New legislation introduced in Scotland last year aims to further tighten rules around fox hunting and prevent what some view as loopholes from being exploited in the country. Animal welfare campaigners have claimed that new laws aimed at preventing illegal fox hunts with packs of dogs are being brazenly flouted. Footage filmed by activists from the League Against Cruel Sports show a hunting group out with packs of foxhounds during the latest hunting season, which ended in March. Hunts have gotten around the laws by claiming to be “drag hunting” – a sport where hounds follow an artificial scent trail laid down by volunteers. The new legislation, introduced to replace the existing law on fox hunting, prohibits the use of more than two dogs to track or flush out animals from cover without a license. However, concerns have been raised that the new law could be exploited, with animal welfare groups secretly filming hunts using cameras and drones to document potential violations.
According to reports, six incidents of illegal fox hunting have been reported to Police Scotland, resulting in charges being brought against individuals. The new law, known as the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act, came into effect in October last year and aims to prevent hunters from using packs of dogs to flush out wild mammals without a license. The Scottish government acknowledged the need for farmers to protect their livestock and introduced a licensing scheme to allow more dogs to be used in certain circumstances. Animal welfare groups have expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the new legislation, with instances of potential violations being documented and handed over to police for investigation. The League Against Cruel Sports has been actively monitoring hunts to ensure compliance with the new rules.
The Scottish Countryside Alliance, which supports fox hunting, has disputed claims of illegal hunting and argued that the new legislation is unnecessary. They maintain that the licensing scheme provided under the new law is essential for protecting lambs and threatened wildlife in Scotland. Despite differing perspectives on the issue, the Scottish Greens MSP, Ariane Burgess, emphasized the importance of enforcing the law and ensuring that no one is above it. She reiterated that fox hunting has no place in modern Scotland and vowed to continue working towards stamping out this practice for good. The ongoing debate surrounding fox hunting in Scotland highlights the complexity of balancing the interests of farmers and wildlife protection, as well as the challenges of enforcing legislation in this contentious area.
Animal rights campaigners have raised concerns about the potential exploitation of loopholes in the new fox hunting legislation, with allegations of illegal hunting practices being reported to authorities. Police Scotland has confirmed that investigations are ongoing and charges have been brought against individuals in connection with suspected violations of the law. The Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act, introduced last year, seeks to tighten restrictions on fox hunting and prevent the use of packs of dogs to flush out wild mammals without a license. The Scottish government has emphasized the importance of protecting livestock while also recognizing the need to uphold animal welfare standards. As debates continue over the future of fox hunting in Scotland, the enforcement of the law and the monitoring of hunting practices remain crucial to ensuring the well-being of both wildlife and livestock in the country.
