RECENTLY, the Countryside Alliance has announced that 800 foxes have been killed by hunts within the law since the Hunting Act 2004 came into force in February.This is being hailed as a victory for hunting but instead is a victory for the law.

The Alliance states that the foxes have been killed legally - this means that they have been killed by shooting rather than having been subjected to the cruelty of being chased and then torn apart by a pack of dogs. The Hunting Act 2004 was passed in order to make the chasing and killing with dogs of deer, foxes, hares and mink a wildlife crime. It's abundantly clear that the Act is working.

JOSEY SHARRAD,

Campaigns Officer,

International Fund for Animal Welfare (UK).