One of the few remaining places where hunting foxes with dogs is still legal is Ireland, where the outdated practice seems to be thriving. While the UK battles to keep their sort-of ban in place, Ireland’s entrepreneurs are busy advertising fox hunting vacations.
There’s little to be said for fox hunting. It’s a cruel form of entertainment that certainly does not significantly reduce fox numbers.
In fact, there are no valid arguments for allowing the practice at all. If people want a thrilling ride, they can go drag hunting. Tourists visit Ireland for all sorts of reasons, and fox hunting is nowhere near the top of the list. And if foxes ever do cause real problems, there are far more humane and effective methods of control, starting with physically protecting livestock and ending with shooting as the last resort.
Ireland should be above this sort of thing. Ask the government to introduce a ban on fox hunting immediately.
We the undersigned ask that you introduce a ban on the practice of hunting foxes with dogs, which is a dated, inhumane practice that does our reputation little good.
The fact that foxes keep the populations of genuine agricultural pests such as rabbits and rodents under control makes it debateable whether they are even a problem in the first place. Even if they were, sending great crowds of humans, horses and dogs after the little animals is hardly an effective method of control.
Even England has banned fox hunting under most circumstances despite vociferous opposition from the well-heeled. Please do not allow the practice to continue in Ireland any longer.
Thank you for your attention.
