Vulpynes' Maeve Molly: We Need To Ban Fox-Hunting

My dopamine receptors are split into two categories, music and animals. I WANT to hear about your dog, I thrive on photo updates of them modelling their new coat. My love of animals extends from defending seagulls in arguments when people say they are annoying (which can get quite heated, so don’t go there), to nursing injured fledglings and pigeons on my lunch break. I was raised in a household where our pets were worshipped, lavished, respected and outright adored. It was this environment that ingrained my love and respect for all animals.

Fox hunting is banned in England, Scotland and Wales (although the legislation has serious flaws and loopholes, that conveniently accommodate those who hunt). Bloodsports are still completely legal in Ireland and this needs to change. Foxes are part of the canidae biological family which includes wolves, coyotes and dogs. When a domestic animal is tortured in the same way that a fox is abused by hunters, it is a criminal offence.

I’ve heard many arguments and justifications in favour of fox hunting. Firstly there’s the classic, ‘foxes are vermin, hunting is a means of pest control’. Yes, pest control if you’re a masochist. Foxes are not vermin, they are part of our wildlife. There is no fox control required in Ireland and even if there were, training hounds to tear apart an innocent animal while high-fiving your mates on horseback is neither a humane nor effective way of doing it.

Proponents also dispute that foxes don’t feel any pain due to the adrenaline rush of being chased. Scientific evidence proves that animals endure severe physical and mental stress when they are being chased by a hunt, whether or not they are eventually killed. Let’s be realistic: there is no nice way to hunt a fox.

Finally, there is the ‘it’s a tradition’ rationalisation. This ideology makes me want to scream expletives from the top of my lungs. Hunting being your ‘tradition’ doesn’t make it right. It’s archaic and barbaric. Let’s stop trying to justify animal cruelty and accept that hunting has no place in modern Irish society.

What can we do? We can lobby our TDs. There are letter templates and contacts available from banbloodsports.com. Sign the petition on their website and share it far and wide. Find out your local politician’s views on bloodsports and let them know their policies will affect your voting decision.

Vulpynes (which is taken from the latin word ‘Vulpine’ – meaning fox) is made up of myself and Kaz Millar. We are both animal lovers, it is one of the many things we are on the same page about. If you love animals (especially foxes) you have two friends for life right here.

Vulpynes play Upstairs in Whelan’s, Dublin on November 2. ‘Two Cents’ is out now.