Concerning My Avatar

[slartibartfast]

I have immense respect for the work they do, but I cannot ever believe that the hogs do not suffer.

I never said the hogs did not suffer and nobody in that sport would try to claim otherwise. I said it is the most humane way and the most appropraite placement for the dogs mouth, the most comfortable in comparrison to say the stomache, nose, or breaking its legs.

The key word there is "sport". I repeat, I have no problem with the legitimate use of a dog as a hunting partner.

I see absolutely no need for a sport where a hog who has already undergone capture once is then turned loose in a confined area to be attacked by dogs for the amusement of the audience. You've already admitted they suffer. What's humane about intentionally putting them through it?

And FYI, I feed live and I hunt. I just don't shoot fish in a barrel.

[BulldogBalls]

"No I am not kidding and it does not rate up there with dog fighting."

Sure it does your turning another animal lose on another the only dif. is your not getting paid to kill or harm a hog!

You are funny. There are a lot of differences hun. A lot. Please if you are going to respond and make an difference in an actual discussion, try using facts.

But based on your comparrison, that the only thing required to link dog fighting to some other action is that you turn one animal loose on another. So.. feeding your snake is just like dog fighting?

A dog fight is two animals pitted against one another and must fight, causing serious sometimes fatal injuries. The purpose of a dog fight is for entertainment and money. Hence the term "Blood Sport"

Hog catching is not for money or for entertainment, it is a method of hunting and the hogs are not ripped up, the dogs are not permitted to rip into the hog.

I appreciate your concern but honestly the comparrison of hog catching to dog fighting is not affective. I abhor dog fighting.

[JASBALLS]

You are funny. There are a lot of differences hun. A lot. Please if you are going to respond and make an difference in an actual discussion, try using facts.

But based on your comparrison, that the only thing required to link dog fighting to some other action is that you turn one animal loose on another. So.. feeding your snake is just like dog fighting?

A dog fight is two animals pitted against one another and must fight, causing serious sometimes fatal injuries. The purpose of a dog fight is for entertainment and money. Hence the term "Blood Sport"

Hog catching is not for money or for entertainment, it is a method of hunting and the hogs are not ripped up, the dogs are not permitted to rip into the hog.

I appreciate your concern but honestly the comparrison of hog catching to dog fighting is not affective. I abhor dog fighting.

Nice avatar!

[GirDance]

I believe that ever since CNBC did thier campaign against it the real truth behind it was lost. As I understand it in many southern states this is somewhat a tradition and has been going on for many many years. What happens then is there are some abusers out there who go and make a bad name for the rest of those practicing it and responsible trainers get persecuted as well.

We currently have dogs trained to assist in war and police work, they are trained to attack people, and are put at great personal risk in the name of protecting people and doing their jobs - however I doubt that any activist groups or every day people are going to jump behind a campaign to persecute those utilizing and training these dogs. They protect people, and therefore there is no question of their worth.

We train guardian herding dogs whose main job is to protect livestock from predators and keep the livestock in line. Often times to keep the livestock in line these dogs will nip at the heels of the animal, that is what they are trained to do. They are trained to keep predators away, this is how breeds like the Great Pyrenees came to be kept as a 'family pet'. I do not see how this is any different than utilizing a breed of dog to restrain a feral hog long enough for a human to tie and transport it. It is nearly impossible for a human to do this on their own without outright killing the animal from a distance first - I've helped a friend on a pig farm it's not a fun job, it can be dangerous, and these aren't even feral animals.

There are always those few irresponsible trainers and owners who end up ruining it for the rest... If memory serves aren't snake owners currently being persecuted because some burmese pythons got loose in the Everglades?

I do need to point out, just incase this is misinterpreted: I do not in any way condone cruelty towards animals. I do however believe that sometimes the definition of cruelty gets used far too liberally, and that this may be one of those times, so why not sit back and instead educate ourselves about this sort of training from one of the responsible ones and not immediately jump to attack?

[Wolves-N-Dogs]

" You are funny. There are a lot of differences hun. A lot. Please if you are going to respond and make an difference in an actual discussion, try using facts."

Well fact number one I am a Animal Warden here in the city of NEW YORK.

fact number two Any time you turn lose an animal on another it's considered fighting. AND THATS THE LAW IN ALL STATES!

[BulldogBalls]

The key word there is "sport". I repeat, I have no problem with the legitimate use of a dog as a hunting partner.

I see absolutely no need for a sport where a hog who has already undergone capture once is then turned loose in a confined area to be attacked by dogs for the amusement of the audience. You've already admitted they suffer. What's humane about intentionally putting them through it?

And FYI, I feed live and I hunt. I just don't shoot fish in a barrel.

That is understandable and a good argument. The capture of the hogs and the use of them in competition is debatable but regulations support the hog only be used once for the safety of all animals involved. This is because not only would it be cruel to the hog to be caught multiple times but it would be dangerous for the dogs to be against a hog that knew all the tricks.

Also, the dogs must be trained to properly catch and this does involve the use of hogs - if the dogs are not properly trained then it will be a sad and horrible sight if the dogs are ever taken out on a real hunt.

The reason that the dogs are not put against hogs in a real hunting situation is that their are too many variables. Finding the hogs, having a hog the right size for the dog, and being able to control the sitaution to prevent the injury of either animal.

It is a sport because there are titles - it is a competition, it is not strictly for the amusement of those that attend. The purpose is to control the situation and determine what dogs are the best and safest, most effective to use in a real hunt.

I won't say that it is always like this, I am sure that as with any other sport with animals there is abuse involved and I do not condone that in any way.

[slartibartfast]

BulldogBalls, perhaps you could direct those of us with questions to websites or forums that promote ethical and humane hog-dogging so we can see for ourselves? Are there any in particular that you could point out to me to do a bit of reading?

[BulldogBalls]

"
Well fact number one I am a Animal Warden here in the city of NEW YORK.

fact number two Any time you turn lose an animal on another it's considered fighting. AND THATS THE LAW IN ALL STATES!

If that were the law in all states then hog catching would be outlawed in all states. States that are affected by feral hogs are amending the laws regarding the use of dogs for hunting because of the feral hogs and only for use with feral hogs. My state of Oregon is one of those states, we have been strictly and very against the use of dogs for hunting but it is now legal to use dogs and any other means to eradicate the feral hog population.

I also must ask. Just how many wild feral hogs you got runnin' 'round in NYC?

[Wolves-N-Dogs]

BulldogBalls, perhaps you could direct those of us with questions to websites or forums that promote ethical and humane hog-dogging so we can see for ourselves? Are there any in particular that you could point out to me to do a bit of reading?

There is no humane way of hog-dogging

[Wolves-N-Dogs]

If that were the law in all states then hog catching would be outlawed in all states. States that are affected by feral hogs are amending the laws regarding the use of dogs for hunting because of the feral hogs and only for use with feral hogs. My state of Oregon is one of those states, we have been strictly and very against the use of dogs for hunting but it is now legal to use dogs and any other means to eradicate the feral hog population.

I also must ask. Just how many wild feral hogs you got runnin' 'round in NYC?

I can't help myself here but we have a ton of two legged ones running around here