MSPs prepare to vote ending fox hunting in Scotland
Campaigners are calling it a historic day for animal welfare
A Bill intended to tighten restrictions on hunting with dogs is set for a final vote on Tuesday.
The Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill will set a two-dog limit for all use of dogs in hunting.
It will also ban trail hunting and introduce a licensing scheme to allow the use of more than two dogs in limited circumstances.
The measures are intended to provide further safeguards for wild mammals while allowing land managers access to legitimate and humane animal control measures.
Legislation introduced 20 years ago sought to ban foxhunting in Scotland, but the Government has admitted loopholes have been exploited to allow the practice to continue.
"This Bill seeks to close loopholes in the former law as well as prevent others from opening," said environment minister Mairi McAllan on Sunday.
"It does so in pursuit of the highest possible animal welfare standards, while recognising the need for farmers, land managers and environmental organisations to undertake legitimate wildlife management.
"The Hunting with Dogs Bill modernises the law and, I hope, when passed, will finally mark the end of illegal fox hunting, hare coursing and other forms of unlawful hunting with dogs in Scotland."
Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess is set to introduce amendments to the Bill ahead of the final vote in the hope of removing loopholes that would allow dogs to flush foxes, strengthen the licensing system and ensure enforcement officers do not need extra permissions to enter Crown land.
Scottish Labour has previously said the Bill does not go far enough.
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