The chase
Sir: One can but wonder at the sentiments expressed in ' Skinflint's Diary,' in a periodical like The Spectator. Praise for Princess Anne for indulging in a cruelty condemned by more than half the nation; opponents of bloodsports described as doctrinaire and cranky, liberals who 'torment horses and hounds' — strange words indeed.
Pro-hunting folk seek to divert attention from the unpleasant aspects of their ' sport' by various red herrings. Their concern for animals slaughtered for food is touching until one realises that they are not vegetarians. Or perhaps their concern reaches out for the shot, snared or gassed fox — never for the hunted fox whose tortures are never to be revealed, except by those 'cranky Liberals.' Yet again they ask why not fight for the factory farmed hen or the vivisected dog? Do they?
Tiresome — but what can one expect from those with so little compassion or imagination that they can enjoy seeing a wild animal killed, chased, prodded out, burned out, thrown alive to hounds for no better reason than to provide ' kicks ' for the hunters.
Doreen Parkes Roughlands, Tower Road North, Heswall, Wirral, Cheshire
Previous page
