ACTION ALERT: Speak Out Against Coyote & Fox Penning in Florida

[Guest guest]

Show your

appreciation for coyotes with a gift to Project

Coyote

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACTION

ALERT

HELP

BAN COYOTE & FOX PENNING IN FLORIDA

YOUR VOICE NEEDED!

 

On

February 17th, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

will consider whether to ban or restrict the controversial practice of

coyote and fox “penning†in the state. “Penningâ€

involves the trapping, trading and selling of live coyotes and foxes to

hound hunting training facilities. The captured wild canines are then

released into pens and used to “train†hunting dogs. Considered

“sport†– and legal in many states across the South and

Midwest – one coyote or fox may be pitted against packs of hound dogs

who are released into the pens to pursue the wild animals- domestic canine

pitted against wild canine. This practice parallels dog and cock-fighting

– activities made illegal in all U.S. states in the last twenty

years. Many penned coyotes and foxes are literally torn apart by the dog

pack.

 

A

recent

investigation of several penning facilities across the state by the FWC

led to the arrest of 12 people and the issuance of 46 citations for various

violations related to penning practices. Operators of such pens often

charge a fee for individuals to train their hunting dogs on the captive

coyotes and foxes. Project Coyote, the Animal Welfare Institute, and other national

and state organizations strongly condemn coyote/fox penning as inhumane and

ecologically reckless and seek to ban this practice nationwide. Moreover,

transporting wild animals for penning purposes has directly led to the

spread of rabies and other diseases. See our letter to

the FWC supporting a ban on this practice, signed by over 60 prominent

scientists/biologists, ethicists, veterinarians, and attorneys.

On February 17th the FWC will hold a public hearing in

Apalachicola and consider recommendations from the Florida Division of Law

Enforcement regarding this practice. Your voice is needed in support of

a ban of this practice prior to February 17th! (PLEASE SUBMIT COMMENTS BY

Feb. 15th )

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

 

PLEASE SHOW

YOUR SUPPORT FOR A COMPLETE BAN OF “PENNING†STATEWIDE.

Submit comments to (see talking points above and below):

 

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

620 South Meridian Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600

EMAIL: Commissioners

 

Please also cc your letters to:

Governor Charlie Crist (Charlie.Crist)

Mr. Nick Wiley, Executive Director, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Commission (Nick.Wiley)

Major Curtis Brown, Special Ops. Coordinator Florida Division of Law

Enforcement (curtis.brown)

Ms. Kathleen Hampton, Office of Executive Director (Kathleen.Hampton)

 

Call your

state representative and senator (FLORIDA RESIDENTS ONLY) and request

that they please ask the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Commission to ban fox pens (You can find their contact information

here: capwiz.com/compassionindex/dbq/vote_info

)

If you live

in Florida, please consider attending and testifying at the FWC

hearing on February 17th in Apalachicola where they will receive the

staff recommendations regarding penning and accept public testimony on

this issue. We need a good showing at this hearing! Details:

 

February 17th

Time: 8:30am EST (penning report & testimony expected during afternoon)

 

Place: Franklin County Courthouse, 33 Market Street, Apalachicola, FL

More info: myfwc.com/COMMISSION/2010/Comm_10_AgendaFeb.htm

 

POINTS YOU MAY WISH TO INCLUDE IN YOUR LETTER in addition

to expressing your strong support for a statewide ban on the practice of

coyote and fox penning: (Remember to include your first and

last name and your full mailing address.)

 

Such

practices are inhumane, ethically indefensible, ecologically reckless

and counter to sound scientific management.

Transporting

wild animals for penning purposes has directly led to the spread of

rabies and other diseases.

 

THANK YOU FOR WRITING AND MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD! PLEASE

SHARE THIS ACTION ALERT WITH OTHERS!

To view video clips and photos of this practice see the

following links (WARNING: disturbing and graphic content):

www.trainingnottorture.org

www.youtube.com/user/wildlifepenning

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MhNRwOtJNQ & feature=related

coyoteinfo.typepad.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNVMu8jSYD8

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mom_wMCNshw

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gd94TA58Ag

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbb_nKIy_i4 & feature=rec-LGOUT-exp_fresh+div-HM

****************************************

Project Coyote is a non-profit fiscally sponsored

project of Earth Island Institute that promotes educated coexistence

between people and coyotes and advocates on behalf of coyotes and other

native carnivores. We depend on our members and supporters to help us

continue our work on behalf of America’s native “song

dog.†Please join us today! All donations are tax-deductible.

Visit us at www.ProjectCoyote.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project

Coyote

P.O. Box 5007

Larkspur, CA 94977

415-945-3232

Copyright © 2009 All rights reserved.