyRudolph - we were warned before watching it that we might find it upsetting and didn't have to watch it. I decided though that after years of being against it I should see what goes on.

Another side of it all that was distressing was what happened to hunt dogs when they were too old to hunt. Deemed unsuitable for a pet, one dog was also shot and then just disposed of.

I understand that this was just an example of one hunting meet, but it showed me enough.

The same people who are opposed to hunting and shooting while clearly knowing very little about them will be saying they want fishing banned next to prevent the poor fish from suffering..

There's nothing "deemed unsuitable" about it. You really wouldn't want an ex hunting hound in your house. Better put down than languishing in a re homing centre.
And I feel that way about an awful lot of rescue dogs too.

well the thing is fishing is really really cruel, but it is not perceived as such because it is traditionally a working class sport while hunting is (wrongly) perceived as 'baying toffs on horseback' and therefore fair game for generalised hatred

Good point Cozy about the hounds. Some hunters have no regard for any animals and think nothing about shooting the hounds too when they are no longer of use.

I see no reason for fishing either. We don't need to kill animals.

That's the thing Nigella I truly believe it's more of a class issue than an animal welfare issue. People who oppose hunting completely ignore the facts because they are only interested in bashing people that they perceive to be snooty, loaded, upper class twits. They really have no idea.

You're wrong. Its not about having no regard. Its about caring enough not to want your animal to linger. What else do you do with hounds who can no longer hunt.
I have ponies and dogs. I would far rather put them down than see them suffer. Ponies past being ridden, especially those who have lived a full and active life face sad futures languishing in fields, slowly ailing. Owners often don't 2 any them, so they get passed on and on as "companions", usually for free, to people who aren't capable of looking after them properly. Mine will meet their ends with dignity before I'd ever pass them on.

Bowing out of this thread, theres only a couple of posters who seem to know what they're talking about.

if someone wants to raise, shoot and humanely kill an animal as a food source, that's fine by this veggie, provided that it well cared for in its life and NOT classed as organic, as organic means that sick animals do not have medicine they need administered and suffer.

if someone wants to dress up, ride a horse, take hounds for a run, then kill and discard an animal in the name of sport, then that's not okay. fox hunting is an extremely inefficient method of culling. there are more town foxes because their natural habitat is being destroyed by man.

Saggyold. Why don't you just not work animals until they are weak? Let them be, then you won't have to shoot them, shooting an animal is never dignified. What a messed up way of thinking.

Its not about working them until they are weak. Any animal will reach a stage in their life when they aren't up to what they love.
My animals, which incidentally don't hunt, have had good lives full of enjoyment and fun.
When they are too decrepit to enjoy life, I will not be just giving them away to a life of uncertainty and discomfort.

I haven't been this year due to my horse's illness but in previous years I have turned out for the Boxing Day meet - yes, dressed like a braying toff, quaffing port and galloping around the countryside. Following a pre-laid trail. During which no animals were killed or injured. I imagine to a clueless bystander it would look exactly the same as a ripping-foxes-to-shreds affair.

I understand letting animals die with dignity and the concerns about some working dogs not being suitable pets, unfortunately what I witnessed was a working dog being shot and then put with the rubbish. I had hoped more respect would have been shown.

toboldlygo I hope your horse is better soon.

Hunt something you're going to kill and eat
That is all