Fox Hunting With Dogs
Fox hunting with dogs is the practice of pursuing a fox on horseback with a pack of dogs. Fox hunting with dogs has been illegal since 2002 in Scotland and since 2005 in Wales and England, the country where it developed in the 18th century, according to The Fox Website. The controversial sport is still legal in a number of places, though, including Australia, the United States and Ireland.
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In a modern fox hunt using dogs, a group of hunters on horseback follow a pack of dogs, which are used to track a fox. Depending on the location, the dogs may be allowed to kill the fox, or the hunt may end when the fox goes underground into a hole. In some hunts, the dogs are specifically called off the fox after a certain point.
Controversy
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Fox hunting with dogs can be perceived as inhumane to the fox and dangerous to the dogs that hunt them. According to the In Defense of Animals website, dogs may receive lacerations from tearing through the countryside and they may die chasing foxes around treacherous terrain. In some cases, fox hunting with dogs is perceived as inhumane due to the fact that the dogs may be allowed kill the fox or because terriers are occasionally sent into the fox hole to kill it.
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Types
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There are several types of fox hunting that use dogs. The most common type of fox hunting involves hunters on horseback that follow a pack of dogs. Foot packs or fell packs are packs of dogs where the hunters follow on foot, rather than on horseback. Lamping trips use dogs to chase foxes at night, lighting the way with lamps or flashlights.
Alternatives
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One modern alternative to conventional fox hunting with dogs is called drag hunting. In drag hunting, a cloth is scented with synthetic chemicals. About 20 minutes before the hunt, a runner drags the cloth over the wooded area. The dogs will follow the scent of the cloth rather than chasing a real animal.
History
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Until the 1830s, aristocratic hunts chased deer and and going after smaller prey was considered to be without merit. As a result of the Enclosure Acts in England, the open areas needed to hunt deer were closed off, and hunting foxes became more convenient. Fox hunting in England reached the height of its popularity at the end of the 19th century, to the point where foxes needed to be imported to England from France, Germany and Holland.
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References
- Photo Credit Red Fox image by Steve Mutch from Fotolia.com
