Your letter from Lisa Ward (May 19) misquotes the Masters of Foxhounds Association.

Far from advising hunts to carry on breeding hounds as normal the MFHA said: "The Masters of Foxhounds Association has advised hunts to breed fewer numbers but to keep breeding nevertheless. Our advice is that they should breed responsible numbers. Obviously they should breed fewer hounds than normal but they should maintain key breeding lines and enough hounds should be bred to be prepared for the repeal of the Act. Packs who used to breed four litters for example may breed two."

It would be wrong to stop breeding hounds while there is a likelihood that the Hunting Act will be repealed or altered. Foxhounds are probably the oldest chronicled breed in Britain with a Stud Book that dates from 1800. Anyone who has had contact with foxhounds knows that they are neither "aggressive" nor "vicious".

A Jackson

Editor

Foxhounds Kennel Stud Book

Cirencester