WELSH fox packs are being urged to defy the law and go hunting on February 19, the day it becomes illegal. The call received unanimous approval from 17 packs competing in the hound show at yesterday's Royal Welsh Winter Fair, Builth Wells. Huntsmen were determined to put on a show of strength in defiance of the government's decision to use the Parliament Act to push through its ban on hunting with hounds. Sam Butler, chairman of the Countryside Alliance-backed Campaign for Hunting, was cheered as he accused the government of pushing rural communities too far. Three hunt supporters were arrested during demonstrations in Cardiff last week and the Alliance is pledging further acts of civil disobedience in the run-up to next year's General Election. Mr Butler said: "These are dark and gloomy days at the moment but I promise if we stick together, hunting will still be here for the next generation. We are determined to ensure hunting continues. I suggest we start with everyone going hunting on February 19." Home secretary David Blunkett last week warned the hunting community the ban would be enforced. Yesterday's clarion call sets up the likelihood of clashes between huntsmen and police next spring. Royal Welsh hound show organisers have pledged, even if legal challenges to the hunt ban are unsuccessful, the event will continue at Builth Wells for the foreseeable future. Taking part in yesterday's show was Ivor Evans, who runs the 30-hound Aber Valley Hunt in Conwy and Snowdonia. He said he would be keeping his pure Welsh hounds even if farmers stopped paying for his services. But he added: "I just can't see a ban remaining in place. The areas we hunt will become overwhelmed with foxes and the Assembly will be forced to do something." Pressure is being put on the Assembly to lobby Westminster for Wales to be exempted from the ban. But this approach is unlikely to succeed, even if the Assembly bowed to rural demands. Hunt supporters say they may have to shoot many of Britain's 25,000 hounds when the ban becomes law. But a report by the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare said mass slaughter could be avoided if hounds were retrained for drag hunting, retained by packs or rehomed. Following a Daily Post story highlighting how 60 Eryri Hunt hounds may be shot, RSPCA Cymru has urged the pack to consider the APGAW recommendations and allow their hounds "a second chance of life". | 
