How utterly disappointing it was to see a picture of a three-year-old girl at the hunt on Boxing Day at Heythrop.

I wonder if her father has explained to her what happens at a hunt. I wonder if she would still want to go if she saw what actually happens, where they chase the fox for hours on end before the hounds rip it to pieces.

What upsets me the most is that a family will take children and put their low morals into their children’s minds. I cannot understand why a parent takes a child to follow a hunt, with such silly arguments for hunting to still be allowed, excuses such as it’s a tradition and is less cruel than other methods of fox killing.

You can’t say it justifies being cruel to a fox because it is two per cent less cruel than another method. It’s cruel: it is as simple as that.

Also, I am fed up with huntsmen saying they do it to keep the fox population down. I have never heard such utter rubbish. If they are so concerned about this getting rid of vermin (their words), then why don’t they get a job for the county council pest control, and they could also get rid of other so-called pests such as rats.

We have to abide by the law and so do you, huntsman.

I adore dogs and have one myself. It’s a pet that is my best friend. Your hounds are shut in a pen all their short life and let out occasionally for the hunt, and then put to sleep at a young age at around six years old, in case it can’t keep up with young dogs.

I love the countryside, please stop spoiling it. The fox self regulates its population, regardless of what you do to it, so leave it alone: you are not needed.

KIM WEBB, Queens Close, Eynsham