Hunt foxes in towns (From News Shopper)

Hunt foxes in towns

9:28am Wednesday 24th November 2004 in Bromley By Jolene Hill

A DEVASTATED pet owner is calling for hunting to be introduced in the suburbs after her rabbit and guinea pig were attacked by a fox.

Mum-of-three Ali Harris says the bushy-tailed creatures are getting out of hand and need to be culled.

Her call comes after she witnessed a fox attack her pets in the back garden of her home in The Avenue, Beckenham.

The 44-year-old watched in horror as first the fox scared her rabbit to death and then broke the back of the guinea pig.

A year ago another resident called for hunts to ride through the streets after her nine-year-old son found their cat's head ripped off by a fox.

Part-time radiographer Mrs Harris and her three children, Will, 13, Bobby, 10, and Rachel, seven, had their rabbit, Tiddley, and guinea pig, Cracker, for four-and-a-half years.

Last Friday, ironically as the Government finally banned fox-hunting, Mrs Harris looked on helplessly as the fox attacked her pets.

It entered the garden and chased Tiddley, which died from fright.

Mrs Harris took him into the house and tried desperately to revive him in a warm towel.

But when she returned to the garden, she was horrified to see the fox had returned, dragged Cracker from its hutch and broke its back.

She said: "I would go as far as to call for horses and hounds being brought in to kill the foxes.

"I feel like buying a dog in the hope he will rip the foxes to pieces.

"Foxes are not friendly animals. They don't kill for food, they kill for fun. Why can't Bromley Council do something?

"I don't care how they do it, be it poisoning or shooting them between the eyes.

"Why shouldn't we be allowed to have pets in our gardens? It's not fair."

She says her son Bobby is so traumatised by the animals' deaths he can no longer sleep at night.

She said: "Bobby is dyslexic. When he felt frustrated or down, he would cuddle the animals. They helped him."

Tiddley was the family's second rabbit to be killed by a fox. Popsey died from its injuries after being attacked eight years ago.

A council spokesman says action against foxes is difficult because, unlike rats, they are not a direct threat to public health.

He says removing foxes' food source is the best way to move them on from an area and recommends double-wrapping food waste before placing it in a bin.

Failing this, the council recommends companies which control pests.

Mrs Harris is not satisfied. She says she knows four friends whose pets have been killed by foxes.

She added: "People should be allowed to hunt, as foxes are a nuisance. They foul gardens and pavements and this is a health threat to our children.

"The council is ignoring the problem but it won't go away."