Ontario greenlights dog hunting training facilities

Ontario has lifted a long-standing ban on new “train and trial” areas where dogs learn to hunt captive coyotes, foxes and rabbits.

The decision permits the establishment of additional penned hunting facilities and allows for the transfer of existing licences to new owners, both of which were previously banned under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.

Animal rights advocates have strongly criticized this move, deeming the training exercises conducted at these facilities both unethical and inhumane. They argue such practices inflict extreme distress, unnecessary suffering and even death upon wild animals.

“The animal rights community is opposed because of the cruelty to the coyotes, foxes and rabbits who are enclosed in these pens and for the dogs who are trained to hunt these animals down,” said Liz White, director of Animal Alliance of Canada and leader of the Animal Protection Party of Canada.

“Even if no animal is physically injured, the stress of hours of chasing and being chased is a problem. However, animals will get hurt if there is a confrontation between the wildlife animal, especially coyotes and dogs. The training in these compounds leads to severe mauling and death during hound hunting outside of train and trial pens in wildlands.”

In 1997, the Ontario government decided to stop granting licences for new train and trial areas and gradually phase out existing operations as owners retired or left the business. At that time, there were 50 to 60 train and trial areas in Ontario; now there are only 24.

White said at the time, a Progressive Conservative government led by Mike Harris agreed to phase out train and trial compounds by changing the Game and Fish Act, which later became the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. Now, some 26 years later, another Progressive Conservative government has reversed its decision.

White also argues it is cruel that trappers have to go out and trap coyotes, foxes and rabbits in order to supply these train and trial compounds.

“Coyotes and fox are caught in leghold traps, which in and of themselves can be terribly cruel. Compound operators often have multiple coyotes, foxes and rabbits in order to ensure an adequate supply of these animals for the dogs to chase. They are held in captivity — not (at) the same standards as other animals kept in captivity. The level of stress in these wild animals in close proximity to humans is very stressful.”

The Ontario government invited public response to its planned train and trial amendments this spring, with the window for comment closing in mid-May. The province said all comments received would be considered before a decision is made. According to the animal rights advocacy group Animal Justice’s website, thousands of its supporters and several animal protection groups submitted comments during the consultation period urging Ontario to uphold the ban.

At the time of public consultation, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry told Canada’s National Observer the purpose of train and trial facilities is to help professionals train dogs to only track specific wildlife, exercise the dogs in the off-season and run trialling competitions.

The ministry said these facilities must be operated responsibly and meet strict regulatory requirements under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, including care standards for wildlife.

Lesley Sampson, founding executive director of Coyote Watch Canada, said reversing the ban will allow an increase in the number of these facilities, instead of letting them simply decline until there are no more.

“The greater problem is that the existence of these facilities entrenches the practice of running dogs on wild animals outside the compounds as well.”

There is a very easy, quick solution to these facilities that would be more ethical and humane for training dogs in hunting activities, Sampson said. It is called a scent drag: the compound owner drags a scent bar throughout the compound and the dogs have to follow the scent. No other animals are involved, the dogs are safely penned and no animals get hurt, she added.

Pro-hunting groups like the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters say the term “penned hunting” is misleading and is not part of the activities at train and trial areas. It says the dogs do not capture any wildlife within a train and trial area, nor do dog handlers or hunters carry firearms.

Canada’s National Observer reached out to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.

This story was produced in partnership with Journalists for Human Rights for the Afghan Journalists-in-Residence program funded by the Meta Journalism Project.