Leading animal campaigns charity OneKind is calling on the Scottish Government to introduce a real fox hunting ban as mounted packs around the UK set off on their Boxing Day and New Year’s Day hunts.
Fox hunting was banned in Scotland under the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act in 2002, however loopholes in the law mean that it still takes place. In England, the Boxing Day meets are public events, while in Scotland the festive meets traditionally take place on New Year’s Day. The current fox hunting season is the fourth since Lord Bonomy was commissioned by the Scottish Government to review the workings of the law and make recommendations for reform.
OneKind Director Bob Elliot said:
“It’s been 16 years since fox hunting was meant to have been banned in Scotland, but once again hunts will be going out across the country and foxes will be killed. We’re calling on the Scottish Government to act as early as possible in 2019 to ensure this year’s Boxing Day and New Year hunts will be the last.”
2018 has been a landmark year which saw the campaign to really ban fox hunting in Scotland gather momentum. In March, around 1,000 people marched through Edinburgh calling for an end to fox hunting and the Scottish Government published its analysis of the consultation on reforming the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act, with 98% of the respondents supporting a real and effective fox hunting ban. However, the Scottish Government has still to announce its intentions.
This month saw two members of the Buccleuch Hunt in the Borders cleared of deliberately hunting a wild mammal with dogs. Shaun Anderson was found not guilty, while the case against Timothy Allen was found impossible to convict due to difficulties with the current legislation.
Bob Elliot continued:
“It is very clear that the public overwhelmingly support a real and effective fox hunting ban with the majority of people opposing this cruel and outdated sport.”
“We once again reiterate our calls for the Scottish Government to act to put an end to the pursuit and killing of foxes by packs of dogs and bring in a law that – unlike the current one – will be fit for purpose and will actually ban fox hunting for good.”
Notes to editor:
1. OneKind is Scotland’s leading animal campaigns charity working to end cruelty to Scotland’s animals. OneKind works to expose cruelty and persecution through investigations and research covering Scotland’s wildlife, farm animals and pets.
SNP have lost my vote because they don’t stand by there word on anything animal related. Fox hunting still being allowed. Badgers being hunted and killed for absolutely no reason. Electric dog collars still not banned, instruments of torture to ” train” dogs, allowing the last strong foothold is Scottish Wildcat to be destroyed. Well done SNP for being known as the party who advocates the destruction and extinction of our precious wildlife
your a Labour voter really you never voted for the snp in the first place your just looking for any excuse to have a go and using animals to do it is a disgrace.
Oh g’grief, arguing amongst ourselves and the year hardly started. Lizzie a tad over the top perhaps but only through her forgiveable passion and Howard you’re (note spelling, smug look on your correspondent’s face) making wild assumptions about her political leanings because of yours. I’m sure the dear foxes don’t care the hue of your chosen rosette. Please just kiss and make up and let us return to the business in hand, that of protecting our wildlife from the thugs, whatever their political leanings may be, assuming they are bright enough to have thoughts on the matter.
The SNP, Labour and Green parties are all EU fundamentalist and Single Marketeer parties. As such, they all passionately support the vile, disgusting trade in the export of live, sentient animals. In addition, they are also supporters of the brutal, barbaric ritual slaughter of gentle animals. As a result, any opposition to fox hunting and other blood pursuits must be seen through this lens: it provides an opportunity for toff-baiting (nothing wrong that, of course) and a reservoir of opportunities for their favourite pastime – virtue signalling (and there’s a lot wrong that).
Forget the politics! What’s at stake here is whether we as a society wish to continue supporting the “sport” of inflicting fear, injury and savage death on one of nature’s creatures!