THE letter from Mrs Pamela Booker (Your Say, May 24)attempts to portray foxhounds as savage, half-starved beasts ready to tear anything to pieces on sight.

The truth is that they are friendly, good-natured animals who enjoy doing what they are trained for - that is, helping to manage fox numbers.

The fact that hounds are not savage can be seen every summer at local agricultural and country shows.

Sixty or more hounds from several packs will often parade in the arena, then all the children, sometimes by the hundred, will be invited to meet the hounds and stroke them.

It would be difficult to find a better test of their un-savage nature than this.

Does Mrs Booker honestly think that so many people would let their children, some only toddlers, near one hound - let alone 60 plus - if there was the slightest chance of anything happening?

The most horrific incident we are likely see is that an unwary youngster will lose half their ice cream inside a "vicious" foxhound - ah, this could be another reason to ban hunting!

JOHN BURGESS, Worcester Road, Malvern.