Post by CampWhippet on Apr 26, 2006 19:05:05 GMT -5
Coursing Banned In Solano County
By Dan Noyes
Apr. 25 - KGO - A blood sport in which dogs race to catch and kill jackrabbits is now banned in Solano County. The Board of Supervisors took that action today, two-and-a-half months after the ABC7 I-Team first showed you what's called "open field coursing."
The first I-Team report came as a surprise to the Solano County supervisors and to local law enforcement. They didn't know these races were being held near Fairfield, and have been for many years. But no more.
The Solano County Board of Supervisors took up the ordinance to ban open field coursing based on an I-Team investigation in which we attended a race near Fairfield in January.
Frank Morales: "It's a hundred point maximum system and there's up to 25 points for speed, agility and endurance."
Greyhound owners from across the state, Seattle and even Canada gathered to race their dogs -- three at a time walked to the front. The rest of the owners and spectators formed a line at the rear to flush out jackrabbits.
When one bolted, the race began. The dogs got points for how aggressively they pursued the rabbit, for each time they made it turn and for killing it. When one dog caught a rabbit, the others joined in a tug of war, the rabbit squealing -- a full 30 seconds, in one case -- until it died.
Animal rights activists squared off against the rabbit coursers at the meeting today.
Sheri Cardo, Marin Humane Society: "Who wants to live next door to a dog that has been trained and encouraged to chase and kill small animals. Cats are small, squirrels are small, children are small."
Margaret Harris, coursing supporter: "My own dogs have hunted, and this is what they do in the off time, they sleep with the cats."
Also appearing today was a representative from the National Open Field Coursing Association, the umbrella group for 12 clubs up and down the state that do the same thing.
Sally Baron, National Open Field Coursing Association: "This ordinance is a step toward the supporters' stated goal of outlawing all hunting in the United States."
But all five members of the board voted to ban open field coursing, even one supervisor who is also a hunter.
John Silva, Solano County Supervisor: "If people want to see a greyhound dog chase a rabbit, they can go to Arizona or Mexico to the dog races and watch 'em chase that little rabbit around the track all day and they never catch it."
Duanke Kromm, Solano County Supervisor: "It's beyond the pale for what's reasonable behavior by civilized people."
The Solano County ordinance makes open field coursing a misdemeanor punishable by a thousand dollar fine and up to six months in jail. The battle over coursing moves to the California Assembly next, where the Appropriations Committee takes up a statewide ban in two weeks. We'll be there and report back to you.
By Dan Noyes
Apr. 25 - KGO - A blood sport in which dogs race to catch and kill jackrabbits is now banned in Solano County. The Board of Supervisors took that action today, two-and-a-half months after the ABC7 I-Team first showed you what's called "open field coursing."
The first I-Team report came as a surprise to the Solano County supervisors and to local law enforcement. They didn't know these races were being held near Fairfield, and have been for many years. But no more.
The Solano County Board of Supervisors took up the ordinance to ban open field coursing based on an I-Team investigation in which we attended a race near Fairfield in January.
Frank Morales: "It's a hundred point maximum system and there's up to 25 points for speed, agility and endurance."
Greyhound owners from across the state, Seattle and even Canada gathered to race their dogs -- three at a time walked to the front. The rest of the owners and spectators formed a line at the rear to flush out jackrabbits.
When one bolted, the race began. The dogs got points for how aggressively they pursued the rabbit, for each time they made it turn and for killing it. When one dog caught a rabbit, the others joined in a tug of war, the rabbit squealing -- a full 30 seconds, in one case -- until it died.
Animal rights activists squared off against the rabbit coursers at the meeting today.
Sheri Cardo, Marin Humane Society: "Who wants to live next door to a dog that has been trained and encouraged to chase and kill small animals. Cats are small, squirrels are small, children are small."
Margaret Harris, coursing supporter: "My own dogs have hunted, and this is what they do in the off time, they sleep with the cats."
Also appearing today was a representative from the National Open Field Coursing Association, the umbrella group for 12 clubs up and down the state that do the same thing.
Sally Baron, National Open Field Coursing Association: "This ordinance is a step toward the supporters' stated goal of outlawing all hunting in the United States."
But all five members of the board voted to ban open field coursing, even one supervisor who is also a hunter.
John Silva, Solano County Supervisor: "If people want to see a greyhound dog chase a rabbit, they can go to Arizona or Mexico to the dog races and watch 'em chase that little rabbit around the track all day and they never catch it."
Duanke Kromm, Solano County Supervisor: "It's beyond the pale for what's reasonable behavior by civilized people."
The Solano County ordinance makes open field coursing a misdemeanor punishable by a thousand dollar fine and up to six months in jail. The battle over coursing moves to the California Assembly next, where the Appropriations Committee takes up a statewide ban in two weeks. We'll be there and report back to you.
