WITHDRAW THE PENNED WILDLIFE…

WITHDRAW THE PENNED WILDLIFE PROPOSAL IMMEDIATELY

I am opposed to the proposal forwarded by staff in the Ministry of Natural Resources which expands the sites and licenses for hunters who want to train their dogs using penned wildlife. This proposal trivializes the lives and well- being of wildlife and further supports hunters whose interest in Ontario wildlife is nothing more than predatory. I want fewer not more of these training sites, and I want to discourage the mistreatment of wildlife by hunters, dogs and trappers. I believe that the 24 remaining penned wildlife sites should be eliminated and that no licenses should be given in the future for this type of activity. I think that the MNRF has gone astray politically and ethically, and in many ways, it has abdicated its responsibility to protect valuable public resources. I want to see respectful and compassionate management of wildlife rather than indifference and pandering to small special interest groups. This proposal is unacceptable and should be withdrawn.