End fox hunting in the UK : A call to abolish a cruel tradition

Despite the Hunting Act 2004 banning the hunting of wild mammals with dogs in England and Wales, fox hunting continues in practice, often disguised as “trail hunting.” Animal welfare groups and activists have repeatedly documented that this loophole is used to continue cruel and unnecessary hunting of foxes, leading to distress, injury, or death of these animals.

This so-called tradition — where foxes are chased for miles by packs of dogs, often in terror, before being killed — has no place in a modern, ethical society. It reflects a time when animal welfare was not a concern, and perpetuating it under the guise of sport or heritage is morally indefensible.

We, the undersigned, demand that the UK government take immediate and decisive action to fully outlaw fox hunting in all its forms and protect British wildlife from outdated cruelty.

We urge the UK Government to:

1. 
   

   Close all loopholes in the Hunting Act that allow fox hunting to continue under the guise of “trail hunting.”

   
   
   
2. 
   

   Increase enforcement and penalties for illegal hunting activity, including higher fines, seizures of equipment, and bans on offenders.

   
   
   
3. 
   

   Introduce independent monitoring of hunts, with stronger legal consequences for violations.

   
   
   
4. 
   

   Support rural communities in transitioning away from hunting-based events toward ethical, animal-free alternatives (eco-tourism, conservation projects, etc.).

   
   
   
5. 
   

   Designate wildlife protection zones, where any form of hunting with dogs is explicitly banned and monitored.

   
   
   

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  Animal Suffering: Foxes endure prolonged chases, injuries, and death — often torn apart by hounds.

  
  
  
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  Ineffective Law: The Hunting Act is widely seen as ineffective due to loopholes and lack of enforcement.

  
  
  
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  Moral Responsibility: Traditions that rely on cruelty must be left in the past.

  
  
  
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  Public Opinion: The majority of the British public opposes fox hunting.

  
  
  
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  Environmental Balance: Foxes play a key role in local ecosystems, helping control pests naturally.

  
  
  

We call on the Prime Minister and UK Government to take bold action to end fox hunting once and for all, and to set an example as a compassionate, forward-thinking nation.

Let this be the generation that stands up for animals, not traditions of cruelty.