Now Closed: Thank you to everyone who submitted a comment.

Countryman, UK
Saturday, September 26, 2004 at 12:55:09

Why should we give in to the cruelty of the hunting fraternity?

If we do turn a blind eye to their cruelty then, should we also turn a blind eye to the Japanese and their mindless killing of whales just for their blubber? Should we also turn a blind eye to the Canadians for their mindless bludgeoning of seals just to stem the seal population? Should we also turn a blind eye to the French fishing trawlers for the mindless killing of dolphins trapped in their nets? I could go on. This is the league I put the hunting fraternity in, ‘Mindless killing’. The hunting fraternity keep on about destroying their way of life, losing their houses and jobs. What did the Miners do? They also had tied accommodation when they lost their proper work; they finally accepted the loss of their work and tied accommodation, (not involving cruelty), and got themselves other work and accommodation. What did the fisherman do, when Brussels stopped a lot of their fishing rights? Again not involving cruelty? They eventually accepted it and got themselves other work, as did thousands of others who have lost their jobs. The hunting fraternity can do the same and get a proper job not involving cruelty. The alliance also talk about their human rights, what about the rights of animals not to be chased all over the countryside until they are exhausted, then torn to pieces whilst still alive, what about their rights? What about the rights of others, the likes of my wife and I, who are animal lovers, and other men, women & children etc who openly weep when they/we see these horrific cruel acts, performed? What about our rights and thousands more like us, not to witness or even know of these barbaric acts of cruelty to foxes and deer, what about our rights?

In closing I am not a Townie, I have lived in the countryside most of my life, I say “KEEP THE HUNTING BAN” and let the hunting fraternity get themselves a proper life and work not involving cruelty.

Emily, West Midlands
Wednesday, September 22, 2004 at 17:43:04

STOP FOX HUNTING!

Kazly, Leicester
Wednesday, September 22, 2004 at 10:13:44

i agree and disagree with hunting i find find the killing of the fox sad although foxes killed and left my ducks seriusly ill and it took me 4weeks on 24/7 care to keep puddles (my duck) alive. one week after the atack i found my other duck sadly dead and it left a question in me heart is it far a life 4 a life?? Kaz 13

Matt, Cumbria
Monday, September 20, 2004 at 21:23:06

Kat's comments highlight one of the misconceptions about foxes, namely that they kill for 'the sake of killing'. Foxes, as the Burns Inquiry proved, don't kill anything like as much as the pro-hunt lobby would have us believe. Like ALL meat eating animals they will kill more than they need to given the opportunity with a view to coming back and collecting it, however they are only ever given this opportunity very rarely. If foxes where the trouble the hunt would have you believe no farmer would allow artificial fox earths on their land, however many do.

Kat, UK
Monday, September 20, 2004 at 11:38:47

i think that hunting is ok too a certain extent, as foxes just kill for the sake of killing unlike most animals. I dont agree that if the fox has gone to earth that hunters should dig nor do i believe in breeding foxes to be hunted. but if hunting is band what will happen to all the horses and the dogs the lambs and the chickens we have to look at this from all angles with this been such a touchy subject. hunting is a sport but with the way some hunts act its not sporting. people hunt for pleasure but have to kill the fox for the farmer to allow them to use their land. At the end of the day i agree with hunting but i agree with both sides but if the fox gets away tuff luck.

Darren, London
Sunday, September 19, 2004 at 14:33:54

I went on the liberty & livelihood march in London in 2002, because i thought the people in the countryside (mainly the farmers) were getting a bad deal. but i can't carry on supporting an organisation whose main aim it seems is to promote the rights of a bunch of sadists. The huntsmen have said that they will continue to hunt even after the ban, and they will get away with it because the farmers will let them on their land. unfortunatly for the farmers, we now have the EC, supermarkets, and a wide selection of food produced in other countries. so as patriotic as i am, unless the farmers distance themselves from these people, and stop them from hunting on their land, i for one will be buying foreign farm produce, and if enough people in this country do the same, i think they'll get the message.

Kate, Lancashire
Sunday, September 19, 2004 at 13:07:09

Some of the comments on here by hunt supporters simply shows they are living in their own little world. For example, Rose says foxhunting is 'a vital part of rural life' yet every opinion poll of rural areas says otherwise. Even Mal Treharne, spokesperson for the Countryside Alliance (South West) said, "There are so few people who actually hunt that banning the sport would be of no consequence". Note Rose that even the Countryside Alliance refer it to as a 'sport' not pest control.

Rose, do rat catchers allow some rats to go free so that they can come back next year? Of course not, but this is exactly what fox hunts do? Hunts actually ensure that there will be enough foxes to hunt next season, and the season after that. This demonstrates that foxes are not the pests the hunters would have you believe.

Robert claims that a hunt ban is not enforcable because of the strain on the police force. Of course this is nonsense because stopping a hunt is very easy, it isn't like stopping a vile terrierman who goes out under the cover of darkness often alone. Many hunts currently rely on the police for assistance, e.g. stopping traffic to allow the hunt to cross roads or to detain protestors. Simply fining any landowner who allows the hunt onto their land will soon stop hunting.

