BS: Should foxhunting be banned?

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Hawker
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 05:35 PM

But you do see people chasing over hill and dale in land rovers intending to kill deer! Stag hunting at its worst!

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Kernow John
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 06:06 PM

I think it would be more honest of the hunters to come out and say I enjoy the chase and I enjoy the killing. Let's have no pretence about needing to control the fox population.
There have been cases here in the UK lately of gamekeepers leaving deer carcases about to encourage the foxes to feed and breed because there were not enough of them for the hunt.
If the fox population control factor was true I might have some sympathy for the hunters right to chose the way he kills but killing for fun of any animal I find strange behaviour.
Bugger it I've been drawn into a BS thread!
KJ

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Teribus
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 03:29 AM

It would have been interesting to find out from people contributing to this thread, irrespective of the view they held, whether or not they were urban or country dwellers.

The fact that Parliamentary time is being taken up with this issue is scandalous, they have got far more urgent matters to attend to.

Guest Harvey above said a couple of things in his mail:

"I campaigned for the Labour party in the full belief that it would do what it said it would do."

Come on Harvey - like all politicians they just wanted you to flog your guts out to get them elected. Once elected they couldn't care less why you did it and even less for your expectations.

As for:

"We should try to leave the world a better place when we go than when we arrived and I feel deeply that banning foxhunting in England would make the world a somewhat better place."

Exactly how the banning of foxhunting in England makes the world a better place I just cannot imagine. Try campaigning for debt relief for third world countries. Try campaigning to make the IMF more accountable for the moral aspects of their decisions. Try campaigning for legislation that makes multi-national conglomerates honour their promises. Any environmental issue, there are masses of good causes out there that would benefit the world and the more disadvantaged inhabitants of this planet.

As Dave Bryant has said above the car is the biggest killer of foxes. A hunt, on the rare occasions, when they make a kill - it is beyond doubt that the fox is dead.

Banning foxhunting by act of Parliament introduces another law that restricts what people can do. In Scotland the ban is on hunting with dogs. Any dog will chase a rabbit, cat, etc. I am waiting for case to come up where a member of the anti-lobby is brought before the magistrates because some law abiding citizen reports them because they saw their dog chasing one of the neighbourhood cats (strictly speaking the dog is hunting and it is under your control - the dog doesn't have to kill anything, it's the activity of hunting with dogs that's been banned not the result).

Alternative means of control are inefficient, brutally indiscriminate, harmful to other forms of wild-life and to the environment.

Among the costs of banning foxhunting would be that mankind loses one of his earliest skills and some breeds of dogs pass into extinction, or worse are paraded round a ring at Crufts interbred to the point where only their appearance counts and they no longer retain any of qualities that actually marked them as a breed apart.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 05:13 AM

"Among the costs of banning foxhunting would be that mankind loses one of his earliest skills and some breeds of dogs pass into extinction, or worse are paraded round a ring at Crufts interbred to the point where only their appearance counts and they no longer retain any of qualities that actually marked them as a breed apart" Like the Staffordshire bull terrier, or that most British of dogs, the bulldog? They survived the ban on bull-baiting. How about the corgi, which was bred for herding cattle? There's no great cruelty issue there, but they're no loinger used for the purpose they were created for. And what human skills are involved uniquely in fox-hunting?

Perhaps more imprtantly, at what point does an issue become less urgent to the point where it is insignificant? In a democracy, how few voices can be deemed insignificant?

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Teribus
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 06:49 AM

Hi Steve,

To answer the questions you pose above in your post:

With respect to the breeds of dog you mention

Staffordshire bull terrier - fighting dog

Bulldog - no better example of what I quoted exists, i. e. "paraded round a ring at Crufts interbred to the point where only their appearance counts and they no longer retain any of qualities that actually marked them as a breed apart." The Bulldog as pure bred today could no more manage a Bull that fly in the air. Note the Staffordshire and the Bulldog were working dogs - they were used to assist the herdsman in handling or managing bulls.

Corgi - As far as I know they are still used as working dogs.

You ask - "...what human skills are involved uniquely in fox-hunting?"

The ability to select, pair, train and master a pack of hounds to achieve a specific task. To do this effectively the hunter has to develope his/her skill of horsemanship to follow where the quarry leads.

You further ask:

"..at what point does an issue become less urgent to the point where it is insignificant?"

