Hydestile Wildlife Hospital
New Road, Hydestile,
Nr. Godalming, Surrey GU8 4DJ
Telephone 01483-860313

18th February 2000

Lord Burns Chairman
Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs
PO Box 3 1010
London
SW1H 9ZL

Dear Lord Burns

I have been asked to submit written evidence for consideration by the Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs.

I have observed from presentations in the media that some members of the Committee are biased in favour of hunting. I am concerned that my evidence and knowledge, gleaned over 22 years, will be as nothing if they have a biased opinion. Is this so?

After many years of working with wildlife, one of the animals we have specialised in is the fox and its ecology.

Although I feel that this is an animal welfare issue, the attached report is strongly based on scientific evidence acquired from our treatment and rehabilitation of thousands of foxes.

Yours sincerely

Graham Cornick

Co Founder

Appendix C.1 has also been submitted by the vet concerned and is available on the website as
Edwards, Richard: Veterinary Submission prepared by.

Appendix C.3 Letter from Mr M Sealey

We (Hydestile Wildlife Hospital) have responded only to those sections where we have knowledge and experience.

We have read the rules on fox hunting and can readily identify many breaches of these. See Appendix B.

The law allows only (a) untainted straw or hay, or leaf litter, bracken or loose soil or (b) bundles of sticks or faggots, or paper sacks either empty or filled with items from the list (a) to be used for such sett stopping. Materials in (a) may only be placed on the day of the hunt or after midday on the preceding day. Materials in (b) may only be placed on the day of the hunt and must be removed the same day.

We have a witness who visited sett entrance sites two days after a hunt had taken place and the entrances were still securely blocked. See Appendix A1.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, predation on lambs by foxes is 'insignificant'. Studies show that even by farmers' estimates, only one in two hundred lambs falls victim to a fox, whereas between 10% and 24% of lambs die from hypothermia, malnutrition or disease, or are stillborn. Foxes carry away such casualties and are often seen in lambing fields hoping to scavenge afterbirth. Because of this, foxes are ideal scapegoats for bad husbandry. See Appendix E.

Contract 2 Hunting with dogs: Expenditure, and numbers employed, by hunts and their followers.

In our opinion there would be no need for any change in the numbers employed if drag hunting replaces fox hunting, with the possible exception of Terrier Men.

Contract 3 The indirect effects of hunting with dogs on the rural economy and the longer-term effects of a ban.

In our opinion Contract 3 is no different to Contract 2 but taxpayers' money would be saved by not having to police foxhunting events.

Contract 4 The effects of hunting with dogs on the social and cultural life of the countryside in England and Wales.

The social life of the hunting community would not need to change in the event of a ban on hunting with dogs. The social life of a drag hunt could be very similar to that of a foxhunt.

A study by MacDonald University of Aberdeen concluded that the social life of a Scottish hunt that disbanded did not decline but was actually enhanced and the equine activities increased.

In the experience of Hydestile Wildlife Hospital we have found that in the areas where hunting continues there is a disruption to other wildlife. We at Hydestile have attended Road Traffic Accidents where deer have been flushed out into the path of oncoming traffic, injuring the deer and endangering members of the public. See Appendix B.

The Countryside Alliance (BFSS) have claimed that 16,000 foxes are killed by the hunt each season. See Appendix B.

A survey carried out by Dr Stephen Harris of Bristol University in 1987 revealed that fox hunts kill between 12,000 and 13,000 foxes a year. Dr Harris points out that this may represent only 2.5% of the fox population, whereas foxes can survive an annual mortality rate of up to 70% and still recover. Dr Harris concluded that "It is clear that fox hunts play no significant role in the control of fox populations." It follows that hunting with dogs as a form of pest control is ineffective. The fox population in Great Britain is estimated to be 750,000.

Contract 6 Methods of controlling foxes, deer, hares and mink.

Hares At Hydestile Wildlife Hospital we have observed that the number of hares has definitely declined. These observations are supported by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee report in 1996 that the hare population is only 20% of that one hundred years ago.

Foxes In our experience, if it were necessary to control foxes, this can be achieved in a proper and humane manner. In the areas where foxes are not hunted with hounds, we have not seen their numbers rising to plague proportions. It is a fact that foxes can and do control their own numbers and do not need human intervention.

It has to be understood that more foxes are killed on the roads than by any other human activity.

If there is a need to cull any creatures, it can be done in a controlled humane manner. e.g. humane traps and then the animals dispatched by professionals and not in the name of so called sport.

We feel that further research into these matters is unnecessary as there have been significant scientific studies published, for example, by Dr Stephen Harris and David Macdonald, which endorse our own experience. See Appendix E.

Contract 7 The effects of hunting with dogs in England and Wales on the welfare of deer.

The effect of hunting foxes with dogs has been scientifically documented in a recent case dealt with at Hydestile Wildlife Hospital, namely the fox dubbed 'Copper'. The report on the animal's condition is attached. Copper was brought to us in early February 1999 for continuation of care, after his initial treatment by Mr Richard Edwards, MRCVS. Mr Edwards' report on his condition is shown in Appendix C.1, Appendix C.2 and Appendix E.

Mr Edwards' professional opinion was that Copper's stressed and lifethreatening condition was a direct result of hunting. The injuries reported by Mr Edwards negates the claim by the Countryside Alliance (formerly British Field Sport Society) that the fox is instantaneously killed by a bite to the back of the neck or back (see their film Hunting the facts).

I have witnessed this film in its entirety. However, in the published version the lead hound knocks the fox to its side and the film ends. The complete film goes on to show that the fox is disembowelled by the lead hound.

Members of the Countryside Alliance suggested that it would have been less stressful to kill Copper at the scene than to transport him to the vet and onward to Hydestile Wildlife Hospital for aftercare. The clinical change in Copper was not brought about by his transportation and initial care. As for his convalescent period with us, which was always conducted in a very professional and caring manner, stress was thus kept to a minimum leading to his safe and successful release.

Our own vet, Michael Sealey, MRCVS, who tended Copper throughout his recovery has written the report shown in Appendix C.3.

It is far better for bloodounds to pursue a set course than the erratic course of a foxhunt because there is less chance of either hounds or horses being injured during these hunts. Also there is little chance of damage or injury to the general public, non-target animals or invasion by hounds of areas such as railway tracks or roads. (Appendix D.1)

At Hydestile Wildlife Hospital we attended a hound that was seriously injured having been impaled on a fence, after several days' care it was returned to the Surrey Union Hunt.

Conclusion

From the evidence that we ourselves have gathered in the years of caring for wildlife, it is clear that hunting with hounds has no rational basis whatsoever and should not be allowed in a civilised society. Until we rid the countryside of such activities, how can we ever be considered an animal loving nation.

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Date uploaded to site 30 March 2000