Slight correction to a post above saying hunting with dogs is now illegal in Scotland; not yet it isn't! While the legislation has been passed it hasn't received royal ascent yet, so isn't on the statute books.

Shooting is only quick and painless if the person with the gun is a good enough shot. I've been on a pheasant moor where 4 people with shotguns loosed off at a fox without killing it. Its backside was peppered with shot, so it probably died a slow agonising death over the next few days or weeks. If the hounds catch a fox it's ripped apart in seconds, so death comes quickly.

A fox is a fly wee bugger of an animal and it can take many days to hunt the beast down so you can shoot it; few farmers or land owners have the time for that. You ban the dogs then what's the bet they start using poison to catch the foxes. Lets see how many family pets die as a result of that.

How about we re-introduce the wolf to Britain and let it control the fox population for us. <- serious suggestion.

Scott