National
Anti-Hunt Campaign
Every year up to 100,000
wild animals are chased, terrified and brutally killed in the name of 'sport'.
A fox, finding that
all known earths have been blocked by the hunt in order to prolong the chase,
will often be forced to run for miles before finally being overwhelmed and torn
to pieces by dozens of hounds.
The torture of the hunted
deer may last for up to eight hours before, utterly exhausted it will be killed
and its heart and other organs torn out and awarded as sick trophies.
The scarce otter still
has to contend with the major disturbance caused to its habitat by mink hunters
while hares, despite their decline in numbers, continue to be coursed in their
thousands and hunted with packs of beagles, harriers and bassetts.
The National Anti-Hunt
Campaign
Founded in 1992, the
NAHC has mounted many high-profile campaigns against hunting. They have organised
Britain's biggest ever anti-hunt protest and the country's biggest animal welfare
petition.
They have carried out
undercover investigations, held exhibitions and publicity stunts, produced award-winning
adverts and distributed over a million leaflets exposing the horror of hunting.
Some hunt myths exposed
Hunting
is humane
For the foxhunter, a
long gallop across the countryside is all-important, so everything possible
is done to prolong the chase. The hounds are bred for stamina, not speed, meaning
that the fox will initially gain a head start, but will gradually be worn down
during an agonising chase lasting up to two hours.
The 'digouts' of foxes
which have gone to ground may take several hours, by which time the terrified
animal will frequently have died from heart failure.
The Government recently
set up an inquiry into hunting under the chairmanship of Lord Burns. He found
that foxhunting 'seriously compromised' the welfare of the fox.
But
the kill, when it comes, is over in seconds
The Burns inquiry found
that, contrary to claims by hunt supporters: "The fox was not always killed
by a single bite and sometimes suffered massive chest and internal injuries."
The reality is that the lead hound will snap at whatever part of the body it
can reach and the victim will frequently be disemboweled alive.
Hunting
is effective at controlling foxes
Studies have proved
that in areas of high fox mortality, vixens simply become more fertile. Scientists
estimate that this means 70% of the fox population would have to be wiped out
before there would be any long tern effect on numbers. With hunting taking just
5% a year, it is an irrelevance in terms on control.
In any case, most hunts
build artificial earths, complete with food and water, to encourage foxes to
breed in areas where they are in short supply.
Thousands
of hounds will be killed if hunting is banned
The reality is that
hunts shoot up to 10,000 of their hounds each year already, either because,
at just half their natural life span, they are considered too old to hunt, or
because they show too little inclination to do so.
In reality, many hunts
would switch to draghunting, chasing a scent rather than an animal and would
retrain their hounds accordingly.
Cub
Hunting
Foxhounds do not naturally
kill foxes - they have to be trained to do so. This is done each autumn through
cubhunting, which claims the lives of 8,000-10,000 cubs annually.
As early as six in the
morning, deep in the countryside and well away from the disapproving eyes of
the public, horses and riders will form a circle around an area of woodland
in which cubs are are known to dwell. The earth will be then be dug out and
the new hounds encouraged to maul the 5-6 month-old cubs.
Because of the inexperience
of these dogs, the cubs may some minutes to die
Killing
for Kicks
The
House of Commons was the venue for a NAHC press conference in 1994 to launch
their 'Killing for Kicks' campaign, based on video footage gathered by an NAHC
investigator.
He
filmed a Yorkshire based gang:
Holding
a live fox by the brush while three dogs tore at its flesh.
Plunging
a knife into the belly of a fox while a dog pulled at its head.
Swinging
a cub by the brush and smashing its head against a car door.
Using
lives foxes to play tug-of-war with their pit bull terrier/greyhound crossbreeds.
The
campaign launch was covered on national television and by 200 national and local
newspapers. It emphasised that the lack of legal protection for wild animals
meant that none of what the NAHC had filmed was illegal.
Two
months later John McFall MP sought to remedy the situation through his Wild
Mammals (Protection) Bill. Although this bill was defeated by pro-hunt Peers,
a similar bill introduced by Alan Meale became law in April 1996, making many
of the activities the NAHC exposed criminal offences.
How
you can help the National Anti-Hunt Campaign
Write
to them for a full information pack including their latest newsletter and petition
forms.
Write
to your MP, the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary asking them to do all
within their power to secure an end to hunting.
Order
leaflets and distribute them as widely as possible. Why not set up a street
stall where you can collect signatures and distribute leaflets at the same time?
The NAHC can supply you with posters asking people to stop and sign and can
give you all the advice you need to hold a successful stall.
Campaigning
is expensive. By printing and completing the standing order form below, you
are helping the NAHC to plan ahead with confidence that funds will be there.
Of course there are other ways in which you can help, such as making a one-off
donation, organising a fundraising event or purchasing their merchandise.
For
further information email the National Anti-Hunt Campaign at nahc@nahc.freeserve.co.uk
