ArishMell · 70-79, M
Hare-coursing has been illegal for years, not by "animal rights" types as amateur campaigners cannot make laws, but by Parliament, in the proper way.
It and other cruel and needless forms of illegal animal hunting for sheer "fun" still occur in secret, but it is very difficult to catch the offenders and prosecute them.
The established fox Hunts are sometimes prosecuted for killing foxes, that "tradition" having being also outlawed. The offence is something like "the use of dogs to trap and kill wild animals", without specifying the species. Their usual defence is that they had set the hounds on a fully-legal, artificial scent trail, or "drag", but flushed out and killed a fox by accident. The Courts don't usually believe that, or may believe it but hold the Hunt responsible for allowing the killing. Many farmers won't have the Hunts on their land anyway, due mainly to damage and disruption by the hunt itself and its largely-urbanite "followers".
It and other cruel and needless forms of illegal animal hunting for sheer "fun" still occur in secret, but it is very difficult to catch the offenders and prosecute them.
The established fox Hunts are sometimes prosecuted for killing foxes, that "tradition" having being also outlawed. The offence is something like "the use of dogs to trap and kill wild animals", without specifying the species. Their usual defence is that they had set the hounds on a fully-legal, artificial scent trail, or "drag", but flushed out and killed a fox by accident. The Courts don't usually believe that, or may believe it but hold the Hunt responsible for allowing the killing. Many farmers won't have the Hunts on their land anyway, due mainly to damage and disruption by the hunt itself and its largely-urbanite "followers".