Why are we so hypocritical in this country when it comes to the rights of animals?

[AB Asks]

Fox hunting is a tradition of this country and has been for many centuries. It's a social event where communities gather and bond and it keeps hundreds in work in parts of the county where unemployment is high.

Here's a question for you, if a snare is illegal then why isn't a mouse trap? Why can we club fish and seals to death? How comes we can shoot stags and anything else we feel like poaching but when it comes to foxes we get high and mighty about it? This government who, may I add spent 145 hours of commons time debating this bill and only spent 4 hours debating Iraq has lead this country's traditions into a sad state of affairs.

Is this anti hunt mobs argument really an issue over animal cruelty or is it more a matter of class?

[rexy0101]

cruelty to animals is barbaric,by banning fox hunting it is taking a step the right direction.

[AB Editor]

Todays second 'AB Asks' topic can be found in Body & Soul

[B00]

Fox hunting is a tradition of this country and has been for many centuries. It's a social event where communities gather and bond and it keeps hundreds in work in parts of the county where unemployment is high

So were public hangings and executions.......

[jedimistress]

Is that is supposed to be an AB impartial question to encourage debate? Sounds like something out The Sun's letter page. Misinformed and inflamatory. Your question is disgusting. Put yourself forward for electrodes in your brain if you feel so strongly about these wonderful laboratories. Shame on you.

[jedimistress]

What is your problem AB has an animal upset you today?

[DJerba]

Well I think it's a valid question and my opinion - Fox hunting is cruel but necessary unless there is a more humane way of controlling foxes? I know they are a problem but if we dont hunt them what is the answer?

[Champagne]

I think you'll find that most people are against fish and seals being clubbed to death. Just for the record.

Foxes can be a bane to farmers. A well known fact. And a farmer shooting a nuisance fox that insists on killing all his chickens probably wouldn't be a huge issue for most. But a large group of grown men and women, on horseback, with a pack of dogs chasing a terrified fox to its death is hardly fair is it? It's the arrogant callousness of the hunt that the majority oppose.

I've got to say that I'm with Bill Bailey on this, who says: "Fox hunting is natural. All animals hunt. In fact even foxes hunt. Yeah, but they're not mounted on pigs, chasing a terrified doormouse through a forest with a pack of cats, while blowing a rudimentary horn fashioned out of an acorn."

If they want to keep fox hunting then they should at least make it fair.

Anyway, what's wrong with your tone today ABED? Did you get out of the wrong side of bed or something? You sound very aggressive.

[B00]

Speaking of fair Ham, what the fox hunters also fail to tell you is that many times they catch the fox first, slit its paws so that the trail of blood is easier for the dogs to detect ad follow and also block up as many fox holes as they can prior to a hunt.

[Leight0n]

For the record there are perfectly humane ways of removing rodents now. You don't have to use a mouse trap. What humane ways are there of removing foxes??? Oh wait, there isn't, lets just let a pack of 50 dogs chase it and rip it to bits.

You say "Why can we club fish and seals to death?" Oh yeah, that is a great British tradition, insn't it! I do it almost every weekend.

Also "How comes we can shoot stags and anything else we feel like poaching" Can't say i've heard of deer hunting in this country either. Fair enough, they have the hunting season for game birds, but at least these animal are put to good use when they have been killed (i.e eaten!!!!)

I hope this is your way of getting a rise out of people and not your the opinon of "The Answer Bank".

Shame on you.

[lankeela]

AB please get your facts right, it is not just fox hunting that has been banned, it is hunting with dogs.

However the law is unenforceable and unworkable, and hunting will continue.

It is very much a class issue, how often do you hear hunting folk referred to as the toffee nosed upper class red coat brigade?

The truth is hunting is enjoyed by people from all walks of life, and although people are entitled to their opinions either for or against why should they be allowed to dictate what others can and can't do?

[Champagne]

Surely that's cheating, BOO?

Do they also feed the hounds steroids to make the kill all the more frenzied?

[Curlylox2006]

Don't quote me, but I also heard that fox hunters deliberately release foxes in areas where they hunt (perhaps someone can confirm if this is true). If it is, it makes a mockery of the argument that it is to control numbers. It is a cruel and sadistic pastime. And I agree with previous correspondents, your question lacks objectivity AB, very unprofessional.

[B00]

lol, that i don't know Ham, I'm willing to bet they ain't fed for several days prior though............

[ollyjolly]

Two points people
1.
AB has a point which I think you have all missed. Why have we spent so much time debating fox hunting and so little on Iraq before we sent this countries heroes to their deaths?
2.We have set a president here, fly can u still go fishing thats killing for sport why can you go shooting? Why can you hunt with two dogs ? Does that become humane?
Thoughts?

[Coldicote]

What sickens me about it is that fellow humans, of whatever social class, acually enjoy the prospect of a creature being chased to exhaustion and then torn to pieces.

[B00]

Olly- you've posted the same thing twice now and haven't answered any of it yourself yet.

[luna-tic]

I know, Let's go fox hunter hunting. That sounds such fun.
See them in all their wonderfully coloured attire running through fields being chased by dogs and animal lovers.
I've got my hamper ready.

[jimmonas]

chucking christians to hungary lions used to draw big crowds, i take it you would like to see that brought back along with dog fighting and bear baiting, you pratt!!!

[ELVIS68]

It`s not the killing of the foxes,it`s the way it`s done,

a load of posh tw@ts on horseback on a sunday morning on a jolly up just to rip poor old Freddy the Fox to shreds

Tally -ho