Dogs; running at large on another landowner's property, penalty. (HB1900)
Introduced By
Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✓ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
☐ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Dogs running at large; civil penalty. Prohibits dog owners from allowing dogs to run at large on the property of another after the landowner has given notice to the dog owner to keep the dog off of the property. The bill provides for a $100 per dog civil penalty enforced by animal control, conservation police, and other law-enforcement officers for each violation. Notice may be given verbally, in writing, with signs, or with blue tree markings. Read the Bill »
Status
01/31/2017: passed committee
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 01/10/2017 | Committee |
| 01/10/2017 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17103022D |
| 01/10/2017 | Referred to Committee on Rules |
| 01/26/2017 | Draft Committee substitute printed to LIS only 17104816D-H1 |
| 01/31/2017 | Committee substitute printed 17105053D-H2 |
| 01/31/2017 | Reported from Rules with substitute (11-Y 4-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/02/2017 | Read first time |
| 02/03/2017 | Read second time |
| 02/03/2017 | Committee substitute agreed to 17105053D-H2 |
| 02/03/2017 | Amendment by Delegate Kilgore agreed to |
| 02/03/2017 | Pending question ordered |
| 02/03/2017 | Engrossed by House - committee substitute with amendment HB1900EH2 |
| 02/03/2017 | Printed as engrossed 17105053D-EH2 |
| 02/06/2017 | Read third time and defeated by House (47-Y 48-N) |
| 02/06/2017 | VOTE: DEFEATED (47-Y 48-N) (see vote tally) |
Video
This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 1 clip in all, totaling 21 minutes.
Transcript
This is a transcript of the video clips in which this bill is discussed.
HAVE TO MAKE YOUR REPORTS, AND INCREASING THE BURDENSOME PAPERWORK THAT ALL THESE AGENCIES ARE INVOLVED WITH TO MAKING THESE REPORTS MORE RED TAPE. I ASK YOU TO NOT VOTE TO ENGROSS THIS BILL. MR. SPEAKER, I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR SPEAKING TO THE BILL.Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): GENTLEMAN HAS THE FLOOR.
[Unknown]: I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR HIS ENCOURAGING WORDS ON THIS VERY GOOD BILL, AND I WOULD POINT OUT TO THE GENTLEMAN THAT THE BILL'S INTENT IS NOT TO GO IN AND DO THE JOB OF THE GOVERNMENT. IT IS TO SIMPLY TO SET UP A PROCESS BY WHICH WE LOOK RATIONALLY REGULATIONS. FIRST OF ALL, THIS BILL LAYS OUT SOME VERY GOOD PRINCIPALS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEGISLATION, PRINCIPLES THAT ARE NOT IN THE STATUTE RIGHT NOW. THE BILL ESTABLISHES METRICS. IMAGINE THAT MR. SPEAKER, WE WOULD ACTUALLY MEASURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A REGULATION ON THE PEOPLE THAT IT REGULATES. IS IT DOING THE KINDS OF THINGS IT SHOULD DO? OR IS IT NOT? IF IT'S NOT BEING EFFECTED, THEN WHY DO WE WANT TO KEEP IT? IMAGINE FURTHER THAT WE ASSESS THE COST OF WHAT THE REGULATION COST THE PUBLIC TO COMPLY WITH IT, AND THE GOVERNMENT TO ENFORCE IT. NOW WE HAVE NO INTEREST THERE, CLEARLY, THE STATUTE PROVIDES FOR THAT. THE STATUTE ALSO PROVIDES THAT THERE BE FEEDBACK TO US IN THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY, SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS DOING SO WHY WE GO 10% OVER 10 YEARS? SO IT'S DONE ACCURATELY AND IT GIVES THE AGENCIES TIME TO DEVELOP THE METRICS WE NEED IN THESE REGULATIONS. THE LAST PIECE, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PEOPLE THAT CAUSE THE REGULATIONS, WELCOME TO THE FAMILY. WE'RE THE ONES THAT DO THAT. THE HOUSE, THE SENATE, THE LEGISLATURE WRITES STATUTES THAT OFTEN CREATES REGULATIONS. SOMETIMES, OVER TIME, THOSE REGULATIONS BECOME USELESS, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING. SO, IF NOTHING ELSE, WHAT THIS BILL DOES, I WOULD SAY TO THE GENTLEMAN AND URGE HIM TO RECONSIDER TO SUPPORT THIS BILL, I KNOW HE WANTS REAL EFFICIENCY IN VIRGINIA, THE REAL THING THIS WILL DO FOR US, SO WHAT IF YOU WILL, IS IT WILL TEE UP A PATHWAY IN THE FUTURE TO REPEAL LEGISLATION THAT QUITE FRANKLY IS NOT WORKING FOR VIRGINIA. YOU NEED TO PASS THIS BILL AND DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE COMMONWEALTH. THANK YOU MR. SPEAKER.
Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): SHALL THE BILL BE ENGROSSED AND PASSED. THOSE IN FAIR -- FAVOR SAY AYE.
[Unknown]: AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO. NO. THE BILL IS PASSED. HOUSE BILL 1900, A BILL TO AMEND AND REENACT A SECTION OF THE CODE RELATING TO DOGS RUNNING AT LARGE, CIVIL PENALTY, REPORT ON RULES WITH A SUBSTITUTE, AND THERE IS A FLOOR AMENDMENT.
Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): THE GENTLEMAN FROM HENRHENRI THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE.
[Unknown]: AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO. THE SUBSTITUTE IS AGREED TO. CAN I HAVE THE FLOOR A MINUTE. SURE, THAT WILL BE FINE. FLOOR AMENDMENT OFFERED BY DELEGATE KILGORE. AFTER LINE 39, INSERT 2, THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT SHALL NOT APPLY TO LOCALITIES WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS. MR. KILGORE. I THINK THIS CLARIIES THE EXISTING LAW ON THE BOOKS NOW, WE DO NOT HAVE -- WE ALREADY HAVE CERTAIN LIMITATIONS ON HUNTING WITH DOGS, I HOPE IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE HOUSE TO ADOPT THE FLOOR AMENDMENT. DID YOU ASK THE PATRON ABOUT THIS? I DID ASK THE PATRON AND HE IS AGREEABLE TO THIS AMENDMENT. HE DID AGREE WITH IT. HE DID AGREE. THANK YOU. YES.
Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): WILL THE GENTLEMAN FROM SCOTTSDALE YIELD FOR A QUESTION. IS THIS HIS VERSION OF BUILDING A WALL.
[Unknown]: I WOULD SAY IT'S IN THE HUNTING REGULATIONS, IN THE BLUE RIDGE REGULATION, SO I HOPE IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE HOUSE TO ADOPT THIS AMENDMENT. SPEAKING TO THE AMENDMENT, THE BLIND AMENDMENT MR. SPEAKER.
Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): YES, I WOULD REITERATE WHAT THIS GENTLEMAN FROM SCOTTS SAID, THERE'S ALREADY A LINE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE HUNTING REGULATIONS, THERE'S A LINE THAT GOES ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN, THAT HUNTING DEER WITH HOUNDS IS NOT ALLOWED WEST OF THAT LINE. SO THIS WOULD MIMIC THAT, WHICH IS ALREADY IN REGULATION. QUESTIONS ON THE ADOPTION OF THE FLOOR AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM SCOTT. THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[Unknown]: AYE.
Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): THE FLOOR AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO. THE GENTLEMAN FROM LUNENBURG, MR. WRIGHT.
Del. Tommy Wright (R-Victoria): THE GENTLEMAN HAS THE FLOOR.
[Unknown]: THANK YOU. AS I SAID, I RISE WITH SOME HESITATION TO SPEAK TO BILL 1900. SOME OF MY COMMENTS WILL BE REGARDING PET OWNERS, AND SOME REGARDING DOGS THAT HUNT. ON LAND 23, IT SAYS ALLOWS A DOG TO RUN AT LARGE FOR THE PURPOSE OF RUNNING OR HUNTING GAME. A LOT OF HUNTING DOGS, I MENTIONED BEAGLES, AND BIRD DOGS, AND OTHER DOGS ARE BRED TO HUNT, BUT THEY DON'T HUNT. SOME OF THEM ARE JUST -- THEY JUST DON'T DO GOOD JOBS OF IT. SOME OF THEM ARE PETS. MY CONCERN, AND CONCERNS EXPRESSED TO ME, PEOPLE THAT HAVE PETS THAT ARE HUNTING DOGS BY BREED, BUT DON'T HUNT, AND HAPPEN TO STRAY ON TO THE PROPERTY OF ANOTHER WHOSE LAND IS POSTED AGAINST HUNTING WOULD BE IN JEOPARDY. IT SAYS HERE OF COURSE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF HUNTING, WHO MAKES THAT DETERMINATION? I ASSUME A JUDGE HAS TO MAKE THE DETERMINATION THAT THE LANDOWNER WOULD TAKE THE DOG'S COLLAR, IDENTIFY THE PERSON, AND IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LET THE DOG GO BACK TO ITS RIGHTFUL OWNER, EITHER BY HOME OR THE OWNER COMING TO GET IT. THAT'S THE FIRST CONCERN I HAVE, MR. SPEAKER, THAT THIS DOESN'T APPLY JUST TO HUNTERS. IT APPLIES TO PET OWNERS. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT IT DOES APPLY TO HUNTERS. I SAY THAT WITHOUT ANY DISREGARD TO LANDOWNERS. MY WISH WOULD BE THAT WE COULD ALL JUST GET ALONG. [LAUGHTER]
Del. Tommy Wright (R-Victoria): I THINK THAT HUNTERS HAVE MADE AN EFFORT TO DO THAT, SOME HUNTERS DON'T ABIDE BY THE LAW AS THEY SHOULD, AS IS TRUE WITH ANYTHING ELSE IN LIFE. I FEEL LIKE THIS BILL WILL UNPROPORTIONALLY PUNISH PEOPLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF A FEW. THIS BILL WILL TURN THE FABRIC AND CULTURE OF THE AREA I REPRESENT AND HAS BEEN MADE KNOWN TO ME, AND BY MY CONSTITUENTS, PEOPLE HAVE HUNTED WITH HOUNDS FOR GENERATIONS. IN SOME CASES, IT'S CONSIDERED ALMOST LIKE MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY. THEY'RE WELL TAKEN CARED OF. PEOPLE LOOK FORWARD TO HUNTING SEASON, THEY TAKE VACATIONS DURING HUNTING SEASON, THEY HAVE FOPPED MEMORIES OF FAMILY OF GENERATIONS WHEN THEY USED TO GO HUNTING TOGETHER. MY FATHER WOULD TAKE ME OUT OF SCHOOL, STARTING OF THE SEASON, AND WE WOULD GO HUNTING, AND HUNTING WITH DOGS. I KNOW THAT PEOPLE THAT OWN LAND HAVE RIGHTS AS WELL. I THINK THAT THE HUNDREDORS -- HUNTERS SHOULD RESPECT THOSE RIGHTS, BUT IF YOU LOOK DOWN ALSO, ONLINE 29, IT SAYS FOR THE SIGNS MAY REASONABLY BE SEEN. NOW IN THE RURAL AREAS, LANDS TEND TO BE IN LARGER BLOCKS FROM YOU DON'T HAVE A SMALL BLOCK HERE AND THERE. YOU MAY BE HUNTING A FARM YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO LUNT -- HUNT ON. YOU MAY BE COON HUNTING, AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE LIABLE IF YOUR DOG GOES ON THAT PROPERTY. THE DOGS RUN A COON AND IT GOES UP A TREE, THE DOG'S JOG IS TO STAND AT THE BASE UNTIL THE OWNER GETS THERE. SO IF YOUR DOG GOES ON SOMEONE'S PROPERTY, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO RETRIEVE IT. THIS BILL WILL TAKE THAT RIGHT AWAY. SO INADVERTENTLY, IT'S ON SOMEONE ELSE'S LAND, IT HAPPENS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE GUILTY. I CAN THINK OF NUMEROUS OTHER INCIDENTS WHERE THAT COULD HAPPEN, IF YOU HAVE HUNTING DOGS, AND THEY GET OUT OF THE PEN. WHATEVER HAPPENS, THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. IT WILL HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY, YOUR DOG IS ON SOMEONE'S PROPERTY, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A FINE FOR IT. I THINK THAT THIS HAPPENS, AND THE OWNERS WANT THE DOGS BACK AS QUICK AS THEY CAN GET THEM. WHEN THEY RELEASE THEM, THEY HAVE TRACKING SYSTEMS, EXPENSIVE TRACKING SYSTEMS WHERE THEY CAN RETRIEVE THEIR DOG. SOME INSTANCES, IT'S NOT PRACTICAL FOR YOUR DOG NOT TO GET ON POSTED LAND. LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS TELL ME THIS IS GOING TO RUIN THE HOBBY AND SPORT OF HUNTING WITH HOUNDS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE PUT IN A POSITION OF POSSIBLY BREAKING THE LAW. THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO ENJOY THIS SPORT, BECAUSE THEIR HOUND MAY ACCIDENT TALLY GET ON PROPERTY THEY AREN'T SUPPOSE TO BE. I DON'T DENY THAT PEOPLE WITH PROPERTY RIGHTS HAVE A RIGHT TO ENJOY THEIR PROPERTY, BUT I THINK HUNTING, OR THE RIGHT TO HUNT IS IMPORTANT IN THE CONSTITUTION OF VIRGINIA, AND I THINK HUNTERS HAVE A RIGHT AS WELL. ANOTHER ITEM I LIKE YOU TO REMEMBER IS IN OUR RURAL AREAS, IT'S A GREAT ECONOMIC BENEFIT. WE HAVE PLACES THAT SELL DOG FOOD, GASOLINE, PEOPLE THAT STOP IN FOR FOOD, PEOPLE THAT COME FROM EITHER STATE, ESPECIALLY WITH BEAR HUNTING. THEY COME IN AND BRING THEIR HOUNDS, AND THEY HUNT ON CLUB LAND, AND PLACES WHERE THEY HAVE PLENTY OF LAND TO HUNT. WITH THIS LAW, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THINK TWICE BEFORE BRINGING THEIR DOGS TO VIRGINIA, AND THEY SPEND THE NIGHTING AND SPEND MONEY IN OUR RESTAURANTS, OUR HOTELS, AND SO FORTH. LIKE I SAID, ONE OF THE KEY REASONS THAT I'M OPPOSED TO IT IS WHAT IT WILL DO TO A SPORT, AND HOBBY AND TRADITION, AND IN MANY WAYS, A WAY OF LIFE THAT WE ENJOYED IN SOUTHERN VIRGINIA AND OTHER PLACES AS WELL FOR YEARS, AND RESPECT REQUEST THAT YOU WILL NOT ADOPT THIS MEASURE. THANK YOU.
