Contact: Joe Mullin, Assistant Manager, Northeastern States
Why It Matters: There is no denying the fact that dogs are an integral part of many of our nation’s sporting pursuits. From tracking big game to pointing, flushing, and retrieving downed fowl on a variety of landscapes, our four-legged friends play an irreplaceable part in the field and on the water. In many cases, due to the nature of the various hunting seasons, sportsmen and women take their dogs afield in adverse weather situations, such as intense cold. Therefore, it is crucial that dog owners have the authority to provide opportunities for their dogs to acclimate to the temperatures that they will face in the field or while working, thus preventing injuries and shock to the body.
On January 19, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation submitted a written letter of opposition to the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee regarding Senate Bill 44 (SB44). If enacted, this legislation would curtail the amount of time sportsmen and women keep their dogs “outside and unattended” in certain weather conditions.
The issue of fighting excessively restrictive kennel legislation in the Northeast has been an ongoing theme for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), as well as for other like-minded in-state and national organizations. While SB44 makes certain carveouts for dogs actively engaged in hunting, livestock herding or guarding, sledding, sporting, and training, it makes no exception to allow owners to leave those special purpose dogs outside to become more acclimated to the temperatures they will face in the field or while working. When a dog’s adaptability to these conditions is lessened because of increased time spent indoors, it is more likely to experience a shock to its system when it is exposed to a cold morning in the duck blind, cutting through ice, or wading through chest-high water.
CSF thanks those who have voiced their opposition to restrictive kennel legislation such as SB44 – both in Maryland and across the nation. Additional updates on this issue will be provided as they are made available.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
