MADISON — Allowing hunters to use dogs to track down wolves without any restrictions will result in bloody encounters between the animals, lawyers for animal rights groups argued Wednesday.
A coalition of humane societies, including the Fox Valley Humane Association in Greenville, filed a lawsuit arguing that state wildlife officials didn’t impose restrictions on hunting dogs for this year’s wolf hunt, which creates the potential for brutal wolf-dog clashes that violate Wisconsin’s animal cruelty laws.
During Wednesday’s hearing, the groups asked Dane County Circuit Judge Peter C. Anderson to temporarily block the Department of Natural Resources from issuing wolf permits unless the agency notifies hunters that they cannot train dogs to go after wolves. Coalition attorney Robert Habush said the lack of hound restrictions amounted to “agency malpractice.”
But the DNR says an injunction would effectively halt the hunt. Agency officials said they don’t have enough time to add dog restrictions to permits before the hunt begins in October.
Assistant Atty. Gen. Cynthia Hirsch told the judge DNR rule-makers believed the legislation that created the wolf hunt didn’t grant them the authority to restrict dogs.
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