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Indiana Houndsmen

Saw this anti letter to the editor in South Bend Tribune. This calls for a lot of responses!

http://www.southbendtribune.com/art...19/1063/Opinion

November 23. 2009 6:59AM

Tell state officials to ban coyote penning

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Indiana's Natural Resources Commission is being petitioned to stop the abuse of live-caught coyotes and foxes during hunting and trapping season.

Currently these animals can be used as dog-training bait from mid-October through mid-March. Packs of hounds are set upon terrified prey in fenced areas during "penning" contests, with victims savagely mauled.

Morally and ethically indefensible, these practices violate the hunting ethic of "fair chase." This is dog fighting at it's worst, preceded by an unfair chase. Hounders cite tradition, predator control and exercise for their dogs as justification for their cruel misuse of wildlife.

Our Department of Natural Resources' position is that other Midwestern states allow these practices, so Indiana should too. Blind to the savagery perpetrated, spokespersons insinuate that "penning" is a valid use of wildlife. Please!

The DNR's stance violates the public trust, as wildlife belongs to all state residents. The majority of Hoosiers don't appreciate the wanton torture of animals.

Cruelty notwithstanding, trafficking of wildlife for live bait poses undue threat to public and animal health. Emergence of zoonotic disease (including rabies) in various states has been traced to wildlife transported interstate to running pens.
Concerned citizens should express their views to the DNR and NRC, state legislators, and the governor's office.
Dr. Rachael Jones
Chesterton, Ind.

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