Game birds treated relatively well
I READ with interest various letters with reference to the debate on game shooting and wonder why those that are against game shooting seem to reference animal cruelty and breeding something to be shot for sport!
Personally when there is so much wrong with the way we treat animals and birds in this country game birds have a pretty reasonable deal.
Perhaps those that want to see an end to game shooting ought to prioritise in the following order:
Cruelty against domestic animals, in particular dogs and cats. There are endless stories on social media (possibly not all accurate) with reference to disgusting acts of cruelty against man’s best friend and then the continual dog theft problem which appears to have become a way of life and not the exception.
Why not protest for stronger sentences for these horrible offences and make dog theft and dog fighting crimes which carry a substantial prison sentence, give the police powers to seize and crush vehicles and equipment used during these crimes, and see an end to the heartache of hundreds of bereft owners! Our farmers are subject to some of the highest welfare regulations and standards in the world as are those who work within the meat/food industry especially relating to hygiene, however there is very little information on what happens in between.
Why not focus energies into bringing an end to ritual slaughter without any form of pre-stunning?
DEFRA figures for last year estimated nine million animals and birds die in this manner.
This means that the animal or bird is either hung upside down or restrained so that its throat can be cut whilst it dies a slow painful death taking up to four minutes!
Animals feel pain probably similar to humans, this is not about religion or creed purely animal welfare, in the 21st century we are capable of and must do better, this is legalised torture en mass of semi domesticated animals and is not acceptable in today’s society.
Pheasants and partridge are released in as near as wild conditions as possible. They are fed away from their pens to suitable woods and crops where they may be subject to predation, but live a fairly normal wild life, whilst having access to grain feeders for sustenance during harder weather.
On a shoot day the birds are flushed by beaters and dogs to hopefully fly over placed guns. They won’t all fly in the right direction as they are completely wild and can only be guided and not controlled. Some will get shot, plenty will be missed and unfortunately a few will be wounded to be collected quickly by well trained dogs and dispatched.
Gamekeepers look after woodland and habitat, and also control vermin, all to the benefit of many other animals and birds and to conservation in general.
These birds are completely organic and experience limited suffering, making a useful and tasty addition to the food chain. Compared to the aforementioned, at least they have a chance!
William Baker Paignton