Investigative photo provided by Animal Justice.
October 16, 2024 update: The Ontario Government has made a decision to approve the expansion of penned dog hunting in the province. Read the decision by clicking here.
We urge residents of Ontario to contact Premier Ford’s office at the contact info below and ask him to reconsider this decision.
Residents of Ontario are being called upon to take urgent action to stop the expansion of penned dog hunting in the province. Penned dog hunting (also known as “train and trial areas”) is a practice where hunters set dogs loose in enclosed areas to chase, maim, and kill rabbits, foxes, and coyotes. The Ontario Government stopped issuing licenses for dog penned hunting in 1997 to phase-out the practice, but the province now wants to expand the issuance of licenses for this cruel practice.
We need your help to send a message to Premier Doug Ford’s office. The Premier needs to hear that Ontarians will not stand for this practice and that the province should NOT issue any more licenses for dog penned hunting.
There are two ways to contact the Premier’s office: by phone and email. For either method, ensure your communications are respectful so that your voice will have a greater impact. At this time we have not created a one-click letter or petition as a direct contact from an Ontario resident is necessary to affect change. Include your city and postal code so the Premier knows you’re a citizen of Ontario.
Premier Ford’s phone number: (416) 325-1941
Premier Ford’s email address: Premier@ontario.ca
The following points can help guide your communications with the Premier’s Office. Remember that emails written in your own words will make more of an impact.
- I am firmly opposed to the province allowing new licenses for train and trial areas in Ontario.
- Penned dog hunting facilities are cruel to the wild animals that are subjected to various methods used to train dogs to hunt.
- Wildlife should never be taken from their natural environments and be held captive by hunters. It’s especially cruel to use rabbits, coyotes, and foxes as pawns for hunters to train dogs and hold competitions.
- Opening applications for train and trial spaces after 25 years is a massive step backward into the past. These facilities have no place in Ontario.
- Instead of opening new applications, the province’s existing facilities need to be closed immediately.
- Penned dog hunting is illegal in all other provinces – and it’s unacceptable to allow it in Ontario.
Thank you for taking action on this issue and speaking up for animals.