[Unknown]: THANK YOU MR. SPEAKER, HOUSE BILL 1900 IS A PROPERTY RIGHTS BILL. MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD AGREE THAT THE VAST, VAST MAJORITY OF DOG HUNTERS ARE RESPONSIBLE IN THE WAY THEY HUNT THEIR DOGS. MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE BEEN A HUNTER AND FISHERMAN, I PROBABLY STARTED WHEN I WAS 3 OR 4. I GOT MY FIRST SHOTGUN WHEN I WAS 7 OR 8. I HAD BEEN HUNTING ALL MY LIFE. HUNTING WITH DOGS, HUNTING WITHOUT DOGS, MY FAMILY OWNS TWO LARGE FARMS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ONE ON THE JAMES RIVER, AND ONE ON THE RIVER DOWN IN KING AND QUEEN COUNTY. I CAN TELL YOU WITH 50 PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, YES, MOST DOG HUNTERS ARE RESPONSIBLE, BUT THERE IS A SMALL MINORITY OF BAD ACTORS. THE LANDOWNERS HAVE NO RECOURSE AGAINST THE BAD ACTORS, MR. SPEAKER, WITH RESPECT TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM LUNENBURG, HE TALKED ABOUT THE DOGS GETTING OUT OF THE PEN, OR PETS, AND SO FORTH, SO THE BILL SPECIFICALLY READS THAT THEY MUST HAVE THE PURPOSE OF HUNTING AND CHASING GAME. SO THE OWNER OF THE DOG HAS TO RELEASE THEM FOR THAT PURPOSE, MR. SPEAKER, SPECIFICALLY THE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE JUST BEFORE US PROVIDED THAT ANY DOG OWNER OR CUSTODIAN THAT WITHOUT PERMISSION, ALLOWS A DOG TO ROAM ON THE LAND OF ANOTHER FOR THE PURPOSE, SO IT DIDN'T BE ACCIDENTAL, FOR HUNTING OR CHASING GAME, THAT BURDENS THE LANDER -- LANDOWNERS' ENJOYMENT OF THE PROPERTY. MR. SPEAKER, THE GENTLEMAN POINTED OUT THAT THEY CAN'T GET THE SIGNS, READ THE POSTED SIGNS, I CAN TELL YOU WITHOUT DOUBT, THE LOCAL HUNTING CLUBS KNOW WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSE TO BE, THEY KNOW WHERE THEIR DOGS ARE SUPPOSE TO BE, AND THEY KNOW WHERE THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSE TO BE, AND THEY KNOW WHERE THEIR DOGS ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO BE, SO THIS SMALL MINORITY OF BAD ACTORS ARE THE PROBLEM. I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE MR. SPEAKER. I WAS DOWN AT MY PROPERTY AT KING AND QUEEN WITH MY ENTIRE FAMILY. I HAD DOG HUNTERS ON BOTH SIDES OF ME DOWN THERE. THEY WOULD REGULARLY RUN THEIR OVER 700 ACRES OVER THERE, MY HOUSE SITS IN THE MIDDLE. I HAVE WATER ON TWO SIDES OF ME, A RIVER AND DEEP CREEK, SO MR. SPEAKER, LOOK, THE VAST MAJORITY OF DOG HUNTERS, DEER HUNTERS, ARE VERY RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE, BUT DOGS PASS MY PROPERTY, AND I THERE IS A SMALL GROUP OF BAD ACTORS, AND PRESENTLY LANDOWNERS ALL OVER VIRGINIA HAVE NO RECOURSE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES WHEN THE DOGS ARE DOING UNDULY BURDENS THE LAND OWNERS' USE OF THE PROPERTY. I WILL MOVE THAT THE HOUSE ENGROSS AND PASS ON TO THIRD READING HOUSE BILL 1900.
Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): GENTLEMAN FROM CAMPBELL, MR. FARISS.
Del. Matt Fariss (R-Rustburg): MR. SPEAKER, SPEAKING TO THE BILL.
Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): GENTLEMAN HAS THE FLOOR.
Del. Matt Fariss (R-Rustburg): MR. SPEAKER, I WANT TO TELL THE HOUSE A LITTLE STORY. [LAUGHTER]
[Unknown]: THE OTHER DAY, BUDDY FOWLER AND I WERE WALKING BACK TO OUR OFFICE, AND WE -- A BUDDY OF OURS CAME OUT IN HIS BIG BLACK TAHOE AND HE STOPPED AND HE SAID HEY MATT, HOW ARE YOU DOING? I SAID I'M DOING GOOD TERRY, HOW ARE YOU DOING? HE SAID THE FIRST LADY AND I ARE FARMING NOW. HE SAID WE PLANTED A BIG GARDEN TO HELP RICHMOND FROM BEING A DEAD ZONE, A DESERT FOR FRESH FOOD. I SAID THAT'S GREAT, HOW IS IT WORKING? HE SAID IT'S DOING GOOD BUT THE RABBITS ARE EATING US OUT A HOME. IT'S EATING EVERYTHING THAT GROWS. BUDDY SAYS I CAN FIX THAT, I HAVE RABBIT DOGS, THEY CAN GET THE RABBITS. HE SAID I THINK THE SPEAKER WILL LET US OUT EARLY FRIDAY, SO WE WILL COME OVER IN THE AFTERNOON AND GO RABBIT HUNTING. [LAUGHTER] SO HE SAYS YOU KNOW, THE SPEAKER IS REAL INTERESTED IN HUNTING THESE DAYS, I'M GOING TO INVITE HIM. MY BUDDY TODD HELPED ME WITH THE GUN LEGISLATION LAST YEAR, HOW ABOUT, CAN YOU GET HIM TO COME AND I SAID SURE. SO, FRIDAY AFTERNOON, WE HEAD OVER TO TERRY'S TO GO RABBIT HUNTING. WE GET OVER THERE, AND HERE COMES THE KILGORE GANG FROM SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. HE SAID WE HEARD YOU'RE GOING RABBIT HUNTING. WE WANT TO GO RABBIT HUNTING. I SAID SURE, COME ON. WE GET TO THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION, AND THERE'S DELEGATE LOPEZ, AND DELEGATE SIMON. [LAUGHTER] I SAID, I SAID MR. GOVERNOR, WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE WE DOING? HE SAID YOU KNOW, THESE BOYS ARE SCARED OF GUNS, THEY HATE GUNS, I WANT THEM TO SEE HOW GUNS ARE USED IN A GOOD MANNER TO GO HUNTING. SO KILGORE GANG, SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA GANG, THEY SAID THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON DOWN THE HILL. SO WE TURNED THE BEAGLES OUT, AND WE'RE WALKING ALONG, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RABBIT JUMPS UP, THE DOG TAKES OFF, DOWN THE HILL THEY GO AND I SAID TERRY, HAVE YOU TALKED TO YOUR NEIGHBORS, ARE THEY OKAY WITH US HUNTING HERE. THEY SAID IT'S NO PROBLEM. HE'S A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, EVERYTHING IS OKAY. HE SAID IF THEY GO BACK THIS WAY, YOU KNOW, PAUL, HE'S A GREAT NEIGHBOR OF MINE, HE'S FINE WITH THOSE IN THE HOUSE CHAMBERS. SO WE'RE HAVING A GREAT TIME AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE RABBIT RUNS BY THE KILGORE GANG AND THEY SHOOT AND MISS HIM. [LAUGHTER] OH YEAH. SO THE DOGS TURNED DOWN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THEY START UP THE HILL AND THEY'RE GETTING AFTER HIM AN BUDDY IS BRAGGING, LOOKING AT THOSE BAD GIRLS GO. THE GOVERNOR SAYS, OH NO, I SAID WHAT'S WRONG GOVERNOR? HE SAID THEY'RE GOING TO MS. SHAW'S PLACE. MS. SHAW CONTROLS THIS HILL. SHE DON'T WANT ANY DOGS ON HER PLACE. [LAUGHTER] SO HERE GOES TODD, AND I, AND DELEGATE LOPEZ, AND DELEGATE SIMON, AND BUDDY FOWLER, AND YOU MR. SPEAKER, AND WE'RE CHASING THOSE DOGS. WE'RE COMING AROUND IN FRONT OF THE CAPITOL, AND WE MEET SUSAN SHAW. [LAUGHTER] MS. SHAW RUNS OUT THERE AND SAYS I TOLD BILL STANLEY TO KEEP HIS DOGS OUT OF THIS PLACE, AND HE COULDN'T COME OVER HERE AND HUNT, AND YOU'RE NOT COMING HUNTING, AND TERRY IS NOT COMING TO HUNT, AND YOU BOYS BETTER WAIT HERE BECAUSE THE CAPTAIN OF POLICE IS ON HIS WAY. MR. SPEAKER, SOMEBODY HAS TO PAY
