Trail hunting to be banned as part of new animal welfare strategy

As part of the government's latest animal welfare policy, trail hunting is expected in England and Wales. A dog-based scent trail is used for dogs rather than a real animal in the course, while a group of hunters follows the pack on horseback. Since the 2004 hunting ban came into place, it has remained legal because it does not specifically mention the killing of animals. However, the government, which made a vow not to bring in the ban, maintains that the procedure is being used as a smokescreen for wild animal hunting.

Hunting with hounds has existed in certain areas of the United Kingdom for centuries, but the 2004 Hunting Act placed limits on the activity. Throughout England and Wales, the legislation outlawed the use of dogs to hunt wild mammals, including foxes, hares deer, and mink. Trail hunting involves laying a trail using a rag soaked in animal scent that hounds will chase. The aim is to duplicate the hunt across the countryside, but not have to kill animals. During the last hunting season, the League Against Cruel Sportssaid that there had been nearly 1,600 incidents, including 397 reports of foxes being chased around the country. Tim Bonner, the Countryside Alliance's chief executive, said that revisiting the issue of trail hunting was completely unnecessary.It's strange

that the government intends to waste more parliamentary time on hunting, he said.

This issue was settled 20 years ago as far as Labour was concerned, but it does not appear that we would be able to leave it alone. People across the countryside will be shocked if Labour's assault on family farms and its abandonment of rural communities, according to Mr Bonner,

it should be outlawing trail hunting and snares used for fox control are a political priority. Trail hunts have previously been described as

critical

to rural communities, not only do they bring in money to the rural economy, but also promote mental and physical health.

I would be shunned if I openly opposed hunting,one farmer told the BBC.They added that banning trail hunting

reinforces the argument that [Labour] don't care and are enforcing urban values on people they don's don'e understand. In the new year, ministers will consult on the specifics of the ban. Baroness Hayman, the minister of animal welfare, said that the government will begin implementing the plans.

We said in our manifesto that we would not discourage trail hunting, and that's just what we'll do.

There are fears that trail hunting is being used as a smokescreen for wild animal hunting, and that is not acceptable.

We're deciding on the right option to bring the ban forward, and we'll have a survey to request opinions in the new year. Trail hunting is already banned in Scotland. In Northern Ireland, hunting with dogs is still legal.