SIR: With fox cub-hunting coming to an end in the next few weeks, preparation for the main fox-hunting season, which begins around November 1, is complete.

I feel I must appeal to your readers who may be planning to ride to the hounds this year to consider what they will be responsible for. I know most of them have absolutely no interest in the kill - they go for a good ride, for the social aspects and to see the hounds works.

But whether they see the kill or not, the fact is that the fox is being chased to the point of exhaustion by slow running, high stamina hounds in a deliberately protracted chase, then disembowelled in a most horrendous way.

Hunters once claimed, and some still do, that foxes are terrible pests and that hunting is necessary to control them. Now science has debunked that argument, the hunters have changed their tune, claiming to be conserving foxes. Neither argument stands up to scrutiny. The simple fact is the fox is chased and killed as a sporting accessory and everyone who takes part must share the responsibility for the torment and suffering this largely innocent creature suffers.

These people should do themselves and our wildlife a favour. Stop hounding our wildlife and join a drag-hunt or bloodhound pack instead.

Drag-hunting is a wonderful sport. One can still dress up and enjoy the equestrian and social aspects, one can even watch the hounds follow the scent, but no animal suffers at the end of the day, no hounds get involved chasing livestock, killing pets or causing havoc on roads and railway lines; and no tax payers' money is wasted on police time dealing with hunt saboteurs.

K Saunders

League Against Cruel Sports

Sparling House

83-87 Union Street, London

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