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Time to end barbaric hunts once and for all

Tuesday, 22 December 2009

In this Christian and supposedly civilised country, there will be widespread cruelty inflicted on wild animals over the Christmas holiday season. This reaches a peak on St Stephen's Day, which is a traditional time for hunts and hare coursing.

On this day, there will be an increased countrywide organised assault on our already hard-pressed wildlife by a minority of the population.

No Christmas respite is given to wildlife by bloodsports followers.

The actions of the Irish hare coursing community have been well-documented.

Many hares will end their lives for the Christmas entertainment of people who are strangers to compassion and respect for life.

The hunting with hounds community use St Stephen's Day hunt meets as a public relations exercise.

The general public is shown the Christmas card image of fox hunting - red-coated riders throwing back glasses of hot port surrounded by packs of big lovable hounds.

What is kept hidden is the sole reason for this gathering which is to hunt down, terrorise and kill a harmless wild animal.

Hunting with hounds is organised, premeditated animal cruelty. There is no justification for it; be it on moral, economic or cultural grounds.

It is now time for our legislators to act to outlaw bloodsports. Their existence in society is a disgrace and they have no role in what purports to be an enlightened and environmentally friendly society.

Our wildlife is part of our precious heritage. We keep it in trust for future generations.

No one group pleading 'tradition' and 'culture' for their barbaric practices should be allowed to inflict terror and death on wild animals for their own perverse pleasure.

JOHN TIERNEY

Campaigns director, Association of Hunt Saboteurs, Dublin

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John, I fear someone has been reading too much Roald Dahl. What has Christmas/Christianity got to do with anything?? Yes the hunt takes place during the Christmas period, but I have always been led to believe that Christianity and Christmas are celebrated by a largely human population. I don't think a fox feels any more agrieved to be hunted over the Christmas period than it would at any other time of the year. As for your comment "What is kept hidden is the sole reason for this gathering which is to hunt down, terrorise and kill a harmless wild animal"....who exactly is hiding this?? It is called a hunt afterall. Can you tell me how you classify an Animal as "harmless"? Do foxes hunt for their food? Yes.(unless they raid a chicken coop in which case it can hardly be called hunting). Do foxes have natural predators? historically yes, nowadays, no. This is why they must be controlled. And hunting is a great way to do it.

Posted by I LOVE MEAT | 23.12.09, 23:01 GMT

Try telling the Fox that when they kill 20 chickens or bite the heads off new born Lambs or kill many Pheasants, Grouse and other Birds, or perhaps that doesn't matter to you, and why do you have to mention Red Coated riders whereas most wear Black and I have never had a glass of Hot Port, perish the thought of it.
So as in most things you are very wrong in what you say and is it more about Red Coats than hunting Foxes?

Posted by Norman Bryant | 23.12.09, 12:17 GMT

What gets me about all this, is that some little band of people all in para military kit single out and target one countrysport. Anti-hunters could not give a toss about the fox. They might pretend to or believe they do, but if hunting were banned in Ireland they will simply move on to ban the next sport, likely to be shooting and then fishing.

The anti-hunters have not conducted one scientific survey to check on fox welfare in England since the ban. They wouldn't know the first thing about foxes. They personify them and confuse them with humans. For example, how do they know foxes feel fear? If they do, how do they know when in the chase the fox would feel fear? There is plenty of evidence to show many hunted foxes get away, do not seem frightened and within minutes revert to their normal behaviour.

The problem is Sabs and Anti-hunters bang on about the same old rubbish that is not born out in the facts. But they don't care about that, they just enjoy targeting people.

Posted by Bog Fox | 23.12.09, 11:56 GMT

Those who hurt animals have a tendancy to hurt humans! What complete tosh, hunting kills animals not hurt them. Hunters hunt for food (game) eg venison, wild boar, grouse etc Everything is eaten and none wasted!

Posted by tosh | 23.12.09, 11:31 GMT

Those who hurt animals have a tendency to hurt humans! Such fun to see a animal die in agony! Where these morons came from is beyond me! If you know nutters who indulge in such acts, I would watch them very closely if they get pleasure from pain!

Posted by Mike Irvine | 22.12.09, 13:52 GMT

Now this may come as a bit of a shock to some people, but, animals kill each other everyday.

I'm now assuming the role of a farmer/landowner, for illustrative purposes only - If a fox, or any other wild animal, is on my land; I reserve the right to control it. It may be a harmless animal and I may decide to do nothing, on the other hand, it may be an animal that could potentially cause damage to my crops, my livestock or any other animals, such as dogs.

I'm still pretending - Hunting has been a way of life in the countryside for countless generations, it is a wholly necessary pursuit. On certain days of the year, local hunts are invited onto our land to pursue foxes which I would normally have to deal with myself. As I ride with the hunt, it also gives me a chance to spot one or two decent new horses each year. Where would horse racing be today if it were not for hunting? Perhaps John is not a fan of horse racing either, it wouldn't surprise me.

Hunting YES Neo-Fascism NO

Posted by WH | 22.12.09, 12:58 GMT

Really I do enjoy a hot toddy with the VWH. Tally ho!

Posted by jaegermeister | 22.12.09, 12:53 GMT

Culling is a natures way of improving biodiversity. The hound has accompanied humans in their pursuit of game and food through the ages, and is a quite efficient humane killing machine, if you have observed them in action. I takes a lot of impudence for one who wears leather shoes, and does not profess vegetarianism to dictate that the reasonable control of the animal population is a 'perverse pleasure'.

Posted by Malachy McAnespie | 22.12.09, 11:55 GMT