Hunt needs to 'sniff political wind'

Dear sir - As the Ward Union Stag Hunt commences the fade to black it offers a unique opportunity for the hunt to reform as a drag hunting pack. The establishment of the Ward Union draghounds would be a sensible response to the upcoming legislation to outlaw stag hunting with hounds. There is no credible argument for the retention of stag hunting with hounds. It is a practice that has rendered itself obsolete and exists as a viable danger to animal and human life. The arguments for retaining the Ward Union stag hunt are spurious and do not withstand forensic analysis. Horses and hounds will still need to be cared for and maintained so there will be no loss of employment; the equestrian element will remain as draghunting is even more challenging then following a live scent; the social side of hunting will continue as a draghunting pack will draw in new hunt followers keen to experience a day with horse and hound devoid of animal cruelty and death. As for the deer owned by the Ward Union, they will still need to be cared for. That is not an issue as Ward Union hunt followers have gone to great pains to tell all and sundry that they love their deer more than their kin. Maybe the hunt's deer park could be turned into a deer education centre thus bringing employment and tourists to the area. The Ward Union Hunt committee need to sniff the political wind. Stag hunting with hounds is going to be outlawed so they should accept their fate and plan their future. Time spent on aggressive public relations efforts will do the hunt no favours. Now is the time for the Ward Union stag hunt to gather friends not enemies. Failure to do so will drop the pretence that we are dealing with normal people but instead are dealing with those who are motivated by their ability to cause fear and death to the lives of innocent animals. Yours, John Tierney, Campaigns Director, Association of Hunt Saboteurs, PO Box 4734, Dublin 1.