Tally ho hunters, you've had your day and are quite rightly now seen in the same light as badger baiters.

Anthony, Northumberland
Sunday, September 19, 2004 at 12:00:05

Hi I just want to say what a fantastic day the 15th September was seeing hunting banned.

It looks like the Countryside Alliance got it wrong again, millions do not support hunting just look at the small amount of people that turned up to her the excellent vote on hunting.

Monica, West Wales
Saturday, September 18, 2004 at 23:45:52

I do hope that the bill against hunting with dogs gets passed. I think hare coursing is horribly cruel and I really hope that it is banned as soon as possible.

Rose, Hampshire
Saturday, September 18, 2004 at 12:45:42

Foxhunting and other such called "Cruel Sports" are but a vital part of rural life. if you had your facts right you would see that your not saving the fox but laeding it in to certain death, without hunting methods that are by far much crueller would be used to rid farms and towns of these vermin. Look at it this way if a fox looked like a rat would we be having this argument at all? shouldnt the goverment be looking into much more important matters than messing with what they don't know about.

Izzy, UK
Saturday, September 18, 2004 at 10:22:02

This is so fantastic news for the animals, I pray that nothing prevents this from becoming reality. I cannot understand how anyone can enjoy terrorising and brutally killing, what does that say about them as people, and they will use any justification to stand their ground. The pics from recent clash with police of pro-hunters with their heads bleeding etc was summed up in one daily newspaper magnificently 'now they know how the foxes feel'

Zoot, Tarporley, Cheshire
Friday, September 17, 2004 at 22:03:26

I'm in a tricky situation, I live in a hunting 'heartland' in mid cheshire. I have in-laws who strongly support hunting. I hate it and always have, but living where I do, and having young children, Ii feel I have to be very very careful what I say and to whom. I live very near to the infamous Peter Jones, who the people 'in the know' are well aquainted with - I don't speak to the prat!

The proposed ban is the best news I have heard for some time - way overdue. I am soooo annoyed by the arrogance of the perverts stating that they will continue hunting if a ban sticks - I will be watching them. Keep up the good work people

Alberto, England
Friday, September 17, 2004 at 14:54:17

BAN fox hunting it is cruel and pointless!

Josh, Chichester
Friday, September 17, 2004 at 14:23:3

I think that fox hunting has no place in todays society as its mindless and cruel

Werner, born in the loopholes, now in Canada
Friday, September 17, 2004 at 12:02:47

I am definitely in favour of abolishing fox hunting. I understand that members of the monarchy had connections with the Commons invasion. I guess that is to be expected. They really are a disgusting bunch. It is also unfortunate, in my view, that the general area of equestrian sports is still being influenced by these thugs. To their credit the English do seem to make distinctions here. Over in Canada the situation is very much worse. In general,cruelty to animals is not taken very seriously here (except for issues involving dogs and cats occasionally) because of the continued dominance of the rural economy especially in the west. Events like the Calgary Stampede, or issues like PMU farms, are widely excused even by some veterinarians although there is quite a bit of opposition on the latter.

Robert, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Friday, September 17, 2004 at 02:23:13

I think that the hunting ban cannot be enforced because if every hunt continues as normal the govenment will have to reverse the ban because they will not put more strain on the already over streched prison service so keep going hunter

i am not a hunt member or ever been on a hunt but i am a pro-hunt supporter

Jean, Denbighshire
Thursday, September 16, 2004 at 21:04:24

The Countryside Alliance are a small minority but if the Tories get in and overturn the ban democracy will be ignored. We the majority will have to kowtow to farmers and the land owning classes as of old, so make sure labour is elected next time and make sure the ban is permanent.

Joel and Lucie, Nottingham
Thursday, September 16, 2004 at 15:06:35

Some people call fox hunters and the like 'animals', I think this is a disgrace to the word animal. True, foxes and indeed other animals may need to be controlled, I have nothing against this, providing it is done in a HUMANE way and it is not done in vain! Fox hunters call foxs vermin; well maybe they should look in the mirror! What's wrong with scent trails anyway, the difference is, there's no KILL!

Lizzy, Liverpool
Thursday, September 16, 2004 at 14:34:17

I have spent many of my childhood years living within rural comunitys. Contrary to what the Countryside Alliance says not everyone in the rural community agrees with or supports hunting. Their arguments say that hunting is the most 'humane' way of culling the fox population. I would just argue that if the huntmasters did not provide the foxes with winter food supplies and bedding for there setts, as to insure a good fox population for hunting the fox 'problem' wouldn't have been an issue in the first place. These people are evil and should be stopped, they have missled many of the Brittish public into believing them in their cause by not quite telling the truth! Just because somthing is traditional does not make it right, just look at bare knuckle boxing or slavery at one point they was traditional and the done thing, but did that make it right? I think not. Roll on 2006

Neville, Cheshire
Thursday, September 16, 2004 at 12:21:26

Although I cannot condone the cruelty inflicted on the animals in general as your pictures on this website show either with hounds or foxes. I do agree with correct management of the countryside and control of predatory animals such as the Fox, however, I don t agree with Badger baiting, cubbing or any other such barbaric practices which cause suffering to animals.

I once even picked a Badger up off the road near Holywell, N.Wales that had been badly beaten and obviously been in fight with terriers and been dumped on the road and left for dead. The badger was taken to the local Police station in Holywell where the local Badger group took over the welfare of the animal. The sow, as it turned out to be recovered in Colwyn Bay Zoo and was release back into the area it was found

So maybe it s right to ban hunting with dog packs and using terriers underground, I own two terriers myself but both have been trained not to enter any hole in the ground.

But I do go beating for a shoot and use my dogs to flush game and retrieve, I also carry out pest control on rabbits and rats with a gun which is done with great accuracy and a total lack of suffering for the animal concerned, in short I m a hunter and a target shooter. There are also many more like me that keep the status quo in the countryside.

Gamekeepers up and down the country do help with the conservation with many of the species of birds and animals on their beat, however, as with every other job you will have the minority of the rogue element which will inflict damage on the majority by being seen to be handling things in an unethical way you can t tar everyone with the same brush!

Neville George

United Kingdom Association For Hunter Field Target

James, Birmingham
Thursday, September 16, 2004 at 10:32:01

i think it should be put under licsence and it should be quick and pain less the dogs that hunt them will have to be put down isnt that wrong too

Kim, South Wales
Thursday, September 16, 2004 at 10:04:53

I think that fox hunting, and any hunting of an animal is disgraceful. I am overjoyed that it is banned.

Roger, West Cumbria
Wednesday, September 15, 2004 at 23:14:25

I am delighted that the vote has been carried, it is a step in the right direction, although I am not naive enough to think the persecution of the Fox will cease. The pro-hunt campaigners do not represent the views of the majority of rural communities in Cumbria as they always try to portray.

I hear that the Tories have pledged to re-introduce Hunting when they return to power, a good enough reason never to vote Conservative I would say.

Andy, Manchester
Wednesday, September 15, 2004 at 22:46:28

Sorry yet again i am amazed that these very same people who are so cruel to defenceless animals then have the gall to criticize police for the tactics used to disperse the very same animal killing hunters. The fact that the huntsmen/women were the first to provoke the police with attacks but i am sure we all feel the justified amount of sympathy for their injuries, which of course will be none.

Colin, Northamptonshire
Wednesday, September 15, 2004 at 18:40:50

I have been a league member for many many years so it does not surprise me to see the actions of a desperate "MINORITY" who see their time is up and will fight all the way to defend their BLOODSPORT.

They are blinkered to the clear facts that the large majority of the population in this country do not want this cruely to continue any longer. Thank you so very very much to all of you valiant workers who have overcome phsyical threats and intimidation to see this "GREAT DAY" become a reality and although there is a long way to go , I owe you my personal and deep thanks for all your hard work. regards from Colin

Sian, Yateley, Hampshire
Wednesday, September 15, 2004 at 16:54:19

Well, after witnessing the violence that the Countryside Alliances demonstation outside the House of Commons has provoked on TV not only am i now more determined to not back its principals, or ridiculous ideas about the deliberate cruelty they inflict on Foxes, hounds and horses through hunting. I sincerely hope that legislation is passed today, banning all forms of Fox hunting in Britain like it should have been done two years ago and that the mindless interuption (supplied by 5 members of the countryside alliance) does not ruin or inflict the chances of this happening. In my opinion it only goes to show that this organisation seems incapable of staging a protest without voilence, reflecting the mentality and type of people that choose to support its ideas.

Jamie, Leicester
Wednesday, September 15, 2004 at 13:20:54

I run a blog and every time i hear anything to do with hunting i have to blog about it . I HATE IT to the point of which it drives me mad. There is no need to chase a poor defencless animal to exhaustion and then rip it apart. Why is this sick twisted idea of a sport still around? And how is it "humane" Football is a humane sport as it doesnt involve senseless murder. I have emailed my views many times to a pro-hunting website. I just get an ignorant email back telling me im not that bright and i have issues.

Mark, Monifieth, Scotland
Wednesday, September 15, 2004 at 12:21:46

There is no justified excuse for a two year delay. It is just a flimsy excuse to let the CA and it's supporters continue hunting for another two years. Three months is more than enough time for the hunts to disband/convert to drag hunting.

If the Countryside Alliance claim they will continue to hunt with hounds after a ban(like they did before), they are talking from their back end. The hunts in Scotland said they would do that, and they now have either disbanded or happily converted to drag hunting. Problem solved.

What's more, foxes are NOT vermin and they are NOT pests. They are misunderstood creatures who get hungry and have feelings and emotions just like we do, and there is no just reason why they should not be entitled to live. I mean, how would the CA like it if they were being chased and massacred for sport over long distances?

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