Thousands expected at annual hunts - UK - Boxing Day

[Annces]

Hundreds of thousands of people, including increasing numbers of women and children, are expected to attend Boxing Day hunts across the country today, according to campaigners.
Pro-hunting groups said around 250,000 people would turn out to 314 UK hunts taking place on what is traditionally the busiest day of the hunting calendar.

Among those attending would be a large number of families and people keen to find out about hunting as a result of the ban on the blood sport, which was introduced three years ago, the Countryside Alliance said.

Jill Grieve, a spokeswoman for the alliance, said Boxing Day was traditionally a family day, with many women and children attending or taking part.
"We are getting kids in because they are the next generation and we want hunting to go on for the next generation," she said. "There are also a couple of lady masters. It's not a male preserve in any shape or form."

Grieve said that far from decreasing its popularity, the Hunting Act had raised the profile of the sport and encouraged people to attend meets. "Numbers have been consistently good since the ban came into force a couple of years ago.

"A lot of people didn't know or care about hunting before, but since the Hunting Act has been in the news a lot of people have thought they will go along and see what the fuss is about.

"It's a very good family day, you get the kids out to come and meet the hounds, to meet the horses, it's a lovely spectacle."

Ms Grieve said the huge numbers likely to attend today's hunts showed "unity and determination" to continue the pastime.

"We're here to stay and we will get the Hunting Act repealed and we will carry on," she said.

The act made hunting with dogs a criminal offence, although exercising hounds, chasing a scent trail and flushing out foxes to be shot are all still legal.

Anti-hunt campaign group the League Against Cruel Sports said it did not object to the Boxing Day hunts if they stayed within the law, but would be monitoring for illegal activity.

Barry Hugill, a spokesman for the group, said: "We will have no qualms about bringing prosecutions against anyone caught breaking the law. This year we're fairly certain there will be a lot more convictions."


(Why are people so sadistic and cruel?)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/animalrights/story/0,,2232144,00.html


http://www.league.org.uk/

[flvegan]

1. This is the law where

IIRC, a person could defend him/herself from a charge of breaking this law if he/she thought that their hunting was exempt.

Bring on the sabs!

[Robeson]

2. It's always heart warming when parents indoctrinate their children early...

....

[Annces]

3. I agree

They like to feature children and women hunting, to show how it is not just Men that engage in this. Of course a young person wants to be supposedly strong and brave, and think adults are leading the way.