Hunting with hounds

THERESA May recently reconfirmed her support for fox hunting (BBC 2017) and the Conservative manifesto (2017) contains a commitment to grant a free vote, on a government bill in government time, to give parliament the opportunity to decide the future of the Hunting Act. If attempts to repeal the Act were successful, this would result in a return to wild mammals being chased and killed by hunts using packs of hounds. As veterinary professionals committed to upholding the highest possible standards of animal welfare, we are opposed to any dilution or repeal of the Hunting Act 2004. In 2000, the Burns report (Burns and others 2000) concluded that hunting with dogs has serious welfare implications for quarry animals such as foxes, deer, hares and mink. Foxes in particular will instinctively try to go to ground when pursued, but hunts deliberately block these escape...
Source: Veterinary Record - Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Letters and Notices Source Type: research