To whom it may concern at…

To whom it may concern at the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Fisheries,

Whose idea was it to propose providing areas where hunters and hunting dogs pursue and kill wildlife (and rabbits purchased through the military) which are fenced in and have no way to escape. It certainly was not the idea of a intelligent and compassionate person who values life. It was the idea of a person who enjoys watching living things suffer and die in pain and fear. This misguided attempt to court and reward hunters makes Ontario look backward and morally corrupt. We (and Ontario wildlife) deserve better than this.

Shelve this proposal where it will never again see the light of day and begin to address the larger issues of habitat loss, pollution via factory farming, development of meaningful care standards for farmed animals, video monitoring of all factory farms and slaughter houses, prosecution and severe consequences for abusers of farmed animals, inhumane transport standards for farm animals, puppy mills, persecution of wolves, the ongoing use of strychnine with “nuisance” wildlife, roadside zoos and entertainment events which exploit and mistreat animals. Then consider the use of the leg hold trap, the seal hunt, abuse of marine mammals in zoos and parks, ban on importation of properly vetted dogs from international rescue associations…I could go on and on.
There are major issues regarding animal welfare in Ontario – issues which have not been addressed in any meaningful way. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Fisheries needs join with other ministries to deal with these problems and stop wasting time and money pandering to hunters and their dogs. Do not advance the penned hunting proposal!