I am strongly opposed to the…

I am strongly opposed to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s proposal to allow new licenses, and the transfer of existing licenses, for dog train and trial areas in Ontario. Allowing new licenses for dog train and trial facilities would be a huge step backward in a civilized, tolerant and humane society. It will require tax dollars (that could be better used elsewhere) to enforce regulations and monitor compliance while providing negligible economic benefit to Ontarians. And it will result in further polarization of views between those who support legitimate, ethical hunting and those who oppose all hunting.
The intent was that these facilities would be phased-out over time, following the last approvals in 1997. Instead of allowing new applications, the province’s existing 24 facilities need to be allowed to close as current licensees retire or move on to other pursuits. Until they close due to natural progression, these facilities should be restricted to the use of dead furred animals and scent for training and trials.
It is cruel and inhumane to use live animals to train or exercise dogs. Wildlife naturally exists in a constant struggle of life and death, either in pursuit of, or becoming, prey. However, the distress and suffering experienced by captive rabbits, foxes and coyotes as they are being pursued by a predator purely for amusement or “enjoyment” (of humans or the dogs) is not justifiable in an isolated event, much less so in multiple, repeated events as would take place in train and trial facilities.
Furthermore, taking wild animals from the natural environment into captivity for the purpose of being used as live bait runs contrary to ethical hunting practices. As a hunter, I am clearly not opposed to hunting but insist on abiding by ethical practices. Ethical hunting dictates that we, as hunters, are respectful of the animals we are hunting, are skilled enough to prevent undue suffering and always practice fair chase. Regardless of enclosure size, the repeated harassment of wildlife is unjustifiable, unethical and will only result in further stigmatization of even ethical hunters by anti-hunting members of society.
Under Ontario’s FWCA it is illegal to allow a dog to be running loose in an area inhabited by deer, moose or elk during closed season out of concern for the welfare of the wildlife. There are no prohibitions on winter training/trialing. I fail to see a logical reason why this concern for animal welfare under the hardship of winter conditions does not extend to rabbits, coyote and fox that are permitted to be held in training facilities.
Hunting requires skill, maturity, respect, and responsibility. Unfortunately, using dogs for anything beyond retrieving or recovering game does not meet these criteria. While training a dog to hunt requires dedication and skill, the use of live wildlife as bait in training, or actively hunting wildlife, at any time of year using dogs is neither respectful nor responsible; it is a practice that belongs in history books, as evidenced by the number of states and countries worldwide that have banned hunting with dogs. I would like to see MNRF reject this proposal and instead support only ethical hunting (and dog training) practices.