WASHINGTON – The Humane Society of the United States supports a precedent setting case before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court seeking to ban the trophy shooting of captive, exotic boars at a fenced "canned hunt" in Tioga. The court will convene on October 19, 2005 to hear arguments in Philadelphia at City Hall located at Broad and Market Sts., Room 468 at 9:00 a.m.
The Fund For Animals originally initiated the case in 2004 by filing a complaint with the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania charging that the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) has failed to enforce provisions of the state Wildlife Code by allowing the preserve to hold wild boar trophy shoots in a fenced area. The case was subsequently refiled by Johnna Seeton, a Dauphin County Humane Officer with concurrent jurisdiction in Lancaster, Berks and Schuylkill Counties, as a private citizen and taxpayer. Seeton's appeal, which is supported by The HSUS, is now pending before the State Supreme Court.
The Tioga Hunting Preserve allows paying customers to shoot and kill exotic animals such as Russian and European boars within fenced enclosures with no chance for the animals to escape. However, because exotic boars are protected mammals under the Pennsylvania Game and Wildlife Code, they cannot legally be killed at canned hunts in Pennsylvania.
"Pennsylvania is home to numerous canned hunting operations that are largely unregulated," said Heidi Prescott, senior vice president of campaigns for The HSUS. "Although neither the Game and Wildlife Code nor the regulations of the PGC permit the canned shooting of wild boars, the PGC has refused to take any action against the Tioga preserve."
Canned hunts charge hundreds or thousands of dollars for clients to shoot animals confined by fences, guaranteeing the success of the kill and the taking of the trophy. The Tioga Hunting Preserve, for example, charges $495 to shoot a Russian or European boar, and notes on its web site that "all hunts are guaranteed." The animals at canned hunts are usually tame and accustomed to people—often bred in captivity or obtained from zoos or circuses—and do not even flee from hunters. Several legislative attempts to ban canned hunts in Pennsylvania have not been successful.
"It is an outrage that the PGC turns a blind eye to wildlife laws and allows the Tioga Preserve to kill protected animals for profit," said Prescott. "Most hunters oppose canned hunts as unsportsmanlike practices that violate the ethic of fair chase. It's time to put the lid on this cruel, unsporting, and illegal canned hunt."
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization representing more than 9 million members and constituents. On January 1, 2005, The HSUS and the Fund for Animals joined forces, and now operate their advocacy programs under The HSUS banner. The non-profit organization is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy, and field work. The group is based in Washington and has numerous field representatives across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.
