The recommended changes to…

The recommended changes to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act will do nothing to address the very real needs of average Ontarians. It corrects no problem. All it is is sanctioned animal cruelty.

Hunting is a recognized and accepted sport that is enjoyed by a lot of people. I'm not a hunter but I have trained dogs in obedience and agility. Dog training does not require a dog to shred another living animal to pieces, which is what this kind of "hunting" is. Hunters i know eat what they kill and hunt in a way that minimizes the potential for suffering, and is as humane and ethical as possible. Humane and ethical hunters don't want to cause pain and suffering. Training dogs to kill coyotes, foxes, and rabbits in this way lead to these animals being killed by being ripped apart. And it's all done for fun. What a horrible death for these poor creatures. The animal is not hunted for food. It's just ripped apart - for fun - in a cruel and painful death I wouldn't wish upon anyone or anything. How is this activity humane or ethical? It's not. If this amendment is passed, the government will, in effect, be supporting animal cruelty.

I'm not an activist but I don't think we should be encouraging cruelty to animals. I'm in the 905 region and enjoy all of the parkland in my local area. From time to time I am lucky to see a coyote or a fox or a rabbit. These creatures don't bother me or anyone else there. They just go about their business. They are important part of our natural surroundings and deserve respect and protection. We shouldn't be trapping them in pens and training dogs to rip them apart as some barbaric "training" activity.

Please don't amend the Act in the way that is being proposed by the Ontario government. This type of "training" should actually be made illegal, rather than offered expanded opportunities. It provides no benefit to society and is actually just sanctioned animal cruelty. If you carry through with it, you may as well also just legalize dog fighting while you're at it - because It's the same thing.