Ontario is the only province that allows train and trial pens to operate in Canada. Penned dog hunting is widely condemned because it causes extreme and unnecessary distress, suffering, and death to wild animals.

The Ottawa Humane Society and other animal welfare organizations are calling the provincial government to not issue new train and trial licences and strengthen protections of wildlife being trapped for this cruel sport.

What are train and trial pens and what are they used for?

Train and trial pens are fenced-in areas that hold captured coyotes, rabbits and foxes for the purposes of training dogs for tracking and hunting. These facilities hold competitions that have financial incentives for the success of the dogs to track their target.

There is little to no accountability for the well-being of the penned wildlife who are used as targets. The animals used as for bait for training endure distress and may be mauled or killed for sport.

Urgent Call to End Ontario’s Train and Trial Pens