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Hunting ban is a waste of money

I AM writing to you regarding the headline on the front of the Northwich Guardian, August 25. It reads ‘Bloody disgrace.’ I think it is a bloody disgrace that this [illegal hare coursing] has made front-page news.

How ideal a place Northwich must be, if this kind of news warrants the front page.

God help us all, the world is full of tragedies catastrophes, murders, rapes, children being abused, drug dealing and much more besides, yet people still see the need to waste time and money on banning hunting.

The hunting ban is a total waste of money and resources, it is unenforceable and it doesn’t work. The only thing it does, is make criminals out of decent people like myself.

I grew up and still live on a council estate, where owning a working dog was the norm.

It was there to put food on the table as well as being a family pet. What right have any suit-wearing townies or animal rights lunatics that know totally nothing about this way of life got to tell me what I can do with my dogs.

The ban means nothing to me or thousands of other people, who will still work their dogs no matter what, always have, always will, it’s a way of life. All are not huntsmen who blow the huntsman’s horn.

WAYNE WALKER

Comments(38)

NoToHareCoursing says...
4:10pm Wed 1 Sep 10

"The ban means nothing to me or thousands of other people, who will still work their dogs no matter what, always have, always will, it’s a way of life."

I think that Wayne, the hare courser, makes my point better than I could.

Sue Statham says...
5:21pm Wed 1 Sep 10

Surely the raison d'être of a local newspaper is to inform local residents of what is going on in the area. If illegal and cruel acts are being perpetrated in the countryside in close proximity to where I live, I need to know, as do we all, giving us the chance to be watchful and report these criminal activities to the police.

craigyboyred says...
10:04pm Thu 2 Sep 10

NoToHareCoursing wrote:
"The ban means nothing to me or thousands of other people, who will still work their dogs no matter what, always have, always will, it’s a way of life." I think that Wayne, the hare courser, makes my point better than I could.
i think that wayne,is not a hare courser,and you make his point better than he could

craigyboyred says...
11:32pm Thu 2 Sep 10

Sue Statham wrote:
Surely the raison d'être of a local newspaper is to inform local residents of what is going on in the area. If illegal and cruel acts are being perpetrated in the countryside in close proximity to where I live, I need to know, as do we all, giving us the chance to be watchful and report these criminal activities to the police.
they are only criminal activities because of some unenforcable law that will never work,its just a pity its not the only crime this world had to worry about

Liam Byrne says...
4:14pm Fri 3 Sep 10

I write as the owner of a small piece of land who has seen our family pet sheep savaged, ears bitten off, and poultry killed, heads bitten off, by so called 'working dogs' brought into the countryside by irresponsible owners.

It is worrying to see that the Guardian sees fit to allow Mr Walker space to tell the world that he does not abide by a law recently passed in our Parliament. This is taking free speech to the point of anarchy. (It may also be in breach of the law, I believe.)

What next? Will we have thieves allowed to tell all that they do not obey the law on robbery?

craigyboyred says...
11:23pm Fri 3 Sep 10

Liam Byrne wrote:
I write as the owner of a small piece of land who has seen our family pet sheep savaged, ears bitten off, and poultry killed, heads bitten off, by so called 'working dogs' brought into the countryside by irresponsible owners. It is worrying to see that the Guardian sees fit to allow Mr Walker space to tell the world that he does not abide by a law recently passed in our Parliament. This is taking free speech to the point of anarchy. (It may also be in breach of the law, I believe.) What next? Will we have thieves allowed to tell all that they do not obey the law on robbery?
so mr walker does not abide by the law....so i take it that everytime you drive you always stick to the speed limit...of course you do,and could you please tell me were mr walker states that he breaks the law,he says that he stills works his dogs,he doesn't say on what quarry,and as for your attacked livestock,did you witness this with your own eyes or do you not want to believe that the lovely mr fox was capable of such things,and i for one applaud the guardian for allowing mr walker to air his view,this is a free country,mind you if was left to people like you i doubt it would be for much longer

craigyboyred says...
11:58pm Fri 3 Sep 10

just for the record i have met mr walker on a couple of occasions at various country shows and a nicer bloke you couldnt wish to meet,before the ban he used to course hares and on a good day with one dog he would do very well to end the day with 7 hares,now since this stupid law was put in place,he arranges hare shoots,which is legal,and on a good day shooting its normal to bag 300+ hares at the end of the day....god how the hare must thank its lucky stars that all you people that wanted the ban,didnt think first,most of you have no idea what damage you have done

Liam Byrne says...
12:14pm Sat 4 Sep 10

Dear craigyboyred

Your evident pleasure at the thought of murdering hares , beautiful animals who do no harm and give pleasure to people who live or visit the countryside , is nothing less than disgusting.

