WI Humane Society joins lawsuit against using dogs in wolf hunt

MILWAUKEE -- The Wisconsin Humane Society has joined other plaintiffs in filing a lawsuit against the Wisconsin DNR and Natural Resources Board to stop the use of dogs for wolf hunting.

Other plaintiffs in the case include outdoorsmen, hunters, volunteer trackers and other Wisconsin animal welfare organizations. The plaintiffs do not want dogs used in wolf hunting until "reasonable rules are established to protect dogs from injury or death," according to a statement released by the Wisconsin Humane Society.

On April 2, 2012, the Wisconsin Legislature passed a law allowing a wolf hunting season in which dogs could be used to “track or trail” wolves.  The law left it up to the DNR and the NRB to write specific rules for a wolf hunting season. 

“Under the rules as they are now, dogs can be trained and used to hunt wolves in ways, in areas, and at times that place them in jeopardy of dangerous confrontations with wolves, certain to lead to literal fights to the death,” Angela Reed with the Wisconsin Humane Society said in a statement.

The five-month wolf hunt is scheduled to begin Oct. 15. It is the only such hunt in the nation in which hunters would be allowed to use dogs.

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