A secret investigation, by the League Against Cruel Sports, into the workings of Cheshire Foxhounds' kennels at Sandiway, had led to evidence of the shocking end of a foxhound's life.

A still from a video recording, made on Wednesday, 30th October 1996, shows the typical last moments of a hunting dog's life. The dog was brought out into the kennels yard, taken into a corner, where the kennelman put a gun to its head and shot it. This was one of two hounds shot at the Cheshire kennels that day. Both were unceremoniously thrown into a metal bin. The Hunt later claimed that they were sick. However, this portrays the typical end of thousands of hunting dogs that are disposed of each year. Few of them will have reached half their potential lifespan.

Hunts regularly try to give the impression that they care passionately about their animals, and yet in reality they are simply tools of the trade - to be callously disposed of as soon as they are no longer useful.

During the summer months, one-year-old hound pups that will have been looked after by hunt supporters, are introduced to the kennels. The Hunt will be looking to replace about one fifth of the pack each year. By the time the dogs have hunted for around five - six seasons they are considered too old and are usually shot in the head. The new pups are introduced to hunting during summer and autumn fox-cub hunting training sessions, where over 8,000 immature fox-cubs are slaughtered to give the hounds a taste of blood. Those that don't make the grade are also shot.

In all, by the start of each hunting season in November, the League estimates around 6,000 dogs will have been executed simply to ensure the best hounds are left to provide 'entertainment' for those who ride to hounds.

Hunts claim the hounds cannot be turned into pets, and therefore they have no choice but to destroy the animals. The League Against Cruel Sports, as well as other animal welfare groups such as the National Canine Defence League, dismiss such claims.

Published in Wildlife Guardian, Issue 36, Spring 1997