I AM surprised that P King denies that the disembowelling of foxes by foxhounds is a frequent cause of their death (You Say, December 11).

He clearly ignores, or has failed to read, the many veterinary reports to the contrary. In attempting to reinforce his argument he quotes from the Burns Report, but misses out the part that says:

"The evidence which we have seen suggests that death is not always effected by a single bite to the neck or shoulders. In a proportion of cases, it results from massive injuries to the chest and vital organs.

"There is a lack of firm scientific evidence about the effect on the welfare of the fox of being closely pursued, caught and killed above ground by hounds.

"We are satisfied, nevertheless, that this experience seriously compromises the welfare of the fox."

Well, it would, wouldn't it? Most normal people (hunt apologists excepted) tend to accept that being chased for many miles until exhausted, and then being bitten to death, is likely to have that effect.

And for those foxes which are not caught above ground but manage to find an unblocked refuge, Burns says: "We are satisfied that the activity of digging out and shooting a fox involves a serious compromise of its welfare, bearing in mind the often protracted nature of the process and the fact that the fox is prevented from escaping."

And as for the incidents of fox and deer disembowelling I reported recently, P King need only look on the Hunt Saboteurs website for photographic evidence and the vet's report.

MAURICE BRETT, Bromsgrove.