From The
Universe dated November 16 1997
The MP bidding to ban hunting with dogs this week launched a
nationwide poster campaign to support his Private Members Bill. A poster
shows a terrified deer plunging into a river to escape a pack of dogs.
The poster proclaims: “It’s hard to swim when you’ve been running for
three hours.”
The launch was timed by Mike Foster to coincide with the results of a
poll for the Campaign for the Protection of Hunted Animals which shows
increasing support for a ban. The Mori poll found that 73 per cent of
people believe hunting should be stopped – a rise of eight per cent
since July.
Mr Foster, whose bill comes before the Commons in a fortnight, said:
“Today’s poll shows opposition to hunting at an all-time high. It is
time for the British people and our public figures to speak out.”
The ban is supported by celebrities, including actor Sir John
Gielgud, ex-Take That star Mark Owen andEastEnders matriarch Wendy
Richard.
Spokeswoman Kate Parminter said: “Our campaign focuses on the cruelty
of hunting with dogs and is a reminder that foxes are not the only
victims of this barbaric practice but also deer, as well as hares and
mink.”
The poll, for which 3,010 adults were interviewed, found:
- Four out of five people favour drag-hunting, in which humans act as
the prey, rather than the hunting of animals;
- 72 per cent believe hunting is outdated;
- 74 per cent disagree that hunting with hounds is needed to control
wild animal numbers.
Hunt fans have accused Mr Foster of being an IRA sympathiser –
because his wife is Catholic.
Reproduced with thanks.
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