Comments
Please pass this bill.
Dogs have become an increasing problem on my land. I understand a dog may get loose every now and then, but this is a problem everyday. Plus I still hunt my land and can't tell you how frustrated it is to take time off from work, pay money in hunting license, hunting supplies, etc to have your hunt runined by neighbors dogs running the property.
Again, I understand a dog may get loose every now and then, but come on!!! PASS the law.
I support this bill. We have constant issues with dogs at large on our property, killing chickens, threatening us, harassing our livestock, destroying property.
Yes, a dog can get loose every now and then. That's fine.
But there needs to be a mechanism beyond the Animal Control responses I have recently had to complaints: "Well, this particular dog has not killed any of your chickens in about 6 months, so we are not going to even contact the owner". Yes, apparently livestock depredation needs to happen several times a year before anyone takes action!
This bill is ridiculous. This is unfair to many citizens who pay taxes and who also spend a lot of money each year that boosts Virginia's local economy. Pass this bill, and watch our economy tank...might not happen this year but years to follow economic growth will come to a halt. For everyone that is saying "I understand dogs may get loose"...come on, you live in the country... there has always been dogs roaming...always will. This bill isn't going to change that. I have hunted in many counties in Virginia, DOGS aren't the problem... the people are. If people have livestock being killed you have rights...use them, but don't ruin it for the whole state...let alone your neighbors house dog who has accidentally slipped onto your property.
Dog hunting provides the state with the best, possible control of the deer population. The state's agriculture is economically damaged annually by the deer population. Injured/sick deer and deer with disease are humanely taken care of and prevent further spread of disease. Deer hunters and their dogs provide a major benefit in walking through woods and notifying authorities of issues and problems. As a livestock owner, farmer, and lifelong deer hunter, deer dogs are not the ones that attack and kill animals. Rather, other types of dogs, foxes, mountain lions, and coyotes are killing livestock. If the state wants to protect livestock, domestic pets, humans, and other game, then the Department of Game and Inland Fishery (DGIF) needs to aggressively hunt these dangerous predators. In fact, coyotes are currently the largest threat and are large enough to kill children as well as attack adults and even kill them. DGIF needs to set up hunts at nights with night vision to eliminate this threat. The current arrangements are not enough to put a dent in the rapidly growing population of coyotes. The department hunted deer by night in Northern Virginia when the deer population got out of hand and was causing traffic accidents, some of which were fatal. The time and money needs to be spent on providing tools, resources, and a mandate to DGIF to make Virginia safe from the true major threat to all of us at this time: coyotes.
I have constant problems with hunting hounds and their owners. They have no respect for landowners and they use the Right to Retrieve Hounds Law to trespass on my land.
Vote no! This is the best way to reduce hunting and revenue by over half. This is the best way to bring commercial hunting into Virginia and make the cost so high that most that hunt now will not be able to afford a license or lease!
Please Vote NO on HB1900.
Please do not support this bill. The only thing it could cause is more problems between neighbors. Hunting with hounds is a Virginian tradition, Let's preserve it for generations to come. It gives too much power to anti hound hunters.
Everyone for this bill says they understand a dog gets out now and then, well this bill doesn't account for that. I've coon hunted close to 1000 acres 3-4 nights a week for the past 4 years. There's a house close to a mile from where I drop the dogs. In 4 years I've been in his yard twice to get 3 dogs. He is rightfully upset about the noise but we've always parted ways with a handshake. Now that could have cost me $300 in one night. How many people will continue to hunt with that risk. This is just a step to shut down dog hunting of all kinds in the commonwealth.
Please vote no to the HB 1900 bill.
I absolutely do NOT support this bill. Creating laws to solve discrepancies between neighbors makes no sense whatsoever and is a perfect example of government overreach.
Vote NO to hb 1900!!
Please vote no! This bill is extremely vague in how warnings can be given. Blue markers on your property are permanent, and can be used to penalize first offenders that should just be receiving a warning just because the owners want to penalize everyone. Myself and the other dog drivers of my club don't even "hunt" to watch over our dogs to prevent them from crossing the absolute best we can. Not to mention I have never seen in 20+ years, a hound harass cattle, horses, chickens etc. In fact, I have fowl that roam my yard and the dogs don't even look twice at them. I feel most of these accusations are exaggerated to put a black eye on houndsman.
This bill will affect law officials and courts as well with overwhelming amounts of cases. Cases that really could be worked out amongst respectable parties individually without getting the state involved / distracted. Laws are already in place to penalize "bad apples" of the sport without penalizing individuals who sincerely were trying their best to prevent dogs from crossing.
Let me just go teach my coonhound that she can't trail a coon across someone's land so I don't get fined, better yet let me just go tell the coons not to cross someone's land so my dog won't follow.
