LEWIS Potter is incorrect that there is “no need for trail hunting to be banned”.
It is widely known that hunts use trail hunting as a smokescreen for pursuing live animals but that’s not the only reason it should be made illegal.
After centuries of selective breeding foxhounds have become deeply embedded with the urge to chase and kill other creatures so, even when following a trail, they still pose a grave risk to foxes and other wildlife and even to cats and other domesticated animals.
MORE: Lewis Potter's letter
In addition every year hunts kill thousands of hounds that are deemed to be unsuitable for hunting and that is the case with trail hunting too.
Also, despite efforts by rescue charities to find homes for them, many of the horses used by hunts are sent for slaughter when they become old or get injured.
For more information and to support the campaign to get trail hunting banned, see the League Against Cruel Sports website at league.org.uk.
Jane Hargreaves
Stourport
I NOTE the recent letter concerning trail hunting and the ‘punishment’ of those engaged in the pursuit of native wildlife.
The hunting fraternity have cynically betrayed the trust given to them by legislation enabling trail hunting.
Time and time again hunts are shown deliberately ignoring trails — if any are ever laid — to concentrate hounds on likely areas housing foxes.
If the object is to simply follow a laid trail then why take along terrier men on quad bikes whose purpose is to dig out foxes from earth or stop up possible escape avenues for the pursued animal.
There are also numerous incidences of intimidation and physical assault by hunt employees making the monitoring of their activities difficult.
Account should also be taken of the other wildlife pursued and killed by hounds such as deer and hares.
The pursuit and killing of animals by hounds is a barbaric practice totally unacceptable in the 21st century.
The sooner it is outlawed the better.
M Griffiths
Kidderminster
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