ANIMAL lovers are reeling after 17 dead foxes were dumped by the roadside apparently being mauled by hunting dogs.

Anti-blood sport campaigners say the creatures were probably killed for sport by lurcher men who stun the foxes using powerful lights and then send dogs in for the kill. Outraged Mrs Davies, of Smithy Lane, Mouldsworth, who is not a member of any group, was out walking her dogs when she made the grim discovery in Dobers Lane, Newton-by-Frodsham.

She took two of the bodies to Frodsham vet John Isaacson of Ashcroft Veterinary Surgery who believes it is 'very likely' the foxes were killed by dogs. She said: 'This is real cruelty. It's not like shooting them. This is definitely not a farmer protecting his wildlife. This is killing them for a blood sport and I don't like that. I believe farmers have a right to protect their livestock and I accept that killing takes place but I find this offensive. Someone has gone out and carried out a massacre of foxes.' Mrs Davies added: 'I find it very distressing the way they have been dumped. The person responsible has not thought about it. They have not cared.'

'They are beautiful creatures and I believe they should be treated with a little more dignity.' Mrs Davies has been in touch with animal welfare groups including the RSPCA which visited the site and informed her the practice was not unlawful.'

The area is hunted by the Cheshire Forest Foxhounds. But it is believed these animals were probably killed by a gang of men known as 'lampers' who transfix the foxes using high powered lamps and then set lurcher dogs on them.

The animals are said to be at their most vulnerable at this time of year when the crops are down and the family fox groups hunt the open fields for rabbits making them an easy target.

Tarporley-based Chris Owen of the League Against Cruel Sports said: 'You can thank the bloodsports brigade for this totally unacceptable situation. Later this month thousands will descend on London claiming Liberty and Livelihood is at threat if hunting is banned. 'Liberty to kill animals in this manner is repugnant and those who make a financial gain from it should hang their heads in shame. Ironically this latest incident has happened just as the three-day public hearings into the future of foxhunting are taking place. Just how much more evidence does this Government need of the unacceptable activities of the hunting with dogs brigade? For every day the Government pontificates over a ban, foxes, badgers, deer and hare have unnecessary suffering inflicted upon them. It really is time the Government gave the police the power to take action against these people and stop this countryside cruelty. It's time to end it and end it now.'

David Stocker of the Countryside Alliance said: 'One man's pest is another man's wildlife. In gardens, if rats are there in great numbers, as individuals and homeowners we make our own subjective decision about whether these animals constitute a pest. This to me looks like an effective pest control exercise.' However, Mr Stocker said it was unacceptable to dump carcasses at the side of the road.

News Story: Chester Chronicle, 13th September 2002