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MOUNTED FOX-HUNTING, FOX-BAITING & HARE COURSING
WAS BANNED BY THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

This is largely due to the untiring efforts of Les Ward of Advocates for Animals http://www.advocatesforanimals.org/ Les has been battling for this for twenty five years. He was responsible for writing this Bill which went through parliament with a large majority today. I know he does not expect recognition for it, but I would like to thank him for everything and congratulate him on today's victory. If anyone would like to join me, he can be contacted at: advocates.animals@virgin.net .

Thank you for everything too, Shell and best wishes,

Mavis Petrie
Blaikiewell Animal Sanctuary
Eastland Lodge
Maryculter   Aberdeen
AB12 5FS   Scotland
http://blaikiewell.com

NEWS ARTICLE: EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND, FEBRUARY 13, 2002

(CCN Newswire via COMTEX) -- The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) celebrated this evening as the Scottish Parliament made history and voted to end the cruel "sports" of mounted hunting with dogs and hare coursing throughout the country. The third and final stage of Member of Scottish Parliament (MSP) Mike Watson's Protection of Wild Mammals bill came this evening, with an 83 to 36 majority vote in favor of banning fox hunting, fox baiting and hare coursing in Scotland Hunting with dogs in the United Kingdom has come under harsh criticism for the inhumane way in which wild animals are killed.

With today's vote, the Bill now becomes law - a historic Act of Parliament that will have a significant bearing on the campaign to ban hunting with dogs in England and Wales. Even though the Bill has been passed intact, with all wrecking amendments and loopholes now removed, pro-hunt supporters still can not accept the will of the people and the Parliament, and are falsely contending the Bill will still allow mounted hunting.

Phyllis Campbell-McRae, UK Country Director for IFAW said, "This is an historic day for Scotland's wildlife and its young Parliament. The anti-fox hunting views of a majority of Scots, from both town and country, have been heard by MSPs. Hunting with dogs is a barbaric pastime, which has no place in a modern, civilized Scotland." Campbell-McRae went on to add, "Scotland has done in two and a half years what Westminster has not been able to do in a century." In Scotland, IFAW has joined with Advocates for Animals and the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) to form the Scottish Campaign Against Hunting with Dogs (SCAHD).

IFAW has been campaigning against hunting with dogs in the United Kingdom for a number of years. The organization has now joined forces with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) in the Campaign for the Protection of Hunted Animals. In addition, IFAW has conducted research demonstrating that a clear majority of British people in both urban and rural areas opposes this cruel practice. IFAW confirmed today that it would continue its campaign to end hunting with dogs in England and Wales. To support this important campaign, visit www.ifaw.org or www.banhunting.com.

CONTACT: International Fund for Animal Welfare
Spencer Tripp
(613) 241-8996 x225
(613) 220-5994 (cell)