Dogs and hunting (2)

It seems that the hunting fraternity has run out of hare-brained excuses as to why it should continue with its killing and trapping sprees.

First it was "tradition" and "hobby"; then "broken promises" followed by their being able to "hunt in the UK" . As all these have been shot down - just like any protected birds that fly over Malta - they are now trying to pull at the heart-strings by claiming that if spring hunting is abolished, then the "poor hunting dogs" will suffer!

It is true that their dogs have been bred to "fetch" fallen birds, but to say they will fret and become restless if they are not allowed to participate in spring hunting is taking matters to a ridiculous level. Do these dogs fret and become restless in the many months between the spring and autumn hunting season? Or do the hunters put them on tranquillisers for this "resting" period?

The hunters could always take them to the countryside and throw "dummy" birds or sticks for them to fetch, and thus keep them active and in good condition.

And before the "UK hunting" brigade starts comparing Maltese hunting dogs to those in the UK, these are two completely different breeds: the UK fox hunters were concerned about their dogs because they do not have just one, but a whole pack which "belongs" to the hunt, and so could not find enough homes for them. In Malta, the majority of hunters have only one dog - at the most two (and some none!) - so they are kept at home, or in some unfortunate cases, locked in a garage.

Next excuse will surely be that if the guns are not fired in spring, they will seize up! If only!