Thursday, December 18, 2014

New focus on animal cruelty prevention; a Wisconsin application?

Interesting that federal authorities are set to give animal cruelty elevated attention through vigilant data reporting and collecting; I wonder if anyone will encourage a closer look at some hunting and hound-training practices permitted in Wisconsin, including dogs in the wolf hunt - - a Wisconsin-only permission - -  along with metal leg traps,  and the use of live, caged animals as hound-training bait.

I quote from lesser-known WI DNR policies referenced in the link, above
A hound dog training license allows you to purchase, possess and use captive raccoon or bobcat for dog training purposes, and use captive black bear possessed under the authority of a captive wild animal farm license for dog training purposes. 
In addition, rabbit/hare, coyote and fox may be purchased, possessed or used for dog training purposes if held in a permitted hound dog training enclosure… 
Captive raccoon, rabbit/hare, coyote, fox, bobcat or bear possessed for dog training purposes shall be treated in a humane manner and confined under sanitary conditions with proper and adequate space, shade and freshwater...  
Any coyote or fox injured during a dog training exercise shall be submitted to a veterinarian for treatment at the owner or operator’s expense, or euthanized and shall be reported to the department within 24 hours. Primary and transportation enclosures shall meet the requirements in § NR 16.30 to 16.38, Wisconsin Administrative Code...  
Captive bear, bobcat and raccoon, if lawfully obtained, may be used for dog training and trials, provided: 
  1. Any bear is also possessed under authority of a captive wild animal farm license. Bear, bobcat and raccoon, when not being used for trailing purposes, are housed in accordance with s. NR 16.30 and 16.38. 
  1. (See separate DNR informational pamphlet on Captive Wildlife Pen Specifications & Transportation Standards for details.) 
  2. The bear, bobcat or raccoon is kept in a cage at all times...
  1. When the cage is elevated in a tree or on a pole for training or trial purposes, the cage shall be raised a minimum of 10 feet off the ground. All individuals except the owner of the captive animal, the owner's designee or the dog handler shall be kept at least 4 feet from the cage...
  1. Dogs shall be kept a minimum of one foot from the cage at all times by restraint, cage design or barrier fence except where the cage is covered by solid material, which prevents all physical contact between the dog and the captive animal. The one foot minimum distance does
    not apply to raccoon training or trials with the use of roll cages.. 
  1. Roll cages may not be used for dog training with bear or bobcat. 
  1. Training & Trialing periods:  a. The length of time that captive wild bear, bobcat or raccoon may be used for training exercises may not exceed 12 hours within a 24-hour period. b. Captive wild bear, bobcat and raccoon shall be provided with a minimum of 8 consecutive hours of rest within a 24-hour period.
  1. c. A bear, bobcat or raccoon used for training, may not be housed in an enclosure that does not meet the primary enclosure standards in s. NR
    16.30(4), Wis. Adm. Code for a period of more than 72 hours. 
Captive rabbits/hares, coyote and fox, if lawfully obtained and possessed, may be used for dog training and trials... 

1 comment: