Fox Hunting

The issue of the banning of Fox hunting, I am neither for nor against this, but there is an argument to be settled here and I have arguments for both sides.1

The much respected RSPCA and governments have said that it is exaggerated when people say foxes are pests. They also say that foxes limit their own numbers and that hunting is not humane, that it is stressful and frightening for the fox and the hounds do not kill the fox immediately.  Their argument is that hunting is not an effective way to control the numbers of the foxes, and that the fox has to hunt to survive.2

Killing animals for sport is unfair…3

The fox hunting community have responded with their argument. 4

Foxes are pests for a majority of the farming communities, lambs, piglets etc are lost, granted it accounts for only a small part of the deaths, but all livestock is precious to the farmer, it is his livelihood. 5

The fact that foxes limit their own numbers is that when the limit sets in,  the number of foxes around is so high anyway those farmers are not prepared to put up with them. The government introduced a fox bounty after the 1939-45 War because the number of foxes had got very large due to a marked reduction in Hunting, Shooting etc. during the War. 6

Is hunting Humane and is it frightening and stressful for the animal? 7

There have been video clips where there has been a worst case scenario, e.g.  The hounds ripping the fox apart, but death usually occurs within 10 seconds of the first hound snatching the fox.  As for the stressful and frightening aspect of it, there has been scientific evidence those animals that are hunted regularly (e.g. foxes) may well be conditioned to regard the stress of being hunted as normal.8

The killing of animals for sport is unfair.9

Fishing kills fish. Shooting kills birds and stags. Is it not right that eating beef kills cattle, eating lamb kills baby sheep? So, why not ban all these and make it compulsory for everybody to be Vegans, because we all live in the real world, which is full of death.  Some birds are ripped apart slowly by domestic cats etc. should we ban cats? (Another argument completely)10

The fox has to hunt to survive… Dogs enjoy hunting. This is a known fact because dogs are natural pack animals, so it is not "unfair" to them. All dogs (including domestic dogs) when in a pack will chase and attempt to kill other animals. Hounds are in a pack when hunting. Young foxhounds will chase rabbits, hares, deer etc. Foxhounds are trained to kill foxes, not to rip them apart. Foxhunts have to train foxhounds not to hunt animals other than foxes. Stag hunts have to train staghounds not to hunt rabbits, hares and foxes. There is more goes into this than just mindless killing, less of a sport and more of a way of life.11

Conclusion…..12

I have since writing this a better conception of the arguments from both sides, I too have an argument. People say ‘let’s move with the times, ban foxhunting’. I say ‘When women were not allowed to vote, changes were needed, times changed, some thought it was the wrong thing to do, but it happened’. I feel that fox hunting should change, but not be banned; there should be strict regulations to ensure that the animals are treated humanely. Fox hunting is a part of the British tradition; I don’t think it should be completely obliterated. Humane or not, people throughout time will always have differing views on this and it will continue to be an issue13