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Ontario has opened the license application period for cruel new dog hunting pens. For 90 days, hunters can apply to open new \u201ctrain and trial\u201d areas\u2014enclosed spaces stocked with wild animals to be used as live bait for hunting dogs. In this sickening bloodsport, terrified coyotes, foxes, and rabbits are chased and ripped apart by dogs, with nowhere to escape.<\/p>\n
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Penned dog hunting is illegal in every other Canadian province and most US states. Though participants claim animals are not injured in these pens, Animal Justice\u2019s 2023 investigation<\/a> shows hunters admitting that dogs frequently chase and maul live animals in enclosures. Our footage shows terrified coyotes running for their lives, and hunters threatening violence toward dogs who don\u2019t perform well.<\/p>\n In 1997, Ontario banned new facilities from starting up because of their inherent cruelty, and over time the number of pens went from 60 down to just 24. But last year, lawmakers bowed to pressure by hunting extremists who pushed for more pens\u2014while misleading legislators about the suffering inflicted on animals used in the hunts. Despite widespread public concerns and opposition from the NDP, Liberals, and Green Party, Ontario is now proceeding with its reckless plan to issue new licenses.<\/p>\n By handing out new licenses, the government is threatening to undo decades of progress in phasing out this cruelty, and is opening the door for the spread of dangerous parasites like Echinococcus multilocularis\u2014a tape worm that can cause a disease that is potentially fatal to humans, and which can be transferred between coyotes, foxes, domestic dogs, and humans.<\/p>\n \n