Hunting ‘an outrage’ (From Wiltshire Times)

Hunting ‘an outrage’

6:00pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Letters

With reference to the letters in the Wiltshire Times (January 20 and January 27), concerning the waiving of traffic restrictions in Lacock for the Boxing Day meet of the Avon Vale Hunt, I am in complete agreement with the comments made by John Lauder.

How is it that the laws that affect the majority of people in this country do not appear to apply to the hunting fraternity? It is outrageous that they can rampage across crops, terrorise livestock and kill people’s pets. There are numerous video recordings of other hunts showing hounds running amok on major roads and railway lines.

When questioned about this outrageous behaviour they may well apologise, but claim that they were unable to control the hounds once they were on the scent of a fox. Other dog owners would be prosecuted if their animals were out of control and causing danger or damage. Such owners would face steep fines and the confiscation and probable destruction of their pet.

Along with 75 per cent of the people in this country, I am totally opposed to any form of hunting with hounds. The purpose of the Hunting Act 2005 was meant to ensure that such activity is no longer legal. However, the Countryside Alliance seek the repeal of this the Act because, they state, the “legislation is not working”. Surely this implies that the hunting fraternity is breaking the law of the land as they are still hunting foxes, hares and deer. Apparently not, so they say, contradicting themselves; the hunts are just following a scent trail (trail hunting). However, if they are not now actively hunting and killing our wild mammals then the Act is working.

WA Maunder, Church Street, Semington.