Judge issues temporary injunction banning use of dogs in wolf hunt

September 4, 2012

MADISON, Wisconsin: Dane County Judge Peter Anderson issued a temporary injunction last Friday, barring hunters from using dogs for the wolf season. A group of humane societies brought a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), saying that the lack of restrictions on dog training and dog use in the legislation could lead to violations of Wisconsin's animal cruelty statutes. Humane Societies' attorney Carl Sinderbrand expressed his concerns to Judge Anderson last Friday saying, "We're going to have a body count here. We're going to have carnage."

Judge Anderson explained in his decision that the Wisconsin legislation allowing hunters to use dogs did not include any specifics on leash requirements or training. Anderson said, "A chance of a vicious attack is quite high and absent regulation it will be hard for hunters to know what to do."

The DNR released the following statement in response to the injunction:

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Regarding the use of dogs and the injunction, we will consult with our attorneys and assess all of our options. Further, it is important to note that this is a temporary injunction, that suspends the use of dogs in wolf hunting until the judge and parties have more thoroughly investigated, briefed, discussed an litigated the issue so the judge can make a final ruling. A schedule to do that will be set up with the judge, pending the results of the September 14 hearing on the state’s motion to dismiss.

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The DNR also has announced that it will extend the wolf application deadline until September 7 due to the possibility of hunters waiting on the court decision.

The first hunt is scheduled to run from October 15, 2012, until February 28, 2013. The permit application fee is $10 and 1,160 permits will be awarded to the public by lottery.

• To read more on the DNR's Wolf hunting regulations, see: 2012 Wolf Hunting and Trapping Regulations