My answer to that is when the basis of the "issue" is subjective opinion. Under those terms what is an "issue" for one person may well be totally insignificant to another - everybody is entitled to their own opinion.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: GUEST,harvey andrews
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 07:02 AM

My opinions on all other issues are irrelevant.This is a one issue discussion. I've heard all the counter arguments for years and have thought them all through. My conclusion is the human race does not need to kill anything for pleasure. Those that kill for the "joy" of hunting are different to those of us who don't. These differences have always been sorted eventually by concensus and what can be loosely termed "democracy". For most of my life the other people have had their democratic legislation passed to their advantage. Now they're screaming that it's not democratic when the elected reps of the people vote against their interests. Well' sorry folks, but that's how the cookie crumbles! However I think this Blair govt is so cowardly and immoral that they will again allow the unelected Lords to block the will of the people and then we will see that the so-called democratic process is a sham and this will lead, as it always does, to direct action and forms of terrorism.When the people are not heard, the people eventually act. The only way to avoid further problems is to accept the elected voice of the people and act on it. No one says majority rule is pleasant for the minority but that's the system we have and we can't be selective about it.If a free vote can block the hang 'em lobby then a free vote must be allowed to block the hunt 'em lobby or where do we go.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: swirlygirl
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 07:44 AM

sorry...not enough time to read all posts.

As unprincipled veggie I have no probs with killing ANY animals! I just don't want to eat them.

However, if you want to kill the animal, try not to petrify it first by chasing it with dogs. Just shoot it...

Dead...over and done with...

Man is higher up in the food chain and this is as it should be...

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Jock Morris
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 06:51 PM

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

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Mrs Cobble
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 07:01 AM

I just wish the UK government would spend as much time , effort, money and hot air on getting the railways, other public transport, the Health Service and the crime problems put right, as they do on this subject!!!

As far as the government is concerned its not about foxes is about doing down the 'upper classes'. I don't hold with cruelty to animals but then I don't hold with people having to wait years for treatment in our hospitals.

Mrs C

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Hrothgar
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 10:23 PM

I don't mind if they hunt them. It's what they do to the poor bastards when they catch them that bothers me.

Now, who wants to talk about fishermen killing for sport?

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Bobert
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 10:44 PM

Now, I didn't read all the posts in this thread but I live one county away from Loudoun County, Va, the fox hunting capital of the US and this is what I have to say about fox hunting: Hunting and killing are two different things. I like foxes and with the development in Loudoun, the 3rd fastest growing county in the country, there will become a time when foxes are run completely out. Until then, hunt them but once you've chased the poor thing down, call it a day. Don't kill it.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: GUEST,Mr. Fox
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 11:01 PM

Most definitely, except by vixens, of course.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Kaleea
Date: 03 Mar 02 - 12:42 AM

Fox hunting needn't be banished--just banish the humans, guns, horses & hunting dogs from the activity!

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: GUEST,.patrick
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 02:11 PM

The debates on fox hunting have become very theoretical - about whether hunting is cruel and whether the fox is an attractive part of the wildlife scene. There are some key practical issues that need to be understood:

1. Democracy does not entitle anyone to make key decisions on matters about which they have an adequate understanding. Sentiment is not enough.

2. There are severe practical problems caused by the fox as vermin. They are significant carriers of toxicara canis - the child blinding disease - and have a very damaging impact on other wildlife, farmed poultry and animals and domestic pets like cats. In short they kill them.

3. Hunting has been a key driver in and reason for the development of beautiful Britain. Field sportsmen maintain habitats in close concert with landowners and rural communities. They have done so for many years. The rural community spends hundreds of times more money and resource on the environment than the Government and all environmental groups put together - figures found in the Economist recently, if I remember aright. No one can be sure what the impact of removing a key element in the rural fabric might be. Is it likely that the rural community will continue in that same tradition or would some new Government quango have to step in to halt the decline? Who would end up paying for the countryside then? The tax-payer of course.

Yours aye

Patrick S.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Ringer
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 01:59 PM

I think you meant to write inadequate in your point 1 above, Patrick? If you did, I agree entirely. Unfortunately, in our democracy the ignorant, thoughtless and feckless get exactly the same voting weight as the intelligent, thoughtful and responsible.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: harvey andrews
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 02:27 PM

Democracy does not entitle anyone to make key decisions on matters about which they have an inadequate understanding. Bang go referendums, elections and the voting rights of all tabloid readers.Sorry, your sentence is nonsense. What you mean is no one has a right to make key decisions on what you think they have an inadequate understanding about. I think the British people have a very adequate understanding that hunting is a barbaric evil and they have voted for its banning.They voted for Thatcher for years and I had to put up with it. That's what we call democracy and its what you're stuck with in this case.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: alanabit
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 04:44 PM

I particularly resent the expression "field sport". In my inglorious youth I played rugby (rather badly). This effectively gave fifteen sizeable Philistines the right to trample, thump and squash me in various horrible ways for around eighty minutes on a Sunday afternoon. However, it qualified as "sport" because I was a voluntary participant and was at least assisted by fourteen other masochists. I'll call fox slaughtering "sport" when the fox is armed with a troop of mounted, uniformed thugs on its side. I wonder how many would participate in the "sport" if they ran the risk of finishing the afternoon being disembowelled by a pack of hounds?

