Fox Hunting, a popular sport or acts of unjust killings? (Foxhunting - is this sport?)

Member Name: Michaelboard2009

Product:	Foxhunting - is this sport?
Date:	09/11/09 (30 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: provides entertainment to some narrow minded thoughtless people

Disadvantages: innocent foxes are killed

I would like to use this as an opportunity to give both sides of this argument about fox hunting before giving my own opinion. I will now state the arguments:

1) Those who oppose fox hunting argue that the so called sport is evil and cruel. However in response some would say that the death of the fox is quick and painless due to the chasing dog's instinct to administer a "quick nip" to the back of the fleeing fox's head which kills it instantly and outright. Besides other alternatives - shooting, gassing, snaring or poisoning - would all inflict much more pain and suffering on the foxes.

2) Furthermore it is argued that the fox suffers great trauma and rightfully fears for its' life while being chased and this is not fair.
Pro fox hunters would argue that the fox does not anticipate death, so is not unduly traumatised by the pursuit.

3) Those against the hunting would argue that the fox are one of our largest wild animals left in the British Isles, in the past we have managed to kill off all the other large predators and so this is likely to happen to the fox if it is not put to a stop. Hunters would argue that already, 10 times as many foxes are shot each year than are hunted to death, they say. That figure would only increase if hunting was banned and they were forced to conduct illegal hunts.

4) It is killing for the amusement of a bunch of people who could use their time and money a lot more productively. Hunters would argue that it is tradition and in the family so although it may be seen as killing for the amusement of humans they are not prepared to break tradition.

In my opinion I think that fox hunting is totally wrong as it is bad enough that animals are being killed in the world for meat and the purposed of fasion, but killing an animal purely for entertainment and enjoyment is totally wrong and inhumane.

Summary: A so called "sport" under scrutiny