Trail hunting is set to be banned in England and Wales as part of a new animal welfare strategy published by the government today.
The practise sees an animal-based scent trail laid for a pack of dogs to follow – rather than a real animal (most commonly a fox).
A group of hunters follow the dogs on horseback.
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While hunting with live mammals was banned in England and Wales in 2004, trail hunting has remained legal. However, the government has said there are concerns it is being used as a “smokescreen” for hunting live animals.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said “We’re a nation of animal lovers. This government is delivering the most ambitious animal welfare strategy in a generation.
“Our strategy will raise welfare standards for animals in the home, on the farm and in the wild.”
The chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, Tim Bonner, responded: “It is unbelievable that the government wants to waste more parliamentary time on hunting.
“This issue was settled 20 years ago as far as Labour was concerned but it does not seem to be able to leave it alone.”
Trail hunting has been banned in Scotland since 2002. Hunting with dogs remains legal in Northern Ireland and Ireland.
New animal welfare strategy
Other plans in the strategy include reforming dog breeding practises, including ending the practice of puppy farming.
The government will also be consulting a ban on the use of electric shock collars and considering the introduction of new licences for domestic rescue and rehoming organisations.
It also aims to improve the welfare of farmed animals by moving away from confinement systems such as colony cages for laying hens and introducing humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish.
Further protections for wild animals include banning snare traps and introducing a close season for hares, with the aim of reducing the number of adult hares being shot in the breeding system.
The government will work to deliver the strategy by the end of 2030, with farmers and stakeholders being promised that they will have opportunities to share their views as consultations are launched.
