A hunt, like the one held at Studdal

By Beth Robson

Calls have been made to enforce the legislation that bans fox hunting after the Mercury published a story about a mauled fox found dead in Studdal.

West Street and Tickham hunt organisers had been hunting on the same morning that the male fox was found in a field backing on to Homestead Lane.

Hunt master Rosemary Cleverdon has apologised for causing upset and said the event, on Wednesday, October 12, was run within the law.

"when you are three fields away with fences, you can't control them" – hunt master rosemary cleverdon

Mrs Cleverdon has been talking to police about the incident, but she told the Mercury she has no way of knowing for sure if the fox was savaged by their fox hounds or by another animal.

"We had a drag, the hounds picked up the scent of this fox and they went away," she said.

"When you are three fields away, with fences, you can’t control them.

"If we did cause any upset in the village we are very sorry."

conflicting readers' views

comments on the east kent mercury’s web page show readers have strong opinions on fox hunting

nebhunting:
foxes need control, they kill chickens, lambs and many birds and eat the eggs of ground nesting birds, i say long live the hunt.
reynard:
utter scum ... more hunts killing for pleasure despite the ban. it’s high time the hunting act was really tightened up, and these thugs were put out of business for good.
get them banned from every village, every town, every bit of land where they’re not welcome, squeeze them out that way!
hang your heads in shame you sadistic rednecks.
afr:
there have been nine attempted prosecutions since fox hunting became illegal and six of them failed. another example of how the law protects the rich.

Mrs Cleverdon added she did not know whether the West Street and Tickham Hunt would go back to Studdal again.

Fox hunting has been illegal since 2005 when the 2004 Hunting Act came into force.

Hunts now lay a scent for dogs to track, but foxes are sometimes killed in the process if the hounds pick up their scent.

The story has generated mixed opinions on the Mercury’s website.

The league Against Cruel Sports is investigating the claims made by Studdal residents that the fox was ripped apart and killed by the hunt’s dogs.

Police are also investigating, and have taken the animal’s body away for forensic tests.

Police spokeswoman Jane Walker said: "While the investigation is ongoing we shall not be issuing further comment about tests.

"The fact that we are investigating should indicate that we are trying to ensure that legislation is being adhered to."