MEMBERS of a Welsh foxhunt remained defiant last night following the release of a video showing a fox allegedly being savaged by their dogs. Plas Machynlleth Fox Hounds, in Powys, was suspended by its governing body, the Federation of Welsh Packs, while an inquiry is held into allegations of "cruel and barbaric" practices. The footage was gathered during a four-month undercover investigation by the League Against Cruel Sports. It appeared to show a fox being savaged by dogs, instead of being shot. Others were attacked by hounds or trapped screaming underground by terriers, according to the League, which released a report into the hunt, called Digging The Dirt, yesterday. Members of the hunt were out again yesterday, unaware of the suspension, tracking foxes blamed for killing farm livestock. Hunt secretary Nick Fenwick, of Machynlleth, said last night: "We have nothing to hide. We haven't seen the film but today we were out hunting after a farmer had lost 20 lambs last week worth a total of around a £1,000." Dr Fenwick added: "I would say that 99pc of farmers in this area pay us to do the job of hunting foxes." Hunt chairman Emyr Lewis said: "We haven't done anything that's illegal. I don't know what the fuss is about." He said the suspension would not affect it because the hunting season was finished and the hunt was now only going out on "lambing calls". Mr Lewis added: "What's the difference between lions and cheetahs in Africa killing, and us? It's the way of nature. "And some of the best-watched programmes on TV are nature ones. "We've caught 170 foxes this year - more than ever before. During the foot-and-mouth crisis the numbers of foxes increased dramatically." Federation of Welsh Packs spokesman David Thomas said: "They are suspended as of today and we will hold an inquiry as soon as we get the evidence together. We have asked for a copy of the film." He said an allegation from the League that a fox was given to hounds without first being humanely destroyed was against Federation rules. He added the pack's huntsman had assured him the fox had been put down humanely and was only afterwards given to the hounds, which was "standard practice". The League said it uncovered evidence including hounds incapable of killing a fox with a quick nip to the back of the neck, and terriers attacking a trapped fox, which was screaming while being dug out. League chief executive Douglas Batchelor described the filmed evidence as "grim" and "awful, awful stuff". He said the film showed "the grim reality of a Welsh gun pack, dogs chasing and attacking foxes, foxes injured but not killed, trapped underground for half-an-hour to an hour, dogs encouraged to attack foxes". But Mr Batchelor added that everything shown on the footage was legal. He said: "If that was a badger down a hole it would already be illegal. The fact it is a fox means it is not illegal, but it jolly well should be." League spokesman Mike Hobday said: "The film, combined with recorded disclosures, proves that hunting with dogs cannot deliver a quick and clean kill, whether foxes are being hunted above or below ground." He said gun-packs are brutally cruel, undermining claims of being concerned with effective pest control. Cardiff North MP Julie Morgan, wife of First Minister Rhodri, said: "I was shocked and sickened by that footage and I really feel that this is barbaric. I am ashamed this is happening here in Wales and I feel we have to do something about it. "It makes me want to go back to the House of Commons to redouble my efforts to make sure the Hunting Bill does come back to the Commons as soon as we can possibly do it." | 
