“The complete amount of rubbish that is spoken about the type of people that hunt never ceases to amaze me. Toff's - I dont think so. Most of the people I know are road workers, truck drivers, garage mechanics etc many living in council houses not as most people would believe Castles and Mansions.Country Folk do not tell City dwellers how to run their cities so why do City people think they can enforce their views in the country. If people want to hunt then they should be allowed to without being made in to criminals. After all Hunting has been carried out by Royal Families for hundreds of years!”

“I wonder why it is mainly the South West and Yorkshire that seems to attract people with no understanding of foxes and other wildlife? They all seem to accumulate in these places and then rant about something they think they are entitled to do to these creatures.
FACT: Fox populations self-regulate.
FACT: Interference from Verminmanspecies is unnecessary.
FACT: Cruelty to animals is often (and increasingly) linked with cruelty to children and those unable to defend themselves.”

“It is very interesting to read the hypocritical comments regarding the so called cruelty of fox hunting from many that condone and enjoy fireworks.
Fox hunting killed an estimated 13,000 foxes a year whereas fireworks continue to kill in excess of 25,000 animals a year.
Seems what is enjoyment for some warrants death, suffering and terror. The animal welfare act 2006 states that it is an offence to submit any animal to unnecessary suffering, be it physical or mental yet where the perfectly justifiable and legitimate hunting and killing of vermin was banned by the bunny huggers fireworks because they are non class issue are allowed, even encouraged to carry on killing and terrifying pets.”

“Amy Harchley, London ,

Do you know anything of the history of this so-called sport?

Please do some research before you spout off about moral bunkruptcy.

Fox hunting is not about managing an animal, it is about hunting and killing for 'fun'.

Check out this site for a history of hunting: http://www.greenacres-stud.com/foxhunting.htm

Note the importing of foxes in the 19th century and the introduction of the larger fox from Sweden; why? To ensure that there are plenty of 'vermin' to hunt!

Would you deliberately put rats into your house so that you could set traps for them??”

“Lindy Midlands - do you have a suggestion yourself on how you believe farmers could protect their livestock from foxes?

In my opinion, burying a wire mesh fence 12 inches into the ground and making it 6 feet high may be all well and good for chicken but is it realistic in a 30 acre field?!

Foxes contribute nothing, they're scavengers. The livestock they hunt and kill are worth money to farmers.

Would all of you who disagree with hunting with dogs, agree that lamping for foxes with a shotgun would be a more humane way of managing the population? If I were a fox, I'd surely choose a quick death, rather than suffering with a blown apart leg for a few days because the gunners aim was a little off in the dark.

I wonder if your opinions would differ, if it were your own animals being killed on a nightly basis?”

“In response to Mirek W. from Melbourne, I think you should be v. careful lecturing on moral bankruptcy. I would argue that Australia's history of consistent persecution of its indigenous people is a pertinent example of moral bankruptcy. In addition, may be you should leave the suburbs of Melbourne and see how your farmers control wildlife (albeit introduced) with poison and poor marksmanship - both of which can cause unnecessary suffering. Hunting with dogs is the most humane way of controlling wildlife to maintain the right balance for biodiversity and human interests. While I admit the death of a hunted fox may look unpleasant, the time it takes to insensibility and death is irrefutably quicker than achieved by rifle or warfarin - there is no danger that the animal will spend hours bleeding to death or suffering from sepsis from a gunshot wound.
People don't kill for pleasure although riding to hounds may be pleasurable; fox hunting is about managing an animal, with no natural predator, to ensure we achieve a balanced, healthy population. So before you wave your moral wand about I suggest you read up on the subject and may be your own history so you can make real judgements on the morality of activities or events.”

“Further to the comment made that farmers do not have any control over their livestock just totally proves my piont! If you have never been on a farm or known how a farmer controls their livestock YOU cannot possibly understand.

In my years of hunting on horseback the excitement was wonderful not because we were chasing a animal to catch it and kill it but the fun of being out in the open and being free on my horse to gallop and jump gates/hedges. I may add that everytime I went hunting we never caught a fox- ever heard the saying 'Sly as a fox?'
There are other ways a fox will be caught and killed and I can assure you that it is not pleasant.
I am a animal lover but also coming across all your chickens dead after a fox has had them is heartbreaking!

I understand that everone has a opinion but I would like to think that even if you do not agree with mine you can at least accept freedom of speech and opinion!”

“Denzil ... Supporting terriermen? Terrier work is still legal under the hunting act to protect game birds (lets face it were isnt there game birds). So you think terrier work is worse than the hunt? Surley that goes to show that this legislation has nothing to do with animal welfare it was just a misguided class war. Other wise terrier work would have been baned also? Hunting with dogs isnt cruel it is effective and it is selective in the animals it takes. Just because people enjoy it doesnt mean it is wrong. I bet the fox enjoys hunting its in our blood to hunt so why shouldnt we?”

“The introduction of 'the ban' did nothing for animal welfare and less for civil liberties! It ignored the facts and was a cynical act of Labour spite driven by bigotry and fuelled by ignorance, all for reasons of cowardly political expediency.”

“Hunting is part of a real dogs natural behaviour.”