I am commenting as a…

I am commenting as a veterinarian who is extremely concerned about the significant animal welfare issues involved in the Train and Trial facilities.

If these practices involved companion animals, rather than wildlife, the operators of these facilities would be prosecuted.

The Ministry shows a complete lack of respect for wildlife by allowing these facilities to exist, let alone proposing to expand them.

Two Change.org petitions that address this issue are listed in the link section.

One petition has over 18,000 supporters and the other petition has over 230,000 supporters.

The comments on these petitions reflect the changing attitudes in our society that wildlife should be valued for itself and not treated as a recreational commodity.

The Ministry of Natural Resources should take a leadership role in ensuring the true protection of wildlife and the environment because of its intrinsic value.