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On 12 April 2013, Plaintiffs filed an Appeal with the Wisconsin Court of
Appeals from the final judgment entered by Dane County Circuit Court Judge
Peter C. Anderson on January 16, 2013, regarding Wisconsin DNR regulations
governing the use of dogs to hunt wolves. .
"We are appealing because we
believe that Judge Anderson failed to address plaintiffs' request for a
declaratory judgment holding DNR's wolf hunting regulations--allowing dogs to
hunt wolves without necessary safeguards--in violation of Wisconsin law
prohibiting cruelty to animals, both domestic and wild," explains Robert
L. Habush, of Habush, Habush & Rottier, one of the attorneys representing a
mainstream coalition of Wisconsin humane societies, conservation groups,
hunters, and volunteer wolf trackers, "Judge Anderson also didn't address
our request for a permanent injunction against the use of dogs to hunt
wolves."
"Our plaintiff
organizations, mainstream hunters, and team of wolf and dog experts are in
perfect agreement-without this Appeal, there will be nothing to stop the
bloodshed and state-sanctioned "dog fighting" certain to ensue this
Fall when dogs are set on wolves without the common sense restrictions needed
to prevent deadly confrontations between the two canine species," states
Jodi Habush Sinykin, another attorney representing plaintiffs in this matter.
Pam
McCloud Smith, executive director of Dane County Humane Society and Board
President of Wisconsin Federated Humane Societies, whose members include more
than forty humane societies across Wisconsin agrees; "We need a judicial
backstop here; the DNR's inaction in the face of known risks and harm to
animals is not in accord with longstanding Wisconsin animal cruelty protections
or our values regarding humane treatment of animals."
"Our appeal is necessary
because only judicial intervention can protect the public interest from a state
agency acting in an arbitrary and capricious manner;" explains Robert
Habush, "Regarding dogs being used to hunt wolves, Wisconsin DNR's
rule-making process has been unduly influenced by inappropriate lobbying-which
has led to agency rules that ignore wolf biology, documented dog mortality, and
mainstream Wisconsin ethics."
Carl
Sinderbrand of Axley Brynelson, LLP, added: "Our appeal raises important
issues regarding the function of Wisconsin's state government and management of
our natural resources. The wolf hunting rules unfortunately reflect the
elevation of political influence over science-based, responsible management of
public resources."
 2013
Wisconsin Wolf Hunt in Brief
Wolf Hunting in Wisconsin: Mainstream Hunters Speak
Out
WI Wolf
Hunt In the Media
WI Wolf Hunt Overview
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