Hunting is animal abuse – put an end to this horror at last

From: Louise Peters, Hunt Watch UK, Norwich.

I NOTE Jim Barrington’s letter (The Yorkshire Post, February 28) in which he is titled ‘animal welfare vonsultant’ for the Countryside Alliance.

Despite having asked the question directly to both himself and the Alliance, Mr Barrington refuses to say what qualification he has that justifies this title: a veterinary degree? Zoological qualification? A GCSE in animal management even?

I cannot imagine that being previously employed by a charity (the League Against Cruel Sports) and joining a lobby group is, in itself, a qualification in animal welfare.

That aside, I admit to being puzzled by his claim that illegal hunting claims are exaggerated, given the fact the Countryside Alliance organised a hunting declaration at the time of the ban, which committed signatories to refuse to co-operate with a hunting ban and submit to the legal consequences.

Simon Hart, chief executive of the alliance at the time, stated: “The gatherings will give individuals the opportunity to make clear their intention to take part in peaceful but committed civil disobedience should a hunting ban be imposed.”

Oddly, the declaration disappeared soon after the ban was imposed – perhaps because it could have been used to help prove illegal hunting – and has never been seen since.

It is clear the Hunting Act is too weak to stop all those determined to continue to flout the law. The invention of trail hunting, following the ban, allows hunts to claim that hunting of wild mammals with hounds was accidental and therefore proving intent to gain a conviction in court for illegal hunting is incredibly challenging.

In short, hunting is animal abuse. The ban urgently needs strengthening and I would urge people to lobby their MPs to put an end to this horror at last.

From: Mrs R Roshier, Rhymney, Gwent.

HUNTS attract my personal disapproval for the repeated “accidental” deaths of foxes during so-called trail hunts.

As to prosecutions – until all police forces and the judiciary show a clear intention to work positively with the provisions of the Hunting Act instead of focusing on its limitations, successful prosecutions are unlikely.

With so many debatable issues surrounding fox hunting, it is understandable that opinions will differ. But the law is clear and must be enforced, not denigrated or ignored.