Help Florida say goodbye to brutal coyote and fox penning
June 18th, 2010 by admin
Levy County, on Florida’s northwest coast, has a lot going for it. Within its boundaries are four state parks and two national wildlife refuges where you can find manatees, bald eagles and wild turkeys. The county’s many freshwater springs are great for swimming or snorkeling. Boating on the historic Suwannee River is also a popular pastime. With all this, it’s disappointing that the Levy County Board of County Commissioners would take a public stand in defense of coyote and fox penning.
Last Tuesday, the commissioners unanimously passed a resolution stating support for the horrific “sport,” during which coyotes and foxes taken from the wild are released into fenced enclosures to be pursued by dogs in staged competitions. Many of the foxes and coyotes are killed by the dogs. The resolution states that coyote/fox penning is “a benefit to Levy County.” Commissioner Danny Stevens went so far as to describe penning as “part of our heritage.”
It is true that coyote/fox penning has taken place in Florida for a long time, but that does not mean the practice is acceptable. “Heritage” is not an excuse for cruelly treating animals. (Defenders of cockfighting and bullfighting also commonly claim “heritage” to defend the bloodsports.)
Fortunately, Levy County is alone in its support of coyote/fox penning. Today, three Florida newspapers came out strongly against the enclosures. The editorial board of Highlands Today described penning as a “brutal and cruel blood sport,” and concluded, “there shouldn’t be a place for it in Florida.” The Gainesville Sun’s editorial began: “Putting foxes and coyotes in fenced enclosures and allowing dogs to chase them down and tear them apart is sadism, and the state of Florida needs to put an end to it.” In the Sarasota Herald Tribune, columnist Eric Ernst called the practice “inherently inhumane” and argued, “It’s time to finally shut them down.”
You Can Help
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will meet on June 23 in Lake Mary to decide whether to let this cruel practice continue.- Attend the Wednesday, June 23 meeting at the Lake Mary Orlando Marriott (map & directions). The meeting begins at 8:30am and the coyote/fox penning issue is one of the first items on the Agenda. Coyote/fox pen participants have packed past meetings. This vocal minority’s attendance gives the appearance that more individuals support this activity than actually do. We need animal advocates to attend the meeting and respectfully speak out in favor of a prohibition.
- Please contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission—using this online comment form—and urge them to prohibit coyote and fox pens. Let them know that this cruelty has no place in Florida.