Repeal of fox hunting

He's not shooting the fox in self defence he's shooting it to prevent it killing his livestock.

Farmers are allowed to shoot foxes in those circumstances I believe, farmor51.

The way foxhunting is carried out in England is barbaric. I cannot understand how (mostly) privileged men and women get pleasure in watching an animal being ripped to shreds by a pack of dogs. I wished it would be totally banned and the matter closed and never discussed again. If people stopped feeding urban foxes, their population would shrink. And if a farmer catches a fox killing his livestock, he should be allowed to shoot in self defence.

Possibly after 1 p.m. on Wednesday, whitewave, depending on how long they debate it. It's followed by EVEL.

Yes Ana confirmed, just googled it

It's on Wednesday isn't it?

The vote is today anyone know when?

So grannyonce. fox hunters kill foxes but don't eat them, does that make them vermin then???
In my book they are. One word for fox hunting, BARBARIC Cannot be defended

dogs are quite happy to run after an aniseed drag so restrict them to that.

Look up what the countryside alliance are saying on their site

I've just been alerted to this discussion by the newsletter. Thank you Creativz for the link to the petition.

I think there really is something creepy about the people who support fox hunting and they are always so unpleasant about it - either they go down the 'you townies don't understand' route or else they bring out stories of rampant killing by foxes.

There is an academic at, I think, Bristol University who has done much research about foxes and has discredited most of those stories. I know a proportion of farmers are kind and hard working folk, by quite honestly, the vast proportion of those I have met have not impressed me by their attitude to wild animals and conservation. If they are not paid, they won't do it and anything they can't farm is thought of as vermin. Red kites and other raptors are shot as are members of the crow family. I picked up a dead young jackdaw recently, feathers still fluffy from barely having been used - he'd been shot. A friend who lives near a wood talks of the locals who get together to 'shoot out' the rook colony in the woods killing every bird they can and destroying the nests. What goes on in 'the country' is stomach turning in my opinion but if you protest you get told you are sentimental or you don't understand (no, I don't).

What is done to animals in the name of sport in the UK is abhorrent - fox hunting, badger baiting and 'culling', hare coursing are all taking place on a regular basis, you just have to know how to access the details.

I live in Oxfordshire and I know people who hunt foxes. Similarly a friend in Berkshire says the local hunt goes out regularly. Attempts are made to cover up what they do and to pretend that they are drag hunting or using birds of prey instead but it's pretty clear that the act is anyway, being ignored by the huntsmen and their activities not policed.

It may not be all 'posh folk' but keeping horses is not cheap, nor is joining a hunt and that the Tory party is aiming to amend the act says a lot about which class wants to do the activity.

Change.org #petition not far off 500,000 signatures ~ www.change.org/p/david-cameron-mp-keep-the-ban-on-fox-hunting-2/u/10754085 #KeepTheBan

If domestic dogs were not fed by humans they too would kill for food.

whitewave, makes one question the nature of those who support it

It is beyond ghastly

No matter who takes part, are we a country which supports cruelty to animals or not because fox hunting is brutal, there is no defence for it.

'Imgine if a gang of thugs set a pack of dogs on a terrified animal for a laugh.... Now imagine they're posh people on horseback'

indeed Ricky Gervais, spot on. If thugs from a downtown estate did that - imagine the outcry and the custodial sentence...

However, Gervais is wrong in saying 'posh' people, as it makes it a class war. Many hunters are not posh- it costs a lot to keep a horse or horses, but not necessarily if you live in the countryside. And it is true that a lot of cruelty and abuse is perpetrated by the terrier men employed by the hunts, without any awareness of what goes on behind the scene (closing your eyes and not wanting to know helps) - like the catching of pregnant vixen to pen up so the cubs can be raised for 'canned' hunting, or some of the barbarity of cubbing practices, and holding live foxes for the dogs to maul for long periods of time for training purposes, and associated 'sports' (yiiikes- how can any of this be called 'sport')- like badger digging and baiting, dog and cock fighting. I have been involved in many cases of terrifying cruelty led by the terriemen of famous hunts, with the Hunt totalla denying any knowledge or responsibility (I used to live surrounded by 5 of the most famous Hunts in the country- Prince Charles had to stop riding with the Cottesmore when it was proven to carry illegal acts of cruelty about 20 years ago).

"Last week the Guardian revealed that SNP MPs are being lobbied by voters in the rest of the UK who are promising to holiday in Scotland and buy more whisky if they vote against the repeal of the hunting ban."

Any SNP members? Do you know why foxhunting law is different in Scotland?
Hope the SNP vote with the Labour party to keep the law as it is in England.

I also hope lots of Tories vote against a change in the law. Cameron will win either way.

What are the SNP going to do?

Just had an email from my MP saying she has cancelled constituency meetings to be there for the vote and will vote against an repeal or changes. Brave of her as she lives in this village and there is always a hunt meeting which stops traffic on boxing day.

Yes, I read that, dj

It will be an interesting programme to follow although I can understand the concerns of local people.

They are thinking of bringing back wolves to the Kielder area and Scotland, merlot.

It must be remembered that fox attacks are not always the result of poor animal husbandry. They're not called cunning for nothing.

We're lucky that the fox is our main serious predator though. At least we don't have to contend with bears and wolves.

only difference that most domestic cats do not need to kill to stay alive as they are fed by loving owners - but instinct is still there.

As I worked as a volunteer with Police Wildlife liaison for so many years, cases of Hunts catching and even breeding foxes and cubs for 'easy' hunting has been going on for many many years. Especially for rich clients with little experience of riding or hunting - a bit like 'canned hunting' in Africa. And as said, totally destroys the argument.

Could never understand the difference made by some people, between a crow or magpie catching and eating a baby bird being 'bad' but it is ok for a sparrow hawk or peregrine, for instance??? The vixen that killed our pet chickens needed to feed her cubs- we provided the food by poor husbandry.
She carefully took one, and buried the others carefully under our hedge- and as upset as we were, we left them for her to return, one per night (we had 6- all rescued featherless and aneamic from egg farm up the road) - as we felt that was best, to let nature take its course.

I'd just love to have chickens again here - but with so many stoats and beech martens and foxes- it would be a constant battle, so we won't. No fox hunting here- but rogue foxes will be cleanly shot is necessary. I have no objection to that.