Re the attacks on my livestock. On both occasions I witnessed, with others, the savage attacks on my sheep and poultry and assure you they were 'working dogs' accompanied by their owners and reported details to the police.

craigyboyred says...
5:12pm Sat 4 Sep 10

Liam Byrne wrote:
Dear craigyboyred Your evident pleasure at the thought of murdering hares , beautiful animals who do no harm and give pleasure to people who live or visit the countryside , is nothing less than disgusting. Re the attacks on my livestock. On both occasions I witnessed, with others, the savage attacks on my sheep and poultry and assure you they were 'working dogs' accompanied by their owners and reported details to the police.
dear liam
your evident lack of knowledge regarding countryside issues is there for all to see...let me guess..your a townie who has bought a bit of land and now keeps pet sheep,if i was you i would stick to talking about things i know a little about,instead of things which you know nothing

Sue Statham says...
6:52pm Sat 4 Sep 10

craigyboyred, lancashire,
What a very bloodthirsty and cruel person you appear to be. There must be better things in life to do than killing defenceless creatures. In the past, many animals have been hunted to extinction, and many others are threatened with extinction now, due to the greed and thoughtlessness of the human race. Hunting animals for food, well, I suppose to some that's acceptable, but not sure what sort of creative cooking you could do with an animal that's been torn to shreds.
I was born in the countryside and appreciate the wide diversification of birds, animals and insects that our country is home to. I have no inclination to slaughter them wholesale.

craigyboyred says...
9:36pm Sat 4 Sep 10

Sue Statham wrote:
craigyboyred, lancashire, What a very bloodthirsty and cruel person you appear to be. There must be better things in life to do than killing defenceless creatures. In the past, many animals have been hunted to extinction, and many others are threatened with extinction now, due to the greed and thoughtlessness of the human race. Hunting animals for food, well, I suppose to some that's acceptable, but not sure what sort of creative cooking you could do with an animal that's been torn to shreds. I was born in the countryside and appreciate the wide diversification of birds, animals and insects that our country is home to. I have no inclination to slaughter them wholesale.
what a very uneducated person you appear to be, "torn to shreds"?
everything i hunt gets eaten,why on earth would i want it to be torn to shreds,its just another half witted remark,just because people like you think that the meat you eat was born in a tray wearing shrink wrap...well it wasnt,it was living once,you just carry on eating your pumped up commercial rubbish and il carry on eating healthy meat the way nature intended

Sue Statham says...
11:04pm Sat 4 Sep 10

craigyboyred, lancashire,
The above is wasted on me. I'm a vegetarian.
We'll have to agree to disagree, but if the tables are ever turned, and the hunted become the hunters,let's hope that they don't set the dogs on us. Sounds like an extremely traumatic death to me!

craigyboyred says...
11:18pm Sat 4 Sep 10

Sue Statham wrote:
craigyboyred, lancashire, The above is wasted on me. I'm a vegetarian. We'll have to agree to disagree, but if the tables are ever turned, and the hunted become the hunters,let's hope that they don't set the dogs on us. Sounds like an extremely traumatic death to me!
agreed,we'l have to agree to disagree,and it may sound like its an extremely traumatic death,but i can assure you that its not,a proper working dog that catches for the table does exactly that,catches,it is trained to retrieve live to hand,leaving the despatching of the creature for the owner to deal with,which is done very quickly and humanely,leaving you with clean meat,thats good to eat,well unless you are a veggie

Sue Statham says...
12:22am Sun 5 Sep 10

Let's make sure the hunting ban remains. Please don't tell me that the fox is dealt with quickly and humanely. I've seen the pictures. Would never have the stomach to be involved in this "sport". Just don't have the stomach for cruelty, full stop!

