JOHN Phelps' recent letter Dog cannot be found guilty of squirrel act, Letters, October 28, reveals yet another massive loophole in the Hunting Act.

Mr Phelps claims that there is no breach of the Hunting Act if one takes dogs out and allows them to hunt wild mammals. This, of course, applies to all dog owners, including hunts, and to all wild mammals including foxes hares and deer.

From what Mr Phelps is saying, if the hunts merely let their dogs chase and kill foxes and other wildlife there is no crime committed.

Interestingly from what I understand the anti-hunt group Protect Our Wild Animals shares this analysis which is why it has condemned the Act as 'flawed'.

Obviously if it is not illegal to allow dogs to chase animals it does little to prevent them being chased.

In my opinion the Hunting Act is ineffective and needs either substantial reform or replacement.

Giles Bradshaw

Rose Ash, South Molton