Dawn, I think you have implied that all hunt sabs are looney animal rights activists who don't care about animals. They may exist but they would be in a very small minority. I have known hunt protesters who have been seriously beaten up and had their cars vandalised by hunt supporters as well. In the end thugs and idiots are the same no matter what side of the cause they choose.

You cant do this LB, an animal just isnt capable of thinking this way. Horses fall on the race track, you could say they "know" this, doesnt stop them jumping again nor racing does it? A dog that runs into a fence in the park whilst playing with another doesnt refuse to go into the park the following day for fear of it happening again, they cannot think like this.

Yes those types of Foxes I mean.

With the numbers of Foxes increasing everywhere, its inevitable that they will appear more common and be seen more I suppose. Thing is with Foxes, they become very "comfortable" in their surroundings very quickly, and may not see a dog or a person as a threat, again its the "town" effect, they lose their natural behaviour.

Dont think for one second I dont like Foxes, I do, I like all native British Wildlife, but they do need control. When people change their behaviour through our behaviour towards them, thats when it becomes a problem, for them and for us.

We have a family of Foxes just yards from our house, I can see them most nights, but lately in the colder weather they come out during the late afternoon. It was just a week or so ago I noticed the vixen has little coat on her tail, mange I expect, but I also wonder whether her behaviour has changed because of it, coming out earlier and the cubs which really should of been kicked out by now, are copying. All goes for making problems when wild animals dont behave naturally.

Here are a few pics, I even PAID £80 to photograph Foxes!!

Aarggghh! Most of the farmers and shepherds I know only want individual problem foxes (who make it a habit to prey on lambs) destroyed. However, shooting estate landowners and gamekeepers in particular want the whole of the fox (and stoat/corvid) population totally exterminated. Now that I do not, and will not ever, agree with.

Unfortunately for hill farmers in hard mountainous areas, such as remote parts of the Lake District, Wales and the Scottish Highlands, they struggle to make a living from sheep (although thankfully prices have picked up slightly this year) and if there is a fox (or foxes) who have learned that young lambs make easy prey and continue to come back night after night after lambs, then unfortunately that fox becomes a problem and has to be dealt with Usually in a very humane way (ie someone lies in wait for the fox with a rifle and gets a clean shot).

I do agree with you though that, in my view, foxes are not vermin. I love them.

Unfortunately some saboteurs are in it for the violence and for a punch up, and are not animal lovers at all. However, foxes also cross roads, railway lines etc and the hounds follow wherever the fox goes - so there is always a risk of hounds being hit by a train or a car (and also for entering private gardens and attacking pets), which has nothing whatsoever to do with the sabs.

I understand Moobli, but I just don't agree with it. I fully understand and am aware the struggle of the highland and cumbrian sheep farmers ... we have similar problems with our own sheep farmers here in Northamptonshire. However, I just do not and will never accept that this gives man the right to kill even the rogue foxes who have learned that a juicy lamb is a very tasty meal. They are opportunistic like any intelligent animal, and if they see a shortcut to a tasty meal, they will take it. Wouldn't you? It is the age old story of man -v- beast.

Good point Dawn. Horses' brains are in their hooves ... whereas I wouldn't go as far as my husband's description of them as being "thick herbivores", they certainly have no power to think logically or reason. They will gallop with a broken leg. The cleverest aspect of a horse is the amazing memory they have. They will remember for ever more a particular spot on a ride when a killer crisp packet rustled in the hedge in a very dangerous way, threatening their very life! For ever more when you ride past that spot, the wretched animal will shy at that very spot in anticipation of imminent death!!

I believe I am right in saying that it is only primates and homo sapiens that have the power of a deeper logic and reasoning, maybe elephants too. Most animals will learn from pain ... but deeper thought beyond that is beyond them, their brains are just not wired up to think in this way.

Not Really into Debating....... But some memories.

Boxing day Meet, Small girl on a Grey Swelsh Section A , refusing a Sausage roll, Because she was a Vegetarian!!!!!

Getting Absolutley Trollied on Master Jims home made wine Making it out of the gate, then just went home to drunk

Sitting on a road watching a fox go one way across the field & the hounds & the whippers in going the other

Lizzy rubbing her head so violently on my leg that she rubbed her bridle off!

Summer days at Country Fairs watching the Hounds do a parade & then all the kids move in for a stroke the hounds, then when they went back there was always this one hound a lemon & white with his head in someones Sarnies!!!!!

Summer Shows, Drunken Point to points, country Fairs, Hound & Terrier Shows, Xmas Balls etc etc, all to raise funds for the hunt & day to day countryside life & enjoyed by people who didnt even know that theyt were supporting the hunt

sitting on a skewbald cob in a farm yard when she backed up to the barn doors making a almighty clatter & scarying my friend so much she fell off.

watching the foxhounds faces as a stag ran through them one day, sheer confusion & suprise

trying to stop for a wee!!!!

seeing wild foxes on exmoor when out for a walk or a ride. & seeing them looking back at me!!!!!!

ive only been a handful of times, & although i enjoyed it , its not really for me, but i dont agree with the ban. If i dont want to go, despite the happy memories i wont go, but i certaininly wouldnt stop people that want to go from going,

Some sad Memories

Hearing that the antis had put Wires out for the dogs & Horses on the Hill next to mine.

the next year hearing that poision had been put down for the hounds

one boxing day meet, the antis shouting over a 85yrold master who was just trying to give his speech, a 85yrold man, who fought in the war & sells poppies each year .


coming out of the court in August (jury Service) & finding a mangey fox in the Park (Cardiff) & bringing him food each day for my two weeks jury service

seeing a fox in a sanctuary, too fat & looking completly bored rigid