I vote no ... how is the hound supposed to know who's land they are on .... the hounds are just doing what they are supposed to do
Please vot NO!! My husband and I have beagles and use gps collars on our dogs most of the time we catch them before they get out of range but sometimes it happens one or two split off from our pack and we try not to bother other landowners by coming onto other landowners property so we try to let them run through and try to catch them before they cross the roads. If we have to go into other landowners we always ask if we have to retrieve them. Dogs have always been a part of hunting for myself & my husband and we respect the landowners and most of the time they usually shoot the game animals anyways. So Please take consideration for both dog owners and landowners!!
Please vote no to the HB 1900 Bill. I for one see no sense in it.
Please PASS this bill, lived in Spotsy for 6 years and since the first year of deer season, we have had dogs running deer through our property every year. We have had hunters coming up to our home and making myself and our children very uncomfortable. Our driveway is a half mile long. We have family that live out of state that pay to come here to hunt our property and no longer want to hunt here because of the dogs roaming our land. We also had dog hunters block the roads and traffic is unable to pass them. Something has to be done about this. Please pass this law.
I do not support this bill,due to the fact that it affects all dog owners. It affects sport/and or leisure hunting. The people that are pushing for this bill, are pushing for personal gain.
Vote no to this bill.. I know that something should be done to the "few" that do not handle dog retrieval the right way,, but do not punish everyone for the actions of a few.. I've been dog hunting for over 30 years and have been on a lot of different people's land getting my dogs with never a problem... get permission or get fined.. that's a good way for the bill to read..
VOTE NO!!! I do not hunt at all, but I do find this absurb!! Very rarely does a hunting dog destroy property, they run threw and are gone.If they do any respectable hunter will take care of the problem, and yes they do. Responsible dog hunters should not be punished for others wrong doing If somebody wrecks a car should everyone have their license taken away and not be able to drive? Think about this none sense!! Let this tradition continue as it should. This is America and everyone likes different things. Don't force people to give up a lifetime of heritage just to please others. This bill is only here to help anti dog hunters. So how can you choose ones rights over another??? Just so everyone is clear THE DOGS ARE NOT OUT TO GET YOU. #teamletdogsrun!!!!
Please vote no on this bill! Hunting with hounds and dogs in general bring so much revenue to the Commonwealth. The pounds and shelters will be full of dogs waiting to be euthanized because of this bill if passed. Please vote no on this.. Thank you!
Vote no on this bill. This will only start more problems than solving. Not to mention the state will loose money from all the people that would be forced to quit hunting cause they can't use dogs any more. Hunting with hounds is a way of life for a lot of hunters so why pick on them and try to change their life style.
The proposals within this bill are simply not feasible. Please do not punish a hunter's dog for doing what it does best. In most cases, the dog will be in pursuit of a wild animal. It just isn't possible to keep said wild animal off of a landowner's property, let alone the dog following after. Hunters, in most cases, are already responsible for hefty hunting dues. Some of these dues are paid to the owner of the land hunted. Some of the dues also go toward conserving the land hunted on. To add in a possible penalty fee threatens the hunter's ability to keep the land he hunts on or conserve it. Please do not pass this bill.
Please do not allow this bill to pass. My father like his father were dog hunters. When i was a kid i used to wait for the weekend to go fox hunting with my grandfather. He had outside fox hounds and it was an absolute thrill to listen to them run. My dad and i both get to enjoy hunting together now unfortunately my grandfather has passed. With this being said i want to be able to have my dad take my son (one day) to go hunting just like his father did me. If this law were to pass he will not be able to do that. Also i would not be able to teach my son responsibility as he would have to help me take care of the hounds we have. It would help him just like it helped me. Thank you and i hope you do not pass this law.
Please vote NO on HB 1900. I am speaking for dog owner's across the Commonwealth when I plead that you DO NOT support this bill. Our dogs are like members of our family except they cannot read posted signs or do not know where one piece of property starts and another begins. Passage of this bill would require ALL dog owners (domestic and hunting alike) to chain up and restrain these animals we love dearly. I believe the solution to the problem of "dogs running at large" on property where they are not wanted is for those FEW landowners to install fences or other barriers since the presence of dogs and other animals seem to pose such an issue. Please do not allow a small faction of dissatisfied noisy individuals influence the laws of this great state. Please do not pass HB 1900. At the very worst, allow HB 1900 to go to referrendum in the fall so the true majority may decide. Thank you.
Please vote no to this insane bill. People have been hunting with hounds for years and it's a part of our heritage,it runs back for generations. Huge amounts of money is spent in Virginia because of hunting.From license fees to equipment,trucks,hotels,feed,vet bills,fuel,the country store,etc.too much to loose because a city slicker buys five acres in the country and didn't do their research first.please consider the great loss if this passes
Please vote no for bill HB 1900.
Please vote NO. I have hunted with hounds since I was 13 and my children have been in the woods with hounds since they were 3. It's a family tradition and one that's enjoyed. Our dogs can't read and you can't control where game runs when being pursued, this is just a step toward taking away our hunting rights and rights to pursue game with hounds. Again please VOTE NO!
Please support HB 1900!
Landowners want EQUAL PROTECTION under the LAW! This bill gives me the right to hold dog owners responsible for using my property without my permission.
Not only has Legislation been introduced in Virginia in regards to deer dog hunting but was introduced in South Carolina and Mississippi! And there is a lawsuit in Florida. Seems like there are more than a few bad apples!
I pay taxes on my farm in VA but can't enjoy it for the dog hunters who think they own the state. They are no more than organized criminals in parts of the state. The " my way or move" or "my way or I'll kick your ass" attitude has to be stopped. Just wait you'll see the crazy comments.
I support this bill 100%
It won't stop all of the dog guys but atleast landowners will have a fighting chance when they get run over now.
Vote No to HB1900
I am writing you with concern about this proposed bill HB1900.
With all the important issues in the Commonwealth at this time to think this is something the speaker would introduce to the delegates as important issue is questionable to me !
Hunting with Hounds in VA is in the history books and should continue to be something we pass on to youth of Va .
VOTE NO TO HB1900
I am asking to vote no for this bill. Hunting with hounds is a heritage, my 6 year old loves his hounds and enjoys hound hunting. If this bill passes the economy will feel it. A lot of gas, food are bought during this time of year. Local business's are being supported by selling dog feed and supplies. The vets office won't be getting extra money for the rabies shots. I own 10 hounds and when my hounds get into someone else's property I try my best to catch them. There are roughy 6 weeks of hunting between bow and black powder season before dog season comes in. Please vote no for this bill!
Please VOTE NO on HB1900! This bill will effectively end ALL hunting with dogs! There are squirrel dogs, rabbit dogs, bird dogs, hog dogs, coyote dogs, fox dogs, deer dogs & bear dogs, also turkey dogs too! Passage of this bill will affect all pet dogs as well. There are already laws in place to address such issues, and a bill was passed last year making it illegal to release dogs on posted property! Utilize the laws which are already in force! To those seeking passage of this bill, it makes no difference, but there is a 400 year heritage of hunting with dogs, which goes back to George Washington. VOTE NO on HB1900, No substitute, no amendments! In an email sent by the Patron, it was stated that "60" people approached him about such a bill. So why penalize 80,000-90,000 hunters that use dogs, and penalize those additional tens of thousands that have family pets as well. Not the best decision for "WE THE PEOPLE"! VOTE NO!
