Fox not into the 'spirit'

In response to Daisy Rojas' essay on foxhunting in Virginia [Essay, December 9, 2004], I seriously doubt that the pursued fox "gets into the spirit of things." The animal is literally running for its life.

It is difficult enough for the fox to survive with suburbia relentlessly encroaching upon its habitat. Despite Rojas' insistence that foxhunting is somehow superior to other forms of hunting, it is basically the same as the hunter who releases his blue-tick hounds for the purpose of chasing a bear for miles through the woods. Releasing a pack of dogs to pursue and harass wildlife for the amusement of the hunter should be recognized for what is actually is: animal cruelty.

Robert Eggleston
Crozet

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