ON July 15, MPs are to vote on amendments to the Hunting Act, which will effectively bring back hunting with hounds in England and Wales.
David Cameron knows that a majority of MPs would not vote to repeal the Act so he is using these "adjustments" to try to re-introduce hunting by the back door. A key amendment will allow a full pack of dogs to flush out a fox, so that the fox can then be shot.
However, everyone who knows about hunting knows that the fox won’t survive long enough to be shot, because he or she will be torn apart by the dogs. Indeed, in Scotland, where using a full pack of hounds is already legal, undercover film has revealed that many hunters don’t even bother to take guns with them.
Allowing a full pack of hounds to flush out a fox will mask traditional hunting, and so it will be virtually impossible to bring prosecutions under the Act. Hunting will be back.
The vast majority of the public are against hunting, but many MPs are not, so the vote in Parliament is likely to be close. I would urge readers to contact their MP immediately and ask him or her to vote against this legalisation of savagery.
RICHARD MOUNTFORD
Development Manager Animal Aid
The Old Chapel
Bradford Street,
Tonbridge TN9 1AW
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