When you think of Boxing Day, you probably don’t associate it with anything cruel and inhumane.
It’s a day most of us will spend chilling with our closest friends and family, enjoying the gifts we’ve given and received, or shopping for great deals.
But Boxing Day has a violent, cruel, and inhumane dark side: fox hunting.
While plenty of people think it’s a cruel and unnecessary activity – it is still very much happening in the U.S., England – and other parts of the world.
Here’s what you need to know about this deadly tradition – and what you can do to stop it.
What is fox hunting?
Fox hunting originated in England, and was introduced to the U.S. in the 17th century.
It is an activity of tracking, chasing, and killing of a fox (traditionally a red fox) by a pack of trained foxhounds. The hunting is led by a group of unarmed followers who follow on foot, or on horseback.
It is still a popular, highly organized “sport” in countries like the U.S. and Canada, Australia, France, and Ireland.
According to the Masters of Foxhounds Association and Foundation, there were over 160 fox hunting clubs in the U.S. in 2015.
The association organizes fox hunts for adults – as well as kids.
Fox hunting is brutal – and needs to be stopped
No animal deserves to be chased – and violently killed for fun.
While in the U.S., fox hunting is often called “fox chasing” and is meant to be a chase without the intent to kill the fox, it is still a cruel and inhumane way to treat an animal.
Some fox hunters in the U.S. claim that most foxes are safe once they “go to the ground” – but that’s not something that can ever be measured. The hounds are trained to follow and recognize fox scent – and, if the foxes are caught, they are killed.
Even if the foxes live, the stress of being hunted by a pack of angry dogs is incredibly cruel and inhumane.
Join the fight against fox hunting
There are a few things you can do to help stop this cruel “sport.”
Raise your voice
Social media can be a powerful tool that helps raise awareness of animal cruelty issues.
Share news related to fox hunting, eye-opening videos of fox hunts – or a heart-warming story of fox cubs being rescued.
People will see it – and you will have helped the message spread.
Sign a petition
Signing a petition is a great way to help foxhunting be banned once and for all. After all, strength is in numbers, right?
Sign this League Against Cruel Sports “Stop the killing of animals by hunts in the UK” petition.
We couldn’t find a petition to ban foxhunting in the U.S. – so, why not start one!?
And now – want to give even more animals a chance to live happily?
Check out these posts:
- The scary truth about animals as entertainment
- The 3 biggest issues cats face and how to help now
- 5 surprising animals that are at risk of disappearing
Tags :
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