‘Illegal’ fox hunting killed baby cub’s parents, vote on relaxing the ban is delayed

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A baby fox cub left orphaned after her parents were killed in a fox hunt has put a face on the heated debate over whether to reverse some laws restricting the long sporting tradition in the UK.

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Three months ago, Ruby was rescued after her parents were killed in an illegal hunt. She was only 11-weeks-old when she was adopted by Jane Dunford in Harlow, UK. Ever since, Ruby has been raised by Dunford.

“She is the most wonderful animal and although still nervous of men – understandably – she has learnt to trust me and I adore her,” Dunford told Mirror. Ruby is also best friends with Dunford’s two dogs.

This week, the government dropped plans to relax hunting laws in England and Wales after the Scottish National party (SNP) said they would vote against the move, according to the BBC. Pictures of the tiny orphaned cub have made the debate even more real.

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Fox hunting was made illegal through the creation of the Hunting Act 2005. But England is once again in the center of a fox hunting vote to ease restrictions on what’s seen as an important British tradition by many.

Currently, hunters are allowed to “flush out foxes using a pack of dogs for the purpose of pest control,” according to The Guardian. But there’s a limit of two dogs, which the Tories are trying to change to an unlimited number of hounds.

According to the Mirror, David Cameron, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, expressed desire earlier to lift the ban on fox hunting altogether. But after a huge backlash of criticism from animal right groups and celebrities, Cameron backed down.

The vote to amend the current ban was meant to be held on Wednesday but SNP “said it would not vote on issues affecting England and Wales only,” the BBC reported.

Let’s hope any changes to the ban will protect defenseless animals like Ruby.