Comment
Rather than increase issuance of new licenses for train and trial facilities, I believe it would be better practice to phase-out license renewals and transfers entirely.
While these facilities sound reasonable in theory, in reality the practices within some facilities are more than questionable. Although they may be claimed to be "in-compliance" with the Fish and Wildlife Conversation Act and Criminal Code of Canada, it is far too easy for facilities to do the minimal effort, while still contributing to an unethical practice. This is a horrific practice that has been carried over from old European Colonization unethical hunting roots.
According to the general fishing regulations in accordance with the Fish and Wildlife Conversation Act, a person who is ice fishing must be within 60m of their trap. The purpose for this regulation is for the longevity of the fish, not to tire the fish to exhaustion and death, but rather give the fish a chance at life after being caught, if the person is practicing catch and release. It is baffling that this kind of care is being given to a fish but not to Ontario's large land predators and meso predators.
When domestic dogs tap into their primal instincts and impulses are not kept in check, one can not stop a pack of dogs from pinning their prey, be it coyote, fox or rabbit, then killing the animal by ripping its body apart. How is that fair or ethnical practice to an wild animal? The wild animal was live-trapped, taken from a free-roaming life, placed in a fenced facility to live in a high-stress situation of being chased with possibly of being ripped limb-from-limb if it cannot hide in time on a regular basis. When enacting ethical hunting practices on Crown land, the animals one hunts for are more often than not given a fair chance to escape or to hide. That is not always the case in these Train and trial facilities. Dogs are intelligent and driven, it is common in these facilities for dogs to block the wild animals path from escape, pin it to the outside of a fence or building and brutally kill it. This is not fair to the dogs, nor to the wild animal involved.
Many policies and procedures are carried over from decades of poor resource management practices. When given a chance of policy and procedure review, why should archaic practices such as Train and Trial facilities still exist in the Ontario government? What percentage of economic benefit do they bring? What can be gained by keeping old colonization habits in a world of reconciliation? In a time of global species population decline why should we continue to be so cavalier with the unethical treatment of our common species on our landscape, because how long will they be considered "common" for? What possible gain or benefit could an increase in Train and Trial facilities license issuance bring to the Ontario government and it's general public?
Submitted May 18, 2023 10:11 PM
Comment on
Proposal to allow the issuance of licences for new dog train and trial areas and the transfer of licences
ERO number
019-3685
Comment ID
90558
Commenting on behalf of
Comment status