In 2002 Scotland became the first country in the UK to forbid huntsmen using dogs to kill foxes.
The Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act was hailed as a fox hunting ban - but a loophole in the legislation means dogs can still be used to drive foxes towards waiting guns so that they can be shot. However, animal welfare charities suspect some hunts are not always flushing to guns and hounds are still chasing foxes across open fields before being ripping them apart.
Covert filming often showed the chase but, crucially, did not show guns. The Sunday Herald observed a hunt with League Against Cruel Sports investigators last year and saw no evidence of guns. We did however see huntsmen on horseback following hounds which were running across open fields in pursuit of foxes.
The first convictions under the 2002 legislation were secured last year after the League provided footage of a hunt in the south of Scotland. A subsequent public consultation received at least 30,000 responses and the Scottish Government is under pressure to strengthen legislation and ban the use of hounds outright.
Environment minister Roseanna Cunningham would not have launched a review of the 2002 act if there was no evidence that the law was ineffective. Responses to the consultation will be released shortly and it is expected there will be a majority in favour of tougher legislation. Once again Scotland has an opportunity to lead the UK on animal welfare legislation and the Sunday Herald believes it is time to ban fox hunting for good.
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