Ontario Canada - In Talks of Reversing Ban on Penned Dog Hunting

​animaljustice.ca/blog/ontario-penned-hunting

The Ontario Government is working to reverse a ban on penned hunting dens issued back in 1997. The law prohibited any new dog hunting dens, but grandfathered in those that were already operational, assuming they'd eventually shift their business, or retire. Now, the possibility of a reversal has animal welfare groups & citizens alike, speaking out in anger of this decision and the horrendous cruelty that will ensue.

Not My Photo. Credit - Kevin Kearns, Ontario Field Trialers Facebook Group.

WHAT IS PENNED HUNTING?

Basically, wild animals like coyotes, foxes, or rabbits, are kept in enclosures where escape is impossible. Then, a pack of dogs are released to hunt the wild animal that frantically tries to escape without any possibility of being able to do so. Once caught, the dogs ferociously attack the wild animal, tearing it to shreds or leaving it in agonizing pain, but not dead, until the next pack is released. The fear any of those animals would feel as a pack of aggressive hounds approached them is inexplicable, and we impose it on them for nothing more than sport. When our sports involve bullying and viciously tearing apart living creatures, when do we evaluate our priorities / lack of compassion?

There are so many things wrong with penned dog hunting. First of all, you're slapping a life sentence of violence on to these dogs who in search of human approval, will be tearing apart innocent animals for as long as they'll remember. Secondly, we're literally permitting living creatures to be viciously torn apart, and for what? Is this for the dog's benefit? Not at all. It's entirely for the entertainment and enjoyment of humans. We're going back in time if we allow this sort of animosity to once again take place. We are demonstrating a complete lack of compassion for another living creature by subjecting it to unimaginable terror and violence for our own entertainment.

The general populous does not support sports that involve blatant cruelty and violence to animals. As a country, we have just passed a ban on cosmetics testing on animals that was widely supported, deeming it unnecessary and cruel. We cannot in the same breath be promoting a sport rooted in so much cruelty and violence against animals. Canada's people want better welfare standards. We don't support this style of violence and if Ontario reverses the ban, I suspect there will be outrage that leads to protests and demonstrations. Premier Doug Ford has an abysmal record on welfare issues and I suspect lobbying hunting organizations will continue to pressure him until he folds.

Visit the link at the top of this post to the original story from Animal Justice Canada. There's opportunities to donate as well as signing a petition urging the government of Ontario to maintain the ban. We cannot quietly allow such violence against animals to occur. 

HAPPY VEG