Sir, Since the RSPCA’s raison d’être is to prevent cruelty to animals, of course we support the law banning hunting (Mr John Hobhouse’s letter, September 12). There is no need for foxes, horses and hounds to be subjected to increased suffering as a result.

The best-known research showing high wounding rates in shot foxes was carried out by the Middle Way Group. The RSPCA challenges the validity and premise of this research, which in our view merely provides support for the prediction that unskilled shooters with inappropriate weapons are most likely to wound rather than kill the target animal.

Nothing in the Middle Way Group’s research offers any evidence that wounding levels would increase as a consequence of the hunting ban.

The process of pursuit above and below ground, and of being bitten to death, inevitably causes suffering; shooting carried out by competent operators using the correct weaponry can achieve an instantaneous and humane death.

Since the hunting ban came into force many horse owners have decided to keep their animals and — as the RSPCA predicted — have switched to drag hunting and other equestrian activities.

The Society urged owners to stop breeding foxhounds before the ban on hunting became law. The RSPCA has never offered to rehome all hounds. However, scientific research carried out by welfare experts demonstrated that hounds can be successfully rehomed as pets or retrained to drag hunt.

The RSPCA believes the Hunting Act is enforceable.

JOHN ROLLS
(Director, Animal Welfare Promotion, RSPCA)
Horsham, West Sussex

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