As the start of the hunt season approaches, the pro hunting fraternity are intent on attacking the legislation that bans hunting with dogs. They claim the law is not working as it’s unenforceable. There will always be a minority of people who flout laws. Covert dog fighting continues yet we would not dream of rewarding people who insist on carrying out this illegal activity by repealing the ban. There are close connections between fox hunting and dog fighting.They share the same characteristics of training dogs to attack animals for the sport and recreation of a minority of people. The fox is a wild member of the dog family. Yet it is not only foxes who suffer from hunting with dogs- hares and stags are also the focus of Hunts.
The legislation has been more successful than other laws in protecting wildlife.There have been more convictions under the Hunting Act than under the Deer Act, the Badgers Act and the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act. Conservatives Against Fox Hunting welcome the fact that more than 180 people have been successfully prosecuted under the Hunting Act.
Poll after poll demonstrate that the majority of people think hunting should remain illegal. An ipsos MORI poll for The League Against Cruel Sports in December 2009 demonstrates that 75% of the public and 62% of Conservative supporters think hunting should remain illegal. It is important that Conservative MPs show that they are in touch with the public’s opinion on this issue. An increasing number of Conservative MPs state that they are against hunting and Conservatives Against Fox Hunting encourage undecided MPs to join them.
The Yorkshire Post newspaper published a letter written by the CEO of The League Against Cruel Sports about Conservatives Against Fox Hunting on the 28th October 2011. The letter includes information on the increasing number of Conservative MPs who are against hunting with hounds. Joe Duckworth CEO also writes how people would rather our Prime Minister concentrated on more important matters than the recreation of hunting.