DO NOT PASS THIS BILL
This is a heritage ending bill that will effect hunters dog and still alike. The taxes made in this state alone is probably in the billions. The state of Virginia was founded on hunting dogs. Can we please keep this heritage going for many more generatations to come.
Please vote NO for this Bill. This Bill is not well thought out, is poorly written, and is a cruel and devious attempt to implement commercialized hunting in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the future. This Bill will do nothing but cause turmoil between hunters, dog owners, and adjacent property owners. Localities do not have the manpower, time, nor financial ability to respond to incidents that will end up being a "he said she said" type situation. What if my poodle chases a bird into my neighbor's yard and my neighbor and I don't get along? My neighbor can catch my poodle, hold it hostage, call the authorities, and then we will both end up in court over a dog crossing an invisible boundary line. This is ridiculous. Vote NO and put an end to these hidden agendas.
I'm against this bill, and I ask our lawmakers to vote NO against it as well. Hunting is a heritage and dog hunting has been part of it for decades. Dogs cause no trouble and damage to properties. It is however something to be said about dog owners, to make sure they have landowners permission to retrieve said dog. And in our area they do and landowners are very obliging to us. So please don't take away dog hunting or charge a dog a fine for trespassing, which is ridiculous. Thank you, and please kill this bill. Far more important things to take care of!
Vote yes on this bill. I am a farm owner and am tired of the lawless hunting with dogs taking place in Campbell county. It needs to stop!
Please vote Yes for this bill. This bill will not punish the clubs and hunters that are doing the right thing. It will punish those clubs that are not. I am a member of a club who runs dogs and we have issues of other clubs dogs on our land when we are still hunting. The technology is there to help stop and track dogs that get away. Property rights should come ahead of any dogs or hunters rights. This will only help us as it will weed out the bad apples and allow our tradition of running dogs to continue. If we don't do something, then the landowners will continue to have no recourse and the complaints will continue to grow in numbers and I'm afraid then they will outlaw what my family had been doing for generations!
Please vote No on HB 1900.
Vote NO! Protect our heritage!!
Please vote YES on this bill. Dogs and dog owners have been trespassing my farm as if they owned it. The dogs are a nuisance during the day and night when the hunters don't take them home. I've returned 4 dogs to their ungrateful owners this year that were covered in ticks and in in terrible condition.
Please Vote No on HB1900...we have a farm in Prince George county and Primarily still hunt but the dogs and deer dog hunters are never a problem..our livestock and land has never been damaged...this is a Virginia tradition and should be rightfully preserved for future generations
Please vote no for HB1900
Please vote no on this bill. Hunting with dogs has been in existence since the days of our for Father's. Patrik Henry had his own blood line of hounds. The Henry Hounds. This is Virginia's herritage. I understand that some problems may arise because of a few instances each year. But dont punish the majority of sportsmen that do their best to ethically dog hunt. I consider this bill a threat to the sport of hunting with hounds in virginia.
I strongly do NOT agree on HB 1900.
Please vote no on hb1900
Vote no to keep a heritage and a lively hood alive. There are no way a piece of game nor a dog can read signs and be aware of what they are upon. It is due to normal travel ways or the geology of the land that they find their way and should non of this be held against them nor their owner. It is unfair to the people of the great commonwealth of Virginia to pass this law.Do I agree with all and their ethics no but this would be highly unfair to people and the dogs.
Please pass this bill. I'm tired of all the excuses. When people are allowing their dogs to run your land 3-5 times a week for almost two month out of the year just because of "tradition" something needs to be done. I worked for years to own my own land. I pay the taxes. I do the work. I bet some of these people making excuses would sing a different tune if they put in a in ground pool and than all the neighbors kids that couldn't read and weren't hurting anything came over. I mean after all if the kids splashed you it's to your benefit because you were hot! Stop the excuses pass the bill!
Please vote NO for HB1900!
I oppose this bill and urge you to vote NO. I feel there are laws on the books that can take care of the problem areas if properly enforced. More Laws are not the answer. Again, please vote NO. Thank you.
Please vote no to this bill. No amendments.
Please vote NO on this ridiculous bill.
Please vote no to HB 1900
Vote YES.
Landowner rights trump the rights of hunters and their dogs. As a hunter and landowner who participates in all forms of hunting VA allows, this bill is a great start in allowing the landowner to have more recourse in the trespassing of dogs. While dog hunting may be a tradition, that does not excuse the way clubs act when they willingly allow dogs to run through others property where they are not allowed. The good clubs can and do control their dogs. Its the ones who don't that this bill will hopefully fix. This bill is a solid common ground for hound hunters and landowners.
This bill is purely ridiculous. I will forever vote no a MILLION times on this bill. VOTE NO. VOTE NO. VOTE NO!!!!
PLEASE VOTE YES! There is no reason I should not be able to choose who or what come onto MY PROPERTY!!
Anyone that feels that leasing property, or participating in a hunt off of land they own has no respect for ownership of anything. Posted private property belonhing to a individual or corporation should have complete and effective say what occurs within those boundaries. If a property is posted no hunting that means no hunting, a dog used for the purpose of hunting is still hunting under the direction and guidance of the hound hunter. The excuse they can't control the dog leads me to belive the animal should not be used if it can not be controlled. If a farmer has to contain hisome animals or face charges and fines if animals escape or are left to roam so should a hound hunter and dog. Without private property hound hunting will cease to exist. Theyou need to fix their problems and attitudes. They have hard choices to make tend to their attitudes and relationships with all hunters and property owners or face dire consequences of the sport disappearing. Lots of thingstress have been part of a heritage throughout history. Those have hone by the way side throughout history. The hound hunting sport will be another one of those. My land, my rights, my way. I support any legislation that will controll or end hound hunting deer with dogs.
Please vote NO to HB1900!
As an avid deer and rabbit hunter with hounds, the passing of this bill would ruin the heritage of a tradition that is deeply rooted in the wonderful state of Virginia. So please, learn why we love the sport of hunting with our best friends, the hounds, before bills are introduced that could jeopardize our lifestyle.
Please vote no for HB 1900
Please vote no on HB 1900
Please vote NO to HB 1900
Vote NO to BH1900 this bill will cause way more problems that it will solve
Vote NO on HB1900 in any form. Hunting with Hounds is our Heritage. Many small Communities Businesses live and thrive on tbe revenues from Dog hunting Season. A bill like this restricts and further hurts the sport.
I support this bill all the way. It will give the Virginia landowner a little power to help keep unwanted hounds off their property. The intent of this bill is not to put an end to hunting with hounds like most of those opposed will say but only to help me keep them off my land. I really hope our Delegates take a long look at this and see that its a property rights issue.
