DAVID Stocker (Letters, February 24), regional spokesperson for the Countryside Alliance, states that Arnold Greenhalgh, joint master of the Holcombe Harriers "is devoted to caring for animals in one way or another."

He also says that he has "yet to meet a huntsman or hunt master who did other than care passionately about the welfare of their hounds."

The hunting fraternity would do well to stop hiding behind claims that a ban on hunting would require the mass slaughter of hounds.

I know that a loving home could be found for each and every hound from the Holcombe Harriers, despite the unrealistic claims that such 'pack animals' cannot be rehomed.

This is nonsense but obviously has to be peddled to maintain the myth that all hounds would have to be killed in light of a ban.

And as for claims that hunt saboteurs have 'admitted' that we would target angling once a ban on hunting is in place, the Hunt Saboteurs Association has always been opposed to all forms of bloodsports, and this includes shooting and fishing.

Unlike the Countryside Alliance et al, we are not afraid to say clearly what we stand for.

DAWN PRESTON, North West Hunt Saboteurs Association, PO Box 155, Manchester.