craigyboyred says...
12:37am Sun 5 Sep 10

i have hunted most of my life,not the kind you wear a red jacket and ride a horse,more of a "one for the pot" hunter,as i choose to eat meat that i know has lived a happy healthy life,thats my choice,i am neither cruel or barbaric,i respect the quarry i hunt,i know there are those who like to slaughter everything they come across,leaving a trail of destruction,but they are not hunters,they are just scum,the kind you get in all walks of life,the majority of hunters are decent respectful people,but as with everything theres always a minority that give us a bad name.
it would be an ideal world if nothing ever died,but sadly this is not the case,things need to die for other things to live,its called nature,and i hold my hands up to any vegetarian as they are doing what they believe in,thats their choice,but any meat eaters that think hunting is cruel and barbaric are either hypocrites or very deluded,i can guarantee that the meat my family and i eat has led a far healthier life than the meat the majority of the country eat,and just because i want my family to grow up knowing where their food comes from and to eat healthier food,i along with thousands of other like minded people are labelled cruel and barbaric just because some people dont approve of it,well i dont approve of a lot of things(alcohol,cats,
burkhas,the justice system,gays....lets ban these shall we

craigyboyred says...
12:44am Sun 5 Sep 10

Sue Statham wrote:
Let's make sure the hunting ban remains. Please don't tell me that the fox is dealt with quickly and humanely. I've seen the pictures. Would never have the stomach to be involved in this "sport". Just don't have the stomach for cruelty, full stop!
im sorry to disappoint you sue,but not even i would eat a fox,i think in the picture your painting of me im wearing a red jacket and riding a horse,well please put your brush down and start again

TheRedDuke says...
11:16am Sun 5 Sep 10

I have been following this story for a few days now and it has been entertaining reading the complete and utter ignorance of "Townies" and "Toffs".
There are a few points i would like to make on the above comments.Dear craigyboyred

Your evident pleasure at the thought of murdering hares , beautiful animals who do no harm and give pleasure to people who live or visit the countryside , is nothing less than disgusting.

Re the attacks on my livestock. On both occasions I witnessed, with others, the savage attacks on my sheep and poultry and assure you they were 'working dogs' accompanied by their owners and reported details to the police.

Well liam im sure that if they were working dogs they would have been cattle broke, I have worked dogs all my life and have never let ANY dog near ANY cattle or poultry, so open your eyes sir and realise that these were almost certainly NOT working dogs just idiotic dog owners who have no control over their pets. As craigyboy says " I'm sure you drive round at 30mph on the roads and have never dropped a single piece of litter.This is a great example of an **** of a law.

As for Foxes im sure we are all aware of these cute little creatures recently popping in our homes to chew on the odd child or garden pet!!!! So if Mr fox pops his head into your home Sue im sure you would be delighted.

The outcome of this law is as craigyboy states, I personally have never taken more than a handful of quarry on any given day however these shoots average a bag of 250-300+ I believe this is slightly more than before..... well done to all involved in this laughable law.

On a final note I course for several local farmers and also quite a few in the southern regions all of whom have always said the same thing "Townies" Countryside ignorance at its WORST.

Sue Statham says...
12:01pm Sun 5 Sep 10

craigyboyred,lancash
ire,
You said that the animals that you killed were for food and that they were "humanely" killed, so why would I associate you with wearing a red jacket and riding a horse?
This issue is not about townies or countryfolk. It's about live and let live.
I do not feel compelled to kill wild animals, nor would I contemplate a spot of badger-baiting or a few bets on a ****-fight. Some people may kill for food but some are just inherently cruel.

Sue Statham says...
12:48pm Sun 5 Sep 10

My previous comment has been given four asterisks , obviously by the people who operate this site. The word I used was short for cockerel, and in this context, I'm sure it is an accepted word.

craigyboyred says...
2:54pm Sun 5 Sep 10

Sue Statham wrote:
craigyboyred,lancash ire, You said that the animals that you killed were for food and that they were "humanely" killed, so why would I associate you with wearing a red jacket and riding a horse? This issue is not about townies or countryfolk. It's about live and let live. I do not feel compelled to kill wild animals, nor would I contemplate a spot of badger-baiting or a few bets on a ****-fight. Some people may kill for food but some are just inherently cruel.
what the hell as cockerel fighting and badger baiting got to do with hunting,this is the kind of small minded ignorance that gives us a bad name and tars us all with the same brush,for gods sake sue open your eyes and step outside of your ideal world

Sue Statham says...
5:24pm Sun 5 Sep 10

An ideal world would be no cruelty full stop, and unfortunately none of us live in that world.
Badger-baiting and cockerel-fighting were just two examples of what some people equate to a leisure activity.

craigyboyred says...
9:18pm Sun 5 Sep 10

Sue Statham wrote:
An ideal world would be no cruelty full stop, and unfortunately none of us live in that world. Badger-baiting and cockerel-fighting were just two examples of what some people equate to a leisure activity.
sue please stop now...
some people like to take part in wife swapping,bondage sessions,visiting prostitutes as leisure activities but do you feel the need to mention them... also some weirdos even have sex with animals...now theres one you could have used sue

TheRedDuke says...
10:14am Mon 6 Sep 10

Badger baiting!!!! cockfighting!!!!


