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At the request of the Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs, the following fox hunts were attended;

Numerous foxes were seen, but, to the author's knowledge, only 5 foxes were caught during these 14 hunts.

4 foxes were collected. 1 additional fox was caught but was not presented by the hunt for examination.

2 of the foxes were shot after going to earth and retrieval using terriers. 2 of the foxes were killed on the surface by hounds.

This animal was hunted by the hounds for approximately 31 minutes.

The fox went to ground and a terrier was sent down. After 9 minutes, the fox left the earth and was shot as it left the hole.

Haemorrhage in the soft tissues of the lateral aspect of the proximal right antebrachium (the upper outside region of the forearm) provide evidence of some trauma before death.

Death was caused by a free bullet shot to the head with a .22 calibre single shot pistol.

The bullet appears to have tracked through the upper part of the skull causing fracture of the parietal and occipital bones. The lower jaw on the Left side was also broken by the passage of the bullet and fragments of the bullet came to rest in the Left side of the head just below the base of the skull. The majority of the bullet exited the head and was not recovered.

X-Rays of Fox 1

 

Fox 2 (Royal Artillery, Salisbury Plain, 3 April 2000)

This animal was hunted with hounds for approximately 7 minutes.

The fox then went to ground and a terrier equipped with a radio collar was sent down. After approximately 25 minutes of digging, the fox was revealed, the terrier removed, and the fox shot in the hole with a .22 calibre single shot pistol. Two shots were required.

b) Multiple bite wounds on the face and the top of the head.

c) Damage to the Right eye.

d) Bite wounds, haemorrhage and oedema in the region of the larynx and

lower neck.

e) A .22 calibre bullet in the muscle tissue of the Left shoulder region and

some radiographic evidence of damage to the vertebrae of the neck in the

region of the 3rd and 4h cervical vertebrae. The shooting of this fox was

observed, and it was apparent that this first bullet did not kill the animal.

A second shot with a .22 calibre bullet caused death.

The bullet appears to have tracked from the front of the nose, along the line of the upper teeth on the Right side, and to have lodged at the base of the skull. A trail of small fragments of the bullet are visible along this track in radiographs.

X-Rays of Fox 2

This animal was hunted with hounds for approximately 15 minutes.

The fox was killed on the surface by the hounds.

Head and neck - Tooth puncture marks on the lower head and neck. These are not associated with haemorrhage or oedema and are assumed to have been caused during the hounds tussle with the carcass post-mortem. Radiographically there is no indication of damage to the cervical (neck) vertebrae, and dissection indicates little soft tissue damage in the neck area.

Thorax and forelimbs - The skin overlying the chest was predominantly intact but radiography and dissection reveal the thorax to have been profoundly disrupted with compression of the chest, breakage of almost all the ribs and breakage of the spine into two portions (between T3/T4, upper chest, and at T6/T7, lower chest). The soft tissues within the chest have been fragmented, with breakdown of the diaphragm and destruction of the structure of the heart and lungs. The Right humerus is fractured, as are both the scapulae.

Abdomen and hindquarters - The skin and muscular tissues of the body wall of the lower abdomen have been destroyed revealing the viscera, which are fragmented. The spine in the lower back (L3/L4) is fractured, and the pelvis is separated into two halves, with fragmentation of the ischial and pubic bones.

Profound trauma by repeated dog bite.

Post mortem examination revealed little tissue damage in the head, neck and shoulder region, pronounced damage to the ribcage and thoracic organs, and profound damage to the abdomen.

It is probable that trauma to the abdomen, hindquarters or chest were the cause of death in this animal.

It is not possible to determine the time period from first bite to death from this post mortem material.

X-Rays of Fox 3

This animal was hunted with hounds for less than 2 minutes.

The fox was killed on the surface by the hounds.

The feet and brush of this animal were removed by the hunt.

Head and neck - Radiographic study indicates no bony damage in the vertebrae of the neck, but reflection of the soft tissues on the top of the skull reveal two circular depressed fractures (punctures) in the bone of the upper part of the skull (parietal bone). However, the soft tissues overlying these punctures are not haemorrhagic, and it is likely that this damage to the skull occurred post-mortem. There is no soft tissue damage on the ventral (underside) of the neck.

Thorax and forelimbs - The skin overlying the chest and forelimbs is predominantly intact, but regions of hair have been removed by the action of teeth, and multiple punctures of the skin are present. Radiographic study and dissection reveal the thorax to have been profoundly disrupted with fracture and separation of the spine in the upper chest (T4/T5), and lower chest (T1O/T11 and T13/L1). The sternum is broken twice and there are multiple rib fractures. The intercostal muscles (muscles between the ribs) are tom in much of the ribcage, the lung is fragmented and the diaphragm has been ruptured. The heart is intact and free from gross damage. The soft tissues of the axillae (armpits) and chest wall are damaged and there is a fracture of the Left scapula.

Abdomen and hindquarters - The skin and muscular tissues of the body wall of the lower abdomen have been destroyed revealing the viscera, which are fragmented. The left hip is subluxated (dislocated) and the bones of the pelvis are fragmented. There is a mid shaft fracture of the Right tibia.

Profound trauma by repeated dog bite.

Post mortem examination revealed little tissue damage in the head, neck and shoulder region, pronounced damage to the ribcage and the thoracic organs, and profound damage to the abdomen.

It is probable that trauma to the abdomen, hindquarters or chest were the cause of death in this animal.

It is not possible to determine the time period from first bite to death from this post mortem material.

X-Rays of Fox 4

Post mortem study of hunted foxes.