Update (4/4/14): This bill was signed into law by the governor.
Update (February, 2014): This bill was weakened through amendments in both the Senate and House committees. These changes are reflected in the italicized portion of the bill description below.
Bill Description:
As originally introduced, S.B. 42 would have outlawed the brutal “sport” of fox penning. The bill made it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to erect or maintain an enclosure for the purpose of pursuing, hunting, or killing or attempting to pursue, hunt, or kill a fox or coyote with dogs. The bill also made it a Class 1 misdemeanor to pursue a fox or coyote within such an enclosure with dogs, to stage or participate in any competition where such pursuit occurs, or to give or accept any award relating to such a competition.[teaserbreak]
As amended, S.B. 42 still makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to erect or maintain an enclosure for the purpose of pursuing, hunting, or killing or attempting to pursue, hunt, or kill a fox or coyote with dogs. However, any enclosure operated by a person holding a permit initially issued prior to January 1, 2014 is exempted from this prohibition. This means that no new fox penning locations can be opened, but existing ones can continue to operate.
Additionally, the amended bill stipulates that regulations governing foxhound training preserves in effect as of January 1, 2014 shall continue in full force and effect; but that the Department must adopt regulations by October 1, 2014 to limit the total number of foxes stocked annually in all permitted preserves to 900.
Background:
Fox penning organizers force dozens of dogs to compete in a fenced-in area to chase—and sometimes rip apart—foxes and coyotes. The wild animals are caught in leghold traps that cause anguish through broken bones or other wounds, and transported in cages to the pen. The caged animals may be trucked hundreds of miles with no food or water, and some animals die on the trip. Once the event begins, the fox or coyote must run for his life inside fences where there is no hope of getting away. With dogs tearing apart the captive animals, there is a constant demand for fresh wildlife for the fox pens.
While the amended bill is significantly weaker than the introduced version, it is still better than not regulating this brutal industry at all.
Take Action:
Virginia citizens, call or email your state delegate, senator, and governor, and thank them for passing this piece of legislation!