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 05:23 AM

Alanbit, your definition of the word "Sport" is a very modern one. Originally the word meant hunting in all it's many forms - Henry VIII would have used the word "Games" or "Tourny" to describe what you call "Sport".

If you want to hijack words to a new meaning, don't complain about those people who want to use the original definition.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: GUEST,Bez from Bromley
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 05:49 AM

Banned? Banned?

Country guy "In a rat's ass it should be banned!"

Townie "Oh but you could shoot them" (superior attitude)

Country guy "You tried shootin 'em?"

Townie "Certainly not. I don't engage in blood sports except the culling of employees who commit suicide when made redundant and also the exploitation of third world peoples so that I can wear an expensive pair of trainers with a logo on and support the vile system which puts and keeps people in cardboard."

Country guy "So what you're sayin is, you ain't got a clue what you're talkin about and you're just as bad if not worse that the idea you have about me."

Townie "Not entirely no. I am moving to a village soon, and will pressure buy land from a struggling farmer in order to erect a housing estate and make a killing. I'll then get my townie mates to move in and force the locals out with economics. We'll still shop in the towns and cities and put no money in the pocket of the local butcher etc., so they'll go out of business, this will lead to a wholesale destruction of the local economy. Next we'll build a bypass to the new theme park we want in the woodland. This will ensure a steady influx of junkies, burglars and other undesirables, and when we've finished, we'll realise that we've destroyed it and turned it into where we came from. Then we'll promptly move our clever arses to another village and do the same again.

Country guy "But what about the local people? You can't do this!"

Townie "Who can't? Its my right as an individual in the new millennium and other pukeworthy excuses for selfishness and narrow minded, I know better, type twaddle!"

Country guy "But the village will be just a big slab of concrete!"

Townie "Your point being?"

Country guy "This fox, where does it live again?"

Townies are the main protesters against country practices, When the C.A. say that townies just don't understand the country, THEY ARE RIGHT!

Keep your noses out!!

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 06:50 AM

Well, I lived for sixteen years in the country near Lichfield (England), in a mixed farming area. One of our friends buys (bought, rahter; I think he's packed it in since the F&M) lambs and fattened them up on his own farm and any spare land on other local farms. There are foxes, I've seen them; there hasn't been a hunt since before the war, but I've never heard of any lambs being taken. Everyone seemed to manage all right.

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 08:56 AM

Bez - Someone (also from the Bromley Area) has come up with this idea

I rather like the thought of a whole load of hunters mounted on Hooden Horses chasing Ravensbourne Morris across Keston Common on Boxing Day.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: alanabit
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 04:55 PM

Dave, you may find my understanding of the the word "sport" to be a modern one, but it has been around all my lifetime. If your semantic principles are only going to accept ancient definitions of words, you are proposing a pretty radical overhaul of the English language. You clearly understand the point I was making, which was the euphemistic use of the word to give the ridiculous impression that foxhunting is somehow "fair". It's not.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Big Phil
Date: 09 Mar 02 - 02:31 PM

No

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 06:46 AM

I read an article this weekend that they are doing it in the western US with coyotes instead of foxs and they found it ironic that dogs were hunting a dog. (Isn't a fox a dog also?)

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: GUEST,Aldus
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 02:45 PM

Killing anything for the sake of fun is as uncivilized as one can get. I have no problem with the ethical use of animals but the exploitation of them for the purpuse of mere entertainment is indefensible. I love Oscar Wilde's description of an Englishman at a foxhunt; The unpeakable in persuit of the inedible

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jul 02 - 01:54 AM

Should John from Hull be banned?

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 05 Jul 02 - 07:40 AM

Yes it should.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Ringer
Date: 05 Jul 02 - 09:20 AM

Can't agree, Mrs Lemon: John from Hull is one of our more entertaining posters.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Trevor
Date: 05 Jul 02 - 09:24 AM

At least Mrs Lemon has the advantage of being able to make a judgement having experienced both sides of the argument. And foxhunting!

