I challenge those of you who are concerned about the circumstances of a foxes end to visit a slaughterhouse, and pronounce themselves totally happy with the emthods used, and the cattle rolling their eyes in fear as ths slaughterman approaches. No it isn't pretty but it's something that's done thousands of times every day in the UK, and I believe that some of the people who do it enjoy their work!

Yet more 'crimson kippers' - but I will bite. For I would encourage all of us to visit slaughterhouses and I would even suggest that schools should organise visits for all their pupils.

As an ex-slaughterman who has observerved this in (some of) my fellow workers - and I would agree it is a sad fact that their are some individuals who do enjoy this killing - and not just as the expected customary pride in doing a good professional job of work. I have come to the conclusion that there are simply some people who are totally insenitive or who actually enjoy inflicting cluelty and can find many excuses to justify it.

Many people are not, and will never be satisfied with the methods currently used in rearing and killing animals for food - there is a long way to go and possibly we may all eventually decide that this is a price that we should not expect animals to pay? But these methods have been improved and are under constant review and reflect our concern and the considerable pressure to inprove them further. If we follow the line of reasoning that appears to be suggested here by some - we should be moving in the opposite direction and all indulge and enjoy inflicting cruelty?

That as all these animals are going to die - for food or because they are judged by us to be pests - the comparisons and suggestion appears to be that we may as well obtain as much sporting pleasure from the manner of their death as we can. It would I am sure be thought by some to be great fun to also dress-up to drive sheep and cattle to the doors of their death - with people riding hunters and with baying hounds.

I can see nothing honourable in chasing, terrifying, exhausting and eventually killing any animal by allowing other (well-fed) animals to tear them apart - for the sporting pleasure some participants may obtain from inflicting this particular form of needles cruelty.