I AM writing not on the issue of hunting, but on the welfare of the hounds and their future.

Many huntmasters are saying that hounds do not make suitable pets and would have to be put down if a hunt ban is imposed.

As a former RSPCA inspector of nine years I have seen hundreds of former working dogs rehomed successfully.

These included foxhounds, harriers, lurchers, beagles, bassets, greyhounds and blood/otter hounds. Before 1992, even pit bulls bred for fighting were given chances.

Dogs that have spent their working lives on the track or in breeding kennels or on a chain have adapted happily.

It requires patience, time, love and the dog never being left alone.

Huntmasters threaten the lives of their foxhounds because they know, in general, that most of the public have never owned one as a pet, mainly due to the fact that they are systematically shot - not "rested" - at five or six years old.

The pack has to make way for all the new pups that are bred (check the hound registry and how often the bitches are spayed!). The older ones or less fitter hounds are given their "final run" and then a bullet, which is cheaper than advertising and rehoming. These dogs are never given the chance of a new life. That has always been the way.

Therefore, knowing hounds that have been successfully rehomed and loved their retirement, I would ask all hutnmasters to honour the loyalty and hard work of their dogs and give them a chance.

Hounds have tough lives out of the view of the general public and once neutered and comfortable they become calm, loving family members.

Hounds are now pawns in a political sideshow where they are paraded in town centres all over the country not to save their lives (remember they are shot anyway) but to save the blood sport their owners appear to need so much.

I would suggest that huntsmen don't want to give their hounds a chance because it concedes losing the battle.

As someone who used to hear regularly in court the defences of badger baiters, cock fighters and dog fighters I notice these hunters are beginning to sound like them too. They are protesting to keep their blood sport and have stated that they will continue to do so once the ban is on the statute books.

They say they have the right to enjoy their sport, and like the baiters and fighters believe that hunting is a basic principle and have a deep-seated belief that they are not doing anything wrong.

All of these defendants demonstrated the same belief and they went to prison for it.

FORMER RSPCA INSPECTOR

Name and address

supplied

ONE of the persons interviewed on fox-hunting (View on the Street, September 23) used the persuasive argument that foxes deserved to be hunted because they were nasty to chickens (which is hard to dispute).

But aren't poultry farmers nasty to chickens too? (Free-rangers excepted). They keep them imprisoned, deprive them of a chicken sex life, steal all their eggs and bump them off when they are ready for the table.

So, if fox-hunting is banned, the redundant huntsmen and hounds could demonstrate their solidarity with chickens by chasing poultry farmers instead.

Huntsmen do argue that Reynard enjoys the chase, and there is no reason why poultry farmers should not get a kick out of it too.

They might not enjoy the bit where the hounds tear them to bits, but surely that is just part of the fun.

Of course, this is just a pipe-dream. Our nanny state would not allow such a sport.

NAME AND ADDRESS

SUPPLIED

I NOTE that the pro-hunt lobby considers a ban on hunting would infringe their democratic rights.

Well, as a result of their recent demonstration outside Kidderminster Harriers' ground, where we were attempting to conduct our regular monthly Labour Party meeting, the social club quite understandably,in view of the damage and upset they caused, has asked us to find an alternative venue for our meetings .

Could their action therefore, have infringed our democratic rights, as finding somewhere else to hold our meetings will not be easy?

CHRIS JONES

Stourport Road, Bewdley

THOSE who protested in London, with Mr Swann, look like hunting buffoons, making ridiculous threats.

I think they believe they have the right to ride roughshod over the downtrodden, and they just look stupid and arrogant. It is the 21st century, not the 12th.

These people should switch to drag-hunting, leaving the fox and deer alone.

I have seen a deer hunt in Exmoor, while on holiday last year. It was disgusting. This is not just about foxes. If they are a problem, shoot them, don't make a big display out of bloodlust.

BILL MORRIS

The Croft

Kidderminster