SOME politicians want to bring back hunting with dogs, but what most of your readers are unlikely to know is that repeal of the Hunting Act brings back not only fox hunting, but also stag hunting and hare hunting.
It would mean a return for hare coursing, where a live hare is chased and then ripped apart by two dogs.
While 75 per cent of the public support the ban on fox hunting, 84 per cent support the ban on stag hunting and 85 per cent on hare hunting and coursing.
Bloodsports enthusiasts who call for repeal say there have been only a handful of prosecutions of hunts under the Hunting Act.
The reality is that there have been almost 140 convictions of people under the act, including many people brought to justice for hare coursing.
Given that this is exactly what the Hunting Act set out to ban, this is an enormous achievement.
In other words, there is no public appetite for repeal of the act, and your readers are urged to contact their prospective parliamentary candidates to make their views known on this issue.
Our Keep Cruelty History campaign allows people to check out their local candidates via our website www.keepcrueltyhistory.com.
DOUGLAS BATCHELOR chief executive
League against Cruel Sports
