hunting people who seemed to be happy to be there," said Paton-Smith. Parliament voted to ban hunting after years of debate on the topic, which raised passions on both sides. Hundreds of thousands of pro-hunt supporters marched through London to protest the ruling, while animal rights activists have vowed to ensure that the ban is enforced by authorities. Opponents of the ban say it will doom a traditional way of life and an important source of revenue for rural communities who look after the British countryside. They also say foxes are a menace to poultry and livestock and must be controlled. But the ban's supporters say killing foxes with dogs is cruel, and chasing a scented trail is a good substitute. "The Hunting Act was never about stopping people from dressing up in funny costumes, having too much to drink and going galloping across the countryside. It was about stopping cruelty to foxes," said Mike Hobday, spokesman for the League Against Cruel Sports. "If they're able to take the cruelty out of their activity, no one's more happy than we are if they go out and have a good day."
