I am strongly opposed to the…

I am strongly opposed to the proposal to amend the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1997 to allow for the issuance of licences of new dog train and trial areas, and to allow the transfer of licences.

It is my understanding that the 1997 Act specifically prohibited the issuing of new licences and the transfer of licenses so that this inherently cruel practice would eventually fade away. Why, then, would the Ontario Government wish to allow this practice to continue?

Train and trial areas involve dogs hunting, pursuing, and sometimes killing wild animals that have been captured and held for this. Even though the wild population of those animals is not in jeopardy, the torment of the individual animals involved is immense - having to run for their lives, sometimes repeatedly, from animals bent on tearing them to pieces, amounts to torture. I understand that the relationship between predator and prey exists in nature, and that prey animals are routinely chased and eaten by their predators. However, to capture wild animals specifically to subject them to this activity is unnecessary, and should not be permitted as part of a modern, compassionate society.