These bills are very similar to another bill in the OR legislature, H.B. 3000.
Bill Description:
This bill allows counties to become exempt from the state law banning the use of dogs to hunt or pursue cougars.[teaserbreak]
A county can become exempt if voters approve a county measure proposed by initiative petition, or if a measure is referred to the people by the governing body of a county.
Background:
The use of dogs to hunt wild animals is a particularly savage method of hunting. “Hounding” involves attaching radio collars to dogs so hunters can monitor their movements as they track wildlife. The dogs chase the wild animal for hours until, exhausted and confused, the prey is cornered or gives up. The hunter, trailing behind, shoots the trapped animal. This also endangers the dogs, who can suffer terrible injuries when fearful animals strike back. When injured and no longer able to hunt, the dogs are sometimes simply abandoned.
This is a brutal and unnecessary hunting method that should not be implemented in Oregon.
Take Action:
Oregon residents, contact your state representative and senator and urge them to oppose this legislation.
Read the full text and follow its progress here for S.B. 126, here for S.B. 453, here for H.B. 2050, and here for H.B. 2181.