A RECENTLY published NOP opinion poll of 100 members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, found that a significant majority of our rural colleagues polled, opposed a ban on hunting on welfare grounds for the quarry species.
In February last year, we submitted A Veterinary Opinion on Hunting with Hounds to the Government inquiry into hunting with dogs (Burns Inquiry).
This was submitted on behalf of some 300 of our colleagues who constitute the Vets for Hunting group.
The veterinary opinion concludes that far from being cruel, hunting represents the most natural and humane method of controlling the populations of the four wild animal quarry species, fox, deer, hare and mink, in the countryside.
It is important to appreciate that we are considering here wild animals which are used to hunting and being hunted.
They are not domestic pets, but wild animals in their natural habitat.
Furthermore hunting is selective in that it tends to pull out the weak, the sick and the aged. It also allows respite for breeding during the closed season. None of this can be said for other methods of control.
The updated version of our Veterinary Opinion, which gives the full reasoning behind our conclusions may be found at www.vets-for-hunting.co.uk
DR L H THOMAS (Newbury)
PROF W R ALLEN (Newmarket)
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