Animal welfare
From Mr Peter Davies Sir: The 'point' of the RSPCA (Country life, 17 March) is to prevent cruelty and promote kindness to all animals. This we achieve through hands-on animal-welfare work, education, campaigning for improvements in animal welfare, and prosecuting the most serious animal abusers.
Leanda de Lisle is wrong to suggest that campaigning for an end to the cruel sport of hunting with dogs is not part of the RSPCA's historic role. The society was founded specifically to prevent cruelty to all animals, and the recent Burns inquiry confirmed the RSPCA's long-held view when it concluded that hunting 'seriously compromises' the welfare of hunted animals. The RSPCA reviews its policies regularly in the light of current evidence, and has been opposed to hunting for many years.
The RSPCA is as much concerned for the welfare of hounds as it is for the quarry they are encouraged to hunt. The claim that 20,000 hounds will be slaughtered is grossly inflated. The number of hounds needing homes once hunting is banned will be very much lower, particularly if hunts act responsibly and stop breeding dogs now, and packs convert to the humane sport of drag-hunting.
The RSPCA has always said that, in the right hands, hounds can become loving family pets. Many spend their early lives in a home environment before they are old enough to hunt. The society will do all it can to assist in finding homes for hounds that are unwanted. It is time that cruelty in the name of sport was removed from today's more enlightened and humane society. Live pigeon target shooting gave way to clay pigeon shooting; live quarry hunting should now give way to drag-hunting.
Peter Davies
Director-general, RSPCA, Horsham, West Sussex
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