As a young hunter that just bought 5 dogs making only 7.25/hour please do not support HB 1900 I work hard to provide food, shelter , medical needs ,and supplies for my dogs and the tradition I love I don't make much but dog hunting is the sport I love and support, a dog cannot control where it goes it just sings it's sweet hound sound which is music to any houndsmans ears hound hunting does not only give hunters the chance to control the deer population but also it teaches kids southern heritage and tradition as their ancestors used hounds to hunt I've been around hounds since I was knee high to a grasshopper and loved every minute of it and I hope to continue dog hunting so please do not support this bill
Please vote NO to this bill, we too hunt with short legged beagles and use gps tracking collars to retrieve them efficiently prior to them crossing land where they may not be wanted. We cannot always catch them where and when we would like but we exhaust every effort to and we DO respect ALL landowners and ask permission when available to retrieve our dogs. As sportsmen, we follow all game laws and regulations set forth by the VGIF and we spend a lot of our money to do so. This Virginia tradition is valued greatly by ALL of the hunters I know and should NOT be changed by this legislation. Thank you
Pass this bill. I and my family are sick and tired of having deer hounds dumped on my farm without permission several times a week. Impossible to hunt the property I own and pay taxes on in a fashion that I enjoy.
This bill will help landowners claim what the BOUGHT and PAID for!
Lets hold the BAD APPLES RESPONSIBLE!
SUPPORT HB 1900
Vote no on HB 1900. Ok so here is my question? At what point will the state be held liable to teach all dogs and cats to read posted signs and property markers. Here is the problem with this bill, it will effect hunters and none hunters. Ok, so the twist is for the rich people that live in a neighborhood with half million to million dollar homes. So i.e fluffy, gets in your rich neighbors yard and your neighbor can't stand fluffy. So your neighbor calls the police and states your dog is in there yard and the police must due something now. So the police show up and you tell them that fluffy can not read posted signs or property markers and your neighbor is just singling you out. So the police write the summons for you and fluffy to go to court and tell the judge, why fluffy was in the neighbors yard. Now the police are the bad people for just doing there job,oh and of course you will tell them that you pay there salaries and you will have them fired for the summons. The judge gives you the proposed fine and now it's not your fault it's the states fault only because it's effecting you now, but until that point it was ok. Now you do as rich people due you run to your elected officials in the locality's where you live jumping up and down and screaming and demanding something be done. The point of all of this is that the people voting on this bill will not be enforcing it and the burden falls back on every locality in the state with under staffed police departments and sheriffs officers, game warden and state police. Come on people we have bigger problems in the commonwealth of Virginia than this, let's start with a budget and better wages for public safety personnel and school teachers. In closing vote no for HB 1900.
please vote no on hb1900
NO, NO, NO !!!! There are enough regulations as it is
Please vote no on tbis ridiculous bill.
Vote yes. Only some who does not respect property rights would be against it. Hound hunting is a practice that requires large tracts of land. When they run all the deer off their tracts they needo property that belongs to others so they can continue to hunt after a few hours all the time
Please vote no to this bill
I'm a youth hunter from central Virginia. I absolutely love the sound of the dogs lighting up and find it as a lifestyle and a tradition. I don't support this bill due to dogs not being able to read 'No Trespassing' signs. Although those hunters who intentionly release their dogs onto someone elses land without permission I do feel they need to be charged. They put a blind eye to those who do it the right way. I'd love to be able to pass this way of hunting down to future generations of hunters instead of telling stories about how we used to do it around a fire. I'd like to see this bill get rejected and serve the 190,000 plus deer hunters that hunt with dogs. Though I'm only 14 I'd still like my voice to be heard about something I'm passionate about. Thank you.
Please pass this bill. We as landowners have no protection or rights against these dogs running on our property. We are not able to enjoy our own property while they are doing this.
Please vote NO to HB 1900. I am a hunter and I respect all property rights at all times but a hunting dog needs to do what its born and bred to do. They aren't human. They don't know where they are allowed and aren't. Just like anyones pet. Please don't let us hunters suffer for wanting to keep the heritage alive. My list of reasons behind this could go on for pages but to keep it short and to the point, please oppose this bill.
Vote no to this bill hb 1900 .use the laws in place better.we don't need more laws .
Please support the bill. Personal property rights.
Landowners need to have their rights to their land and not have to worry whether what dogs may come causing havoc on what the landowners earned and worked for. Simple solution. Run your dogs or let loose on your own property, if not good enough buy more land or be responsible dog owners. Not everyone should own dogs.
Vote NO to HB 1900! Completely unacceptable to even consider this. You legislators work for us, don't listen to the lobbyist.
Vote YES YES YES on HB 1900! Fundamental property rights must be restored!
The economy surely will not tank when this is passed. There is little tradition in a group of hunters parking along a road with coolers, letting hounds loose across anyone's private property they wish, dogs strapped with GPS and shock collars....... Any hound hunter on here that actually respects property rights should have no problem with this bill. It is hard to believe that the Commonwealth permits the legal trespassing of one special section of the public onto it's citizen's private land. Land owners have no recourse to protect their God-given right to their own property!
Please vote no to HB1900
Please vote NO on HB 1900.. This bill is rediculous!! Our local law enforcement,and conservation officers are burdened enough with being understaffed and stretched out beyond normal limits. Our conservation officers have a hard time covering the territory as it is. Yet you want to pass a bill that will tie them up even more,and put neighbor against neighbor over silly rules.. This bill will in effect put a "leash law" on the entire state. You can have all the technology in the world on a dog ,but you can't make it read,or make the game its chasing do the same. Let the laws that are in place now be enforced before we add anymore. As a landowner,father,hounds man of big game species in this beautiful state, I as you to vote NO.. Our four legged family members of all shapes,sizes,and colors deserve to do what they they love to do.. VOTE NO HB#1900!!!
Please pass HE 1900. I am a landowner whose rabbits in their hutches and homestead poultry have been massacred by hunting hounds which were deliberately brought to my property line and released to scout deer. No deer dogger ever reimbursed me for the damage their hounds caused. I think the tradition of hunting with dogs belongs on land where it is permitted but not on private land where good citizens want to enjoy their own pursuits in peace.
Please vote NO HB1900
Please vote NO on this bill! I care very strongly about this sport I have been involved with it since I could walk! Myself personally and the rest of my hunting club are very respectful of landowners and always ask permission before entering onto someone's property to retrieve a dog we try our absolute best to keep dogs off of the property that we can't hunt, but unfortunately we can't always do so. And we talk to the landowners and get them off asap and as respectfully as possible. This bill will do nothing but cause tension between landowners and dog hunters. Please vote NO to this bill!
In 2008 Virginia conducted a study on the impact of hunting with hounds, and there were stakeholders representing all sides of this subject. That study suggested a number of changes.....and to my knowledge only one change was made.....which was a code of ethics. All other suggestions were ignored.
If you hunt with hounds and you want that tradition to continue then prove so through respect.
Ask yourself this question......how much longer will VA ignore the complaints from property owners before it takes corrective action? Will it be this year.....or next year?
If your argument is "my dogs can't read".....then you're part of the problem and none of the solution. If your argument is I can't control my dogs.....then you're part of the problem and none of the solution.
The future of this tradition rest solely in the hands of those that enjoy it.
If you don't care about your neighbors as much as you care about your dogs and this tradition.....you better change now.
Please vote NO on HB1900.
VOTE YES ON HB1900.
