Fabian Borg, PR and education committee, Federation for Hunters, Trappers and Conservationists, Żebbuġ.
Hunting dogs are no dummies
Hunting dogs do what they do best: Hunt. In view of the letters by Kenneth Cassar and Joe Aquilina (March 11) one needs to stress the facts that prove the above statement.
Comparing dummies to game birds is just another gimmick which can blind those people who are not familiar with the subject. I believe that Mr Cassar especially, given his knowledge of animals, should know better. For example, he should know about the particular scent released by a migrating game bird, which is not even comparable to that of a bird raised in captivity, let alone to a dummy.
When saying that dogs hunt, it means they participate in full before, during and after the taking of the bird. Flushing dogs, such as Pointers are used to hunt quail and not just to fetch the dead bird. Quail is very hard to flush, especially in spring, because of the dense grass and high wheat stems, not to mention wasteland in which the quail blends in perfectly to an invisible level. Attempting to hunt quail without a well-trained dog is a non-starter, indicating the origin of the old Maltese proverb that "għas-summien kelb ta' mitt lira u senter ta' sold" (in the case of quail, [what you need] is a Lm100 dog and a one penny shotgun).
During quail hunting, the dog plays the most important role and, believe me, they would know what is happening and they feel satisfaction and pride after the job. The fetching part during quail hunting is the easy part as the bird would have lost its cover and the drop zone would be already identified.
On the other hand, turtle doves are very wary and dogs must remain almost motionless while the occasional dove is approaching.
This while keeping an eye on the whereabouts of the drop zone in order to obtain a quick fetch and earliest return to the hiding place.
A well-trained and experienced dog on many occasions is another pair of eyes for the hunter as a quick look at the sky by the dog would surely signify an approaching bird that might still be unnoticed by the hunter.
I trust that the little information shared above may enlighten readers that a dummy is just a dummy in whatever way you use it.
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Kenneth Cassar
Mar 28th 2008, 13:36
Mark Mifsud Bonnici, who until recently would ridicule those who claimed that animals have rights, now says that I shoud know that "gun" dogs have a RIGHT to hunt.
Incredible!
Ray Orland
Mar 28th 2008, 12:16
Mr. Mifsud Bonnici, I agree with you 100%.
On the other hand, something that I would like to add is regarding the reasoning of Mr. Farrugia, who seems to be very worried about nature, "God's gift". So in this instant I ask: Where was he when started the project of Smart City? All those fields and trees blasted down? What is he thinking about the Mistra Case? Isn't he worried about all that nature distruction?
mark mifsud bonnici
Mar 28th 2008, 11:26
Kenneth Cassar should know gun dogs have a right to hunt. The problem is he doesn't admit that they do. Or as he stated, he would like to learn. So my advice is, keep silent until you learn the facts before you comment as you can only make a fool of yourself by being ignorant.
Alex Ellul
Mar 27th 2008, 18:50
Birds are no dummies either, and neither are we.
Kenneth Cassar
Mar 27th 2008, 17:59
Interesting. People who as recently as a few weeks ago used to argue that animals do not have rights are now saying that dogs have the right to hunt.
Andrew Gatt
Mar 27th 2008, 17:58
Mr Farrugia, as a law-abiding hunter who practices his hobby legally, I take strong exception to your snide remarks aimed at ridiculing hunters in general. Do I call you a poodle-loving, religious extremist, emotional tree hugger in return? I'd rather ignore comments like yours, and honestly, if you want to contribute to a meaningful discussion on this issue, I would suggest you take a more reasoned and logical approach.
mark mifsud bonnici
Mar 27th 2008, 16:02
Fabian. Kenneth Cassar said he would like to learn more about the subject. Obviously, judging from his writings, he is totally ignorant about the fact that dogs hunt.
Your letter might serve to explain what dogs do and feel whilst they hunt and people will learn from your writings. However people like Cassar and Aqulina are not bothered about learning but are more intent on ridiculing the hunter by what they write.
Anyone with the slightest degree of common sense realises that their arguments are nothing but a waste of space, no one can deny the truth. Gun dogs do hunt and hunters are the ones to prove it.
Franco Farrugia
Mar 27th 2008, 15:52
It seems to me that the pro-hunting lobby in Malta, has run out of ideas and strong arguments worth mentioning, in order to bolster their egoistic, pseudo-macho 'pastime'. They are now bringing the plight of 'their' dogs into the fray, by claiming that these hunting dogs are being denied 'what they do best'.
So, let's deny the birds and the fowl of flight from 'what they do best', which is the bolster the gift that God has given us through Nature. The birds sing their hearts out in praise of what God has created - and the human being, who was meant to be God's own image, tries to stifle them in order for them to end these pseudo-macho section of the population in their soup bowls or arraying some sitting room or garage!
C Mallia
Mar 27th 2008, 15:31
Is the FKNK now proposing that we should have spring hunting because of the poor dogs now? How much more ridiculous can these people get?
That before the election, they decided to enter the political fray and have encouraged not to support the current government is known to everyone.
On 11th March with their own press release, they had to eat their own words and accept to work with Dr Gonzi again.
Now this...I am happy about having so much concern for their dogs which is only one of the animal kingdom, but then its highly justifyable and contradictory for them to shoot birds out of the sky leaving them in a bloody mess, just before going to breed
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Mar 27th 2008, 11:12
Very well done, Mr. Borg. A true description of the hunting dog! This is in very sharp contrast to other writers who end up being laughed at and making a fool of themselves by the nonsense they write!