Sue your intelligence in these matters is clearly IN-visable, however it is clear how small minded people like yourself that assume we are all neanderthal blood thirsty idiots. Working dogs has been going on in the counrty-side for century's, It's uneducated remarks like yours that make my blood boil.

This law is totally unforceable, I believe there have only been 32 convictions nationwide, and im pretty sure there will be 30,000 + people who work dogs. This will always remain the case, farmers will always want pests removing from their land and people like myself will be there to course.

While you sit nibbling your salad leaves try to learn that these fluffy ikkle animals are pest's and need to be controlled, should Mr Fox pop his head into your home and chew on your child DONT stand there crying, start cheering as you could'nt hurt the poor ikkle animal.

Liam Byrne says...
11:30am Mon 6 Sep 10

Red Duke

In response to your patronising attack on Sue Statham, I would not go as far as to say that you and your kind are ALL neanderthal idiots. The majority, yes, but probably not all. Some I believe, are born with a deep crazed hatred of creatures like rabbits and hares and get real pleasure from seeing them being torn apart by dogs. A sort of blood ****. Strange and sad people.

Sue Statham says...
2:08pm Mon 6 Sep 10

Perish the thought that I ever wake up one morning, think what a lovely day it is and feel the overwhelming urge to go and shoot myself a few wild animals!

craigyboyred says...
8:07pm Mon 6 Sep 10

each to their own sue,i perish the thought that i ever wake up one morning and feel the overwhelming urge to decapitate a couple of leeks to go with my cheese..vegetables are living things too sue,they feel pain,you should be ashamed of yourself,ban veggies and vegans theyre all murderers...
you see sue..this is what it would be like if we were all as narrow minded as you

craigyboyred says...
8:24pm Mon 6 Sep 10

Liam Byrne wrote:
Red Duke In response to your patronising attack on Sue Statham, I would not go as far as to say that you and your kind are ALL neanderthal idiots. The majority, yes, but probably not all. Some I believe, are born with a deep crazed hatred of creatures like rabbits and hares and get real pleasure from seeing them being torn apart by dogs. A sort of blood ****. Strange and sad people.
liam, your obvious lack of knowledge on these issues as shone through again,if i was you id stick to talking to your pet sheep,im sure it could stand all the drivel you come out with,im not sure for how long tho

Sue Statham says...
11:28pm Mon 6 Sep 10

Couldn't make any sense of the last two postings, however, the original news item was a warning to the general public that farmland in Pickmere was being targeted by people involved in hare-coursing. We must continue to be vigilant. Hare-coursing was banned in the UK in February 2005, at the same time as fox- hunting. Whatever one's opinions might be, both activities are illegal, (and cruel)

craigyboyred says...
4:42am Wed 8 Sep 10

you just dont get it do you,your ignorance astounds me,are you all really that stupid to the think that the ban as helped any animal that it set out to protect,let me give you 1 example..
the waterloo cup,runs for 3 days,100 hares coursed by dogs and at the end of the 3 days,there would be 10 hares killed,that means 90 get away to live another year,not day,year..
now the 2nd example...
now the waterloo cup as been banned,there are more hare shoots,because its legal,a 3 day shoot accounts for approx 700-900 hares killed,thats considerably more than 100 dogs would catch,now you tell me how the ban as helped the hare,go on try,no really try,you cant can you,but the sad thing is you still think the ban is a good thing,you really have no idea what damage you and your narrow minded views have done,thanks to people like you who know nothing about this way of life it could soon be hare today gone tomorrow,well done,give yourselves a pat on the back,you lot have comissioned more hares to be killed than any man and his dog could ever do...i dont know how you antis sleep at nights

Sue Statham says...
10:42am Wed 8 Sep 10

I'm going for a walk in the country park with my dog, now. She will enjoy the exercise. I will enjoy the countryside, and not a drop of blood will be spilled. You do your "thing", I'll do mine, and I sleep very soundly at night, thank-you. I have no wish, nor indeed have I the time, to be involved in the wholesale slaughter of wild animals!

