Congress Takes Aim at Animal Trafficking to Stop Wildlife Penning

	©Jim Robertson
	Coyotes are a frequent victim of the wildlife penning trade.

The Humane Society of the United States applauds U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) for introducing legislation today to combat "wildlife penning"—fenced enclosures where wild animals are ripped apart by packs of dogs in competitive animal fights.

The Wildlife Penning Prohibition Act of 2008, H.R. 6988, would amend the Lacey Act to prohibit the interstate transport of animals used in wildlife penning. 

In this staged animal combat, dogs with numbers painted on their sides are judged on how quickly they pursue fenced-in wildlife, usually foxes and coyotes. Scored trials in wildlife pens sometimes last for days with the dogs ripping apart and killing many of the captive animals. In a recent multi-state sting, federal and state authorities uncovered the interstate smuggling of thousands of animals to stock these enclosures.

"The grisly practice of trapping and selling animals to be used as 'live bait' in fenced enclosures is not only inhumane, but also could spread diseases across state lines," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president of The Humane Society of the United States. "We are grateful to Congressman Holt for introducing this important animal protection bill that protects native wildlife from being used in gruesome animal fights."  

"The practice of fox penning is inhumane and unsportsmanlike," said Rep. Holt. "The foxes and coyotes captured for these purposes are mistreated from the moment they are trapped to the moment they are torn apart by dogs in an escape-proof enclosure. I have introduced H.R. 6988 to stop this practice by outlawing the transport of animals for the purposes of fox penning." 

The appalling practice of wildlife penning begins when wildlife are caught in the steel jaws of a leghold trap and suffer excruciating pain. The wild animals are removed from the traps and packed into a cage with other injured animals. A recent investigation revealed that coyotes and foxes are shipped hundreds of miles in cramped cages with no access to food or water. Some animals die on the trip. Those who survive are bought by wildlife pen owners.

Cruel and Dangerous

The cruelties of wildlife penning have prompted legal action before now, too. Importing foxes and coyotes to stock enclosures is illegal in many states. The Indiana Natural Resources Commission unanimously voted in July to stop the live trapping of coyotes in that state for transport to wildlife pens. During a recent interstate investigation, in Alabama alone 18 individuals were charged in connection to smuggling foxes and coyotes for sale to wildlife pens. Authorities brought charges against wildlife pen operators and trappers in half a dozen other states.

Studies have found that transporting live, wild animals for penning purposes has directly led to the spread of rabies and other diseases dangerous to wildlife, pets and people.

The International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the American Veterinary Medical Association have encouraged regulations against the transporting of wildlife for penning purposes.

Related Links

Cruel Wildlife Penning Exposed

Insider Describes Ugliness of Wildlife Penning

Indiana Natural Resources Commission Cracks Down on Wildlife Trafficking to Abusive Coyote Pens