I support all types of hunting but property rights must trump hunting rights. RTR laws allow hounds men to trespass under the cover of dog retrevival. Too many abuse the list loophole. HB1900 will not prevent ethical hunters from continuing to hunt with dogs. The bill will strengthen landowner rights in case "bad apples" decide to ignore their property lines. PLEASE VOTE YES ON HB1900.
Please don't pass this bill
Vote YES on HB1900.
Give landowners back the right to determine who should be on their property. Hold dog owners accountable for losing control of their animals. The majority of the United States successfully control their deer populations without the use of hounds. Virginia will be no different.
Please vote YES on HB1900.
I respectfully ask that you vote NO on HB1900.
VOTE NO!!!!! How is an owner supposed to keep there dog from someone's land. We run the dogs to product food for our families and the community. Our dogs have been under attack, mutilated, and killed just because they were running on a property or around the property, however most of these individuals can not be caught. That is the true issue. Not all hunters are inconsiderate, rude, and tear up property. Do not punish the hunters for doing what history and heritage has taught us how to survive. Hunting has been less attractive to my generation because of the rude and inconsiderate land owners and law makers. VOTE NO!!!!!
Please vote No to this bill the terms which you can be fined by this are ludicrous if your adjoing land owner does not like dog hunting all they have to say is I told John Doe to keep those dogs off my land 9 of John Does dogs where here today with no proof of them being there or proof of the accountable owner it could be someone else's dogs and John Doe is slapped with a 900$ fine is radical and unrealistic we have laws in place that handle trespass of rouge hunters still and dog hunters I have owned 9-15 deer dogs every season since 2009 and have yet to have any backlash or issues from a proptery owner I ask for permission to retrieve and will only walk onto another's proptery with permission after dark when hunting hours are closed for the day
VOTE NO period.
I respectfully request that you vote NO on HB1900. I ask that you not punish the thousands of dog hunters in Virginia because of the few bad apples still out there. We spend thousands of dollars on our dogs and tracking equipment each year to pursue the age old Virginia tradition of hound hunting. I have been involved with hounds for 51 years now and wish that my children and grandchildren will have the opportunity to carry it on. Please vote No on HB1900!
I support it and come on really oh it's commercial hunting in va you pass this bill and you'll kill the economy please grow up it would build it because we like the hunt in stands and can't cause of these dogs running them oh well guess what the state law of retrieveing dose not trump the constitution I have a right to defend it aka the fifth amendment so vote yes
I vote NO to the HB1900 bill ! Wake up folks , these people aren't just after our hunting dogs , they're after our family pets to . If , us fellow dog owner's don't pull together and shoot down this stupid bill , their will be a lot more stupid bills to follow . That I promise you . I will share this website with every dog owner I know , to put a stop to this bill . I was born and raised in Virginia of 46 years , and it really offends me about people trying to take my dog rights away from me . I, myself own over 20 hounds , and I spend a lot of money on dog food , medicine , vet bills and gas getting them up before people talk crap about me . I WILL NOT GIVE MY DOGS UP WITHOUT A FIGHT !
Please vote NO!!! I come from a family that hunts with dogs and it's the few bad apples ruining it for everyone. And the fact that this bill applies to EVERY DOG, hunting or not. I have two let dogs that have gotten out and went missing for DAYS. My husband put over 500 miles on his truck only going in a 20 mile radius looking for them. It already makes me sick when they get out and go missing for that long...now there will be added burden of a 250 fine? Ridiculous. Whatever happened to being neighborly?? And to those that think I'm not a responsible pet owner- sometimes electric fences and regular fences just don't work like they are supposed to. Please do not pass this bill!!
Vote no hb1900
I vote No to hb1900
I vote no to hb1900
Vote no to the hb1900 bill ..dogs aren't the problem coyotes..bobcats kill the live stock and deer rabbits etc...there are laws in affect thst help protect the landowner...
I vote NO to HB1900 Because I am a rabbit hunter and coon hunter my daughters like going coon hunting. I vote no god bless.
Please vote no on HB 1900! I am a landowner and own 11 horses and have never had a problem with hunting dogs. They have never destroyed or ruined anything on my property. I hear some people saying their hunts are ruined from dogs and hunters. With everyone owning a cell phone with a camera it should be easy to prove all these allegations against dogs and dog hunters to show law enforcement to prosecute these so called bad apples. When asked for pictures or proof 99 percent can't show any proof. I agree most of these complaints against dogs and hunters are not true. I am asking you to please vote NO FOR HB 1900! Thank You!
Vote no! As a dog hunter from Michigan that has cast dogs in several states and in Finland, this is nothing more than an anti-hunting bill. I hunt with hounds. We love our sport and our hounds. It's very seldom a dog runs through a private section. If it does it's not there long and damages nothing. It does not interfere with others. I always panic if this does happen, as I worry about my dog. Some nut may shoot a huge part of my life. This law will promote vigilantism and will the beginning of the end of all hunting. A selfish law being supported by selfish people that have no clue about rural life.
VOTE NO -- as written, this bill will fine you if your pet escapes and goes into your neighbors yard. This bill expects animals to be able to read.
Please Vote NO to HB1900..
Of all of the issues in this great nation and in the commonwealth I hope our legislators will quickly kill this bill and then shift their attention to REAL problems that exist. How did this get so high on the priority list that the Speaker of the House carried this bill?
That tells me this is either a "personal favor" or perhaps some Lobbyist money pushing some kind of other agenda.
The Voters of VA will be watching who supports this, how do you think that is going to play out during election time if this bill negatively affects them or if they are still dealing with much more significant issues that have never been addressed..
Please Vote NO to this Bill
Please vote YES for this Bill. The dog hunters make life hell where I live every year. Their dogs are CONSTANTLY running through my property barking and chasing deer day AND night. Therefore MY dogs are constantly upset and barking because of the hounds. If I hadn't purchased an invisible fence around my house MY dogs would be chasing the hounds and end up who knows where. A hunt club runs these dogs as they are racing up and down the road in their trucks and these "hunters" don't even live around here. MAKE THEM MORE RESPONSIBLE. They get all excited and have no respect for other people's rights! WHERE ARE MY RIGHTS? It's horrible. I had one group tell me one time they owned MY land! They really are out of control, contrary to what they SAY. PLEASE, for us who are tired of having to go through this year after year, SUPPORT HB 1900. It is taking nothing away from deer dog hunters, just making them more responsible!
PLEASE VOTE YES!! We have had nothing but problems with hunting dogs on our land. We have caught them letting their dogs out at the end of our private road and told them they don't have permission to do it...but they continue to do it anyway. We have seen them kill a deer, shooting across a state maintained highway towards our property. What if my grandchildren were in our woods? Does an innocent person have to lose their life before something changes? We have found in our area that the hunters who use dogs sit in their trucks, drinking (and littering the side of the road) while the dogs run. When confronted about the dogs being on our posted property...their argument is "dogs can't read". I can't sit in my own yard on my own pier to fish without dogs running through it, or barking so loud that I can't enjoy any peace and quiet on my own land. How are my rights on my land any less important? Do I go to their house and sit in their yard and blow the horn on my car non stop? Would I be arrested for disturbing their peace if I did so? Pretty frustrating!
Please vote no to hb 1900 i shouldnt be punished if a club member misses a shot or can not shoot what my dogs are running. This bill