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Midchuck
Date: 05 Jul 02 - 10:47 AM

Everything that anyone enjoys should be banned. That will produce a truly morally pure society, for the 80 or so years it takes the species to die out.

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: fogie
Date: 05 Jul 02 - 01:05 PM

Even "Memoirs of a foxhunting man" and "The Irish R.M." and all those wonderful hunting songs cant change my mind about how uncivilized this so-called sport is. I also felt very angry about the placards that went up last year saying " the government ignores a minority at their peril" or suchlike. I thought this very much indicated the sort of people we are talking about.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jul 02 - 12:51 AM

It was a GRAND NIGHT at the mudcat cafe - when the best a Saturday morning has to offer is left over Hulls in the John.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jul 02 - 12:27 AM

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 07 Jul 02 - 12:47 AM

Guest(s)-Don't judge other people, or you might get judged yourself.

Sincerley
John

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 22 Sep 02 - 09:36 PM

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: lady penelope
Date: 23 Sep 02 - 04:18 PM

Mmm, tricky.

There are some areas where foxes are a nusciance to livestock holders. Clearly they have to do something about what can be a threat to their livelyhood.

On the other hand, I've been told by people who help run hunts, that they quite often end up leaving food out for foxes during the winter to make sure that there's something to chase the following year!

I think I have a problem with scaring the shit out of any living thing and then possibly killing it for fun.

But if killing something is a necessity then it should be done, hopefully, with as little anguish as possible ( I know these things are not a science ).

On the whole, I have way more problems with how we raise our livestock ( poultry especially ) than hunting. I don't see Mr Blair banning battery farming .

I too try to make sure the meat and meat products I buy are organic and free range and no, I don't mind paying more for it and maybe eating less meat products because of it.

I can't say yes or no to fox hunting as I don't own livestock and live in the country, but frankly, I think the whole issue is a masterful stroke of misdirection by the government. If people are busy having rows about this, then they won't be concentrating on the areas Mr Blair and his cronies don't want to answer questions on.

Think on't

TTFN M'Lady P.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: GUEST,Parker
Date: 24 Sep 02 - 06:58 AM

DEFRA = Department for the elimination of farming and rural activities.

I agree, M'Lady P, it is a smokescreen. If the law is passed methinks there will be rather a large number of hunters who ignore it, either clandestinely or openly.

When Blair and Co have finished with hunting, they'll start on shooting, then fishing.

The "cuddly little animals" anthropomorphists rule - stupid b****ds!

But bombing innocent Iraqi/Afghan civilians is OK!

So is factory farming livestock!

Consistent? Yes, being anti foxhunting is a "class" issue, it's really got b***er all to do with animal welfare.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Gurney
Date: 24 Sep 02 - 08:00 AM

No, it shouldn't. BUT, Anyone who kills something should(MUST) eat it, and anyone who eats something should(MUST) kill and prepare it. Don't know how you could police that, but I do follow the philosphy, and consider it a form of respect. I shoot no longer, and fish with barbless hooks in case a fish gets away with one. Asides. Fish do not feel pain in the same way that mammals do. Not a biologist, but I've caught thousands of fish. The things they eat are very spiny. On behalf of potatos. Will you bloody Vegans stop killing our babies. I do not like factory farming (indoor type) but if we still lived in a hunter-gatherer society most people would only live for weeks. The mealy-mouthed would die first. Hmmmmm...

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: wilco
Date: 24 Sep 02 - 11:47 AM

I haven't read all of the posts here, but I do have a strong opinion. Foxes have to eat like every other living creature. If they can't hunt, they can't eat, and they will die. I certainly think that foxes should be able to hunt. And, just think about it. How in the world would you ever enforce a ban on foxes hunting? Are all the foxes registered with the British authorities or something?

Wilco in USA (Tennessee)

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: GUEST,Noddy
Date: 24 Sep 02 - 12:20 PM

ALL HUNTING SHOULD BE BANNED

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Ringer
Date: 24 Sep 02 - 01:01 PM

Instead of just shouting, Guest Noddy, could you come through with some argument to back up your point of view?

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: mack/misophist
Date: 24 Sep 02 - 04:39 PM

Banding foxhunts is a ludicrous idea. To begin with a marching band could never maintain the speed to keep up with the horses. Even the attempt would ruin the beat. And then there's the obvious detail that the terrain used is totally unsuited to marching. It's out of the question. There ought to be no problem, however, with banding foxhunters. Something large and colourful in the ear might look rather nice.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: rock chick
Date: 24 Sep 02 - 05:37 PM

Fox hunting is cruel, not humane, distasteful and should be BANNED.

