Dear Everyone who has posted on this thread,
As you may know i often use my JRt and WHWT cross DDt to sort out the local rats, mice, shrews, water rats. But nothing else, really so basically i wouldnt be classed as 'working' terriers. To be honest i couldtn give care less, whether people use their dogs to purposley kill vermin, or like mien they just do, and their owner doesnt seem to bothered by this, or whether they dont, that is a thing called freedom of will. And as England is a supposeldy free country we should allways be able to have the freedom of speech and thought.
I am very heavy on animal rights, animal testing, cruelty, racing grey hounds etc. But when it comes to wild mice rats etc, it is a different matter tey are verminous and carry disease, they would and i ahve known them to kill pet rabbits and guinea-pigs, happened to me.
I keep rabbits and guinea's but they are pets, there is a difference between them and what roams the country, although i dont encourage mien to go rabbiting as i do liek to0 see baby rabbits hopping around.
Foxes i have a strong hatrid for, they nearly wiped out all my pet rabbits and guinea=pigs, killed the families mini yorkie pup, has even been known to kill cats, they also can caus disastourous effects to people lively hoods. Fox hunting is a different thing to hunting a fox with a terrier, even though i havent, nor intend on doing so with mine or ever. I DO NOT approve of cubbing, this is cruel and sick, and i dont care if i cause offense, killing young foxes at an age before they ahve even had chance to live, is barabaric. Whether they are babies or young adults they still havent lived, and it is na cruel and pointless thing to do..
Terriers handle things very different, for example a terrier hunting rabbits, does the infamous terrier shake, and then thats it done and finsihed, a pack of hounds would rip an animal apart.
Snares are also barabaric, this is someone whom lost a cat a few years ago to snaring, it is cruel and unecesary.
I want to specify something i dont purposlet take my dogs out to kill, it is just something they do,and i cant stop. I wouldnt take pictures nor glorify the matter, recently the dogs had, a rat, and i was taking pictures of the garden and rabbits, at the time, and i wnet to take some of the dogs assing around by the shed, and then i didnt notice about the pics that well the rat was no more.
I think it is a matter of personal choice, but working a terrier, may seem cruel but it is quick and non glorifyed
I think to make a section for dogs
used in the field in various ways, would be something that would cause a tear between Dog Web, some people do not approve of hunintg, nor killing an naimal, nor sleding a dog, nor using a dog despite its instinct to, herd other animals. And this is very well an infivifual's choice, and to put it on a public forum would make much more harm then good, offending people is by sure nobodys intention, at least it shouldnt be.
Although on the other hand, people whom use their dogs 'in the field' or for sleding or for herding etc, should not feel isolated nor shunned, people whom use their dogs for such should also be entitled to freedom of speech and thought.
On a whole it is a touchy subject, i hate to see an animal suffer, but using dogs to see to vermin is a different matter, these are creatures that spread disease, havbe been known to kill livestock and pets, and have been known to devestate one's livelyhood. I detest people whom make it something it isnt, it should be a way of managing vermin, not a sport, not for fun, and certainly not as a hobby. It is a duty that one would perform with good intewntions in mind, but other peoples views opften make the subject something it isnt into a drama.
I can see where both parties are coming from, and it would be awful if one side were offended, or the other side left through feeling shunned.
This is my letter to you all, and i hope it proves in good stead
Best wishes
Luke