“will* whoops”

“Hey guys, how did you like us lot at your last meet? Glad you packed up early though, the foxes were thank you!”

“Bored of Cheltenham

I use a way to reduce the damage deer do to my property that does them less harm than killing them. I just take my dogs down to the wood and flush them out.

Unfortunately under the Hunting Act this is now only legal if I shoot the deer.

It's a deeply stupid law.”

“Hi Bored of Cheltenham,

It is totally unnatural for a fox to find himself in a confined space with a large numbers of poultry. Out in the wild, he'd be lucky to stumble across one and any others in the vicinity would naturally have the chance to flee. However, man interferes, as usual, confines lots of birds in one place, fails to use his supposed 'superior intelligence' to make it fox proof and then throws his hands up in horror because the fox follows his instincts to hunt for food!

One cannot expect an animal like a fox, finding itself in the middle of a load of squawking hens who are unable to escape because of the incompetence of their keeper, to pause and think 'Umm, maybe I should take just one of these for my supper'. He's programmed by Mother Nature to make the most of it and, left to his own devices, he would come back and take each carcase and bury it as a 'larder' for when times are hard. That sort of forward planning deserves respect, not scorn.

In answer to your 'total ban' question, there have been proper drag and bloodhound packs in existence for a very long time presenting the same spectacle as the fox hunts but without the cruelty of hounding a wild animal to a brutal death. Nobody has ever suggested that they should be 'banned' so there's no debate to be had about disposal of horses and hounds because it will not arise.

Lastly, contact the Humane Wildlife Deterrence Society or the Fox Project or electric fencing suppliers for non-lethal methods of fox control.”

“Ian you must never have seen an animal kill another animal. There is clearly enjoyment in the act.

If what you say is true why does the fox kill all the birds then leave them. Surely he would think about other preditors coming and stealing its prey?

What about house hold cats? Have you never seen one play with a mouse kill it then just leave it? Killing and the thril of the chase is fun for animals!

One more question for the antis if you want a total ban what do you supose we do with all the horses and hounds? Ground down for dog food?

Also could you give me a way of disposing of a fox that causes them less harm?”

“Goodnight Almo, nice to see you know when your beat.”

“Quasi, thank you for your comment. I'm not really interested in a game of ping-pong/tennis/whatever, but you did infer in your original comment that people committing criminal acts ought to have their tools of commital confiscatred. My response was meant to refer to such criminal acts as speeding. Anyone who speeds, does so knowing that they are liable to casue death.
Anyhoo, can't spend to much time engaging in rivetting idle cvhatter, as the hounds need feeding, traps need setting etc etc”

“I agree entirely with the previous comment re the Echo's headline & reporting being very pro hunt. This subject was heavily debated on this site recently & it is obvious that the general consensus of opionion, across the so -called class structure, is that this despicable passtime IS NOT ACCEPTABLE to the majority of our society, where ever they may live.”

“Almo. If you are caught driving without tax or insurance your car will be impounded at the roadside, parkind illegally can result in your car being clamped or towed which is a temporary confiscation. Excessive speeding will result in a jail sentence.
Suggest you take your own advice and engage brain before making your hilariously pithy comments.”

“I am totally against fox hunting and believe the ban should stay in place. It is cruel and a totally out of date so called sport.”