Fox Hunting

Since the "ban" a few years ago, Boxing Day saw 314 organised hunts being conducted across the country, with about 300 000 people attending and numbers going up all the time.

Personally I can't abide fox hunting or the excuses trotted out by the people that enjoy the "sport" but with popularity rising year on year, are people finally defying the Government? It also seems no one is in a hurry to enforce the law. Facts, pilfed from The Times:

Hunting & The law

>> Hunts can chase rabbits and rats with dogs but they cannot hunt mice, hare or squirrels.

>> A huntsman can go out with two dogs to flush out a fox from cover to protect farm animals, crops or other property although the animal must then be shot. If three dogs are used however that is against the law.

>> A hunt can send hounds below ground to flush out a fox to protect game birds. Yet it is against the law if the same hounds flush out a fox to protect lambs, chickens or even a ground nesting bird such as a stone curlew.

>> A person can walk his dog but must not let it chase a squirrel, mouse or bird.

>> A hunt can use a pack of hounds to flush out a fox if it is then killed by a bird of prey such as a golden eagle or European eagle owl.

>> The Hunting Act came into force on February 19, 2005. Anyone in breach of the law will be dealt with by magistrates' court and liable to a maximum fine of £5,000.

>> A prison sentence would only be considered if fines were unpaid or for persistent offending.