craigyboyred says...
5:38pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Sue Statham wrote:
I'm going for a walk in the country park with my dog, now. She will enjoy the exercise. I will enjoy the countryside, and not a drop of blood will be spilled. You do your "thing", I'll do mine, and I sleep very soundly at night, thank-you. I have no wish, nor indeed have I the time, to be involved in the wholesale slaughter of wild animals!
ok,i hope you enjoy your walk in the countryside in your own zip-a-dee-do-dah kind of world,but if you actually took your blinkers off,you would see that there is blood being spilled all around you..its called nature

Sue Statham says...
6:08pm Wed 8 Sep 10

craigyboyred, lancashire,
Nature is cruel. That is the way of things. I, however, am not cruel, so I will leave the killing to those who feel the need to do so. My dog and I both enjoyed the walk and all the animals that we saw en route will live to see another day. Must go and feed the hens and rabbits and the donkeys. We all live amicably together and will continue to do so. I do, however, own up to "killing" quite a few carrots for the donkeys!

TheRedDuke says...
8:29pm Wed 8 Sep 10

3 words..... CLOUD CUCKOO LAND!

Sue Statham says...
9:29pm Wed 8 Sep 10

The reference to the carrots was a little dig at craigyboyred's earlier comment that, as I was a vegetarian, vegetables feel pain too, and was I going to decapitate a couple of leeks to eat with my cheese!
Comments HAVE got silly and it is far too serious a subject to make light of.
Craigyboyred,lancash
ire and I will never agree. I'm comfortable with the views I hold. I have no reason or inclination to kill a wild animal and I'm sure that Craigyboyred,lancash
ire will continue to shoot himself a nice bit of something for supper, "as quickly and humanely as possible."
Must go and check that my hens are locked in the barn. Mr. Fox could be looking for something for his supper, too!

craigyboyred says...
10:52pm Wed 8 Sep 10

your right sue,we'l never agree on this matter,take care of yourself,your family and your animals,just like il continue doing..and for the record sue..i dont shoot,i dont agree with it

craigyboyred says...
11:26pm Wed 8 Sep 10

craigyboyred wrote:
your right sue,we'l never agree on this matter,take care of yourself,your family and your animals,just like il continue doing..and for the record sue..i dont shoot,i dont agree with it
and just because i dont agree with shooting,it doesnt mean id ever try to get it banned,if people get pleasure from shooting,then so be it,its not my cup of tea,but who am i to tell others what to do in their spare time,i would just rather work my dogs,there are far worse things people do with their time than shooting and hunting...in fact ive just watched crimewatch and can you believe there wasnt one hunting related crime featured..not one..they were just minor everyday things like a 70yr old man tortured in his own home for money and a young nurse brutally raped on her way to work at 7.30am,and while these henious crimes get carried out day in day out,where are the police...theyre in the countryside looking for decent hard working family men and women,to see if their dog has just caught a hare...oh my god,please help us were all doomed

Sue Statham says...
11:35pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Bye, craigyboyred,lancash
ire.
I've enjoyed the "heated debate". I wonder what subject we'll clash on next?. I'm a member of CHAIN (Cheshire anti-incinerator Network) which is opposed to the building of waste incinerators in Cheshire. Any views on this subject? Tata/Brunner Mond have submitted plans to build a 600,000tonne incinerator at Lostock, a village just a stone's throw away from Northwich. Mind you, if you are a Lancastrian, you won't feel threatened by it, will you?
Still, who knows, we may cross swords again in the future!

craigyboyred says...
11:50pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Sue Statham wrote:
Bye, craigyboyred,lancash ire. I've enjoyed the "heated debate". I wonder what subject we'll clash on next?. I'm a member of CHAIN (Cheshire anti-incinerator Network) which is opposed to the building of waste incinerators in Cheshire. Any views on this subject? Tata/Brunner Mond have submitted plans to build a 600,000tonne incinerator at Lostock, a village just a stone's throw away from Northwich. Mind you, if you are a Lancastrian, you won't feel threatened by it, will you? Still, who knows, we may cross swords again in the future!
me too sue,as for the incinerators,well i think id be pretty annoyed if one of those things came sprawling all over our countryside,but then again were do you put them,someone will always moan if its near them,im no expert on these issues,im sure you know more,but we cant keep burying it,what do we do with it?do we need these incinerators?what other options are there?..and i may not live in northwich but i work there and i hate seeing the countryside disappear under mans concrete jungle

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