Letter: A hound's life

Sir: Alasdair Mitchell opposes a ban on hunting by declaring that "in a free society, nothing should be banned unless it causes grave harm to people" (letter, 14 July).

Upon what basis can it be assumed that only members of Homo sapiens have interests that are so fundamental to their welfare that they deserve to be protected by law? To suggest that the suffering endured by an individual is insignificant merely because that individual fails to belong to particular species constitutes straightforward discrimination; and is as unacceptable as racism or homophobia.