It's a sport! that what some people call it,

All the rubbish about foxes needing controlling in the countryside, leave nature to deal with nature, whenever we so called humans take things into our own hands we make a mess of it. Nature always copes and deals a better deal. Maybve if we humans stopped interfering with our world our whole planet would be a much nicer place to be on.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: CraigS
Date: 24 Sep 02 - 08:14 PM

Where I come from in Yorkshire there are very few foxes. This is because local gamekeepers find out where they are living, and send terriers through the front door. The terriers cause the foxes to leave their homes, at which point they meet the gamekeepers standing by the entrance. The gamekeepers shoot the foxes at close range. This does not cause extended suffering, as they are shot until they are deaded. If foxes have to be killed, this is undoubtably the most humane way of doing it. On the other hand, it is still hunting with dogs. If Mr Blur's beak becomes law, how will the gamekeepers get the foxes to come out? I can definitely say that calling out Here, Foxy makes them run in the opposite direction and hide! OTOH - If hunting with dogs becomes illegal, I think we should start hunting politicians with whales, particularly Cllr, who has a dolphin in his bathroom.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: mack/misophist
Date: 24 Sep 02 - 10:53 PM

Dear Rock Chick,

May I say, as politely as possible, that you are unbelievabley full of shit. There are something like twice as many white tailed deer in the US, for example, as there were when Columbus landed. With much less place for them to be. Mankind has inherited the responsibility of keeping their numbers in check. As one of the ex-leading chicken thieves of Brazos County, Texas, I can assure you, from personal observation, that foxes are skillful, avid chicken thieves themselves. Where foxes are plentiful, they must be controlled. I agree that a mounted posse isn't the way but, still, it needs to be done. Not only chickens but house cats and small dogs make Reynards dinner. Would you be so casual if it were your cat some fox killed? Up in the hills, you yourself, could be dinner for some bear or cougar. There's scarcely a year here in Northern California when it doesn't happen. Man and nature are uneasy neighbors. Live with it.

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: rock chick
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 04:14 AM

Misophist

What a load of s... Mankind has never inherited the responsibility of keeping their numbers in check. they took it on themselves and we seem to do with many things. And yes in fact a fox did kill a pet of mine, but that doesn't make it right to kill the fox, it's only hunting to survive, we hunt to kill, just because we think it's our responsibility, no it's because they call it a sport! Yes Man and nature are uneasy neighbors, but they should learn to live with it. Hunt for food, that is nature and always has been,whether it be the animal that wins or the human, but to hunt for sport!

How would you like to be chased until you were exhausted, then ripped to death by dogs, you call that responsilbe mankind, and dont tell me it doesn't happen like that, because it does, i been there and seen it, it's sick. On that note i'm off to work which is somthing else i dont like!

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: Troll
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 07:26 AM

Absolutely it should be banned.
Then the thousands of people who make their living off the hunt could go on the dole, lose their property and move into council(subsidized) housing.
The developers could then pick up the property for a song and build more council housing to sell to the Government, and, in the process, destroy even more wildlife habitant so that those foxes who had been saved from the hunt could die of starvation or from being run over by developers lorries (trucks).
The horses could be sent to the knackers and turned into dog-food. But not, alas, for the foxhounds. They don't make good pets, you see, so they'll have to be put down (that's the PC way of saying killed) since their owners will no longer be able to afford to feed them.
But that's ok because at least all those hoity-toity rich folk won't be able to gallop around the countryside anymore.
And that's the whole idea isn't it, park everyone in front of a telly and spoon-feed them their opinions.
Ban cross-country walking while you're at it. And fishing. And birdwatching.
Put your minds to it and I'm sure you can all think of other things.
I've gotta go. My show is on.

troll

Subject: RE: BS: Should foxhunting be banned?
From: mack/misophist
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 10:11 AM

Rock Chick:

I reccomend to you the Society of Saint Hubert, an international association of professional game keepers: people who certainly understand the situation better than you or I do. One of the things members are committed to doing is to take the place of the predators missing from the local environment. You completely missed the point about the deer, didn't you? Without predation (hunters) the booming deer population destroys it's habitat, starving the deer and all the other creatures they share a habitat with. The point is that there must be a BALANCE. Now I'd better stop before I get abusive.