Dear sir
I would like to voice my views on your inquiry on Hunting with Dogs. I am a qualified veterinary surgeon and I have followed hounds for six years. During this period I have seen no instances which I would consider to show cruelty to foxes. Almost all foxes are killed quickly with little or no distress caused to them. In the small number of more prolonged chases, the fox generally shows no evidence of distress and is usually well in control of the situation until just before they are killed. Any idea of distress is erroneous.
I believe I am well qualified to comment on this matter and I am very concerned that efforts to ban this process will lead to widespread cruelty to foxes in place of the well controlled and policed situation at present.
D Dugdale, MRCVS
Date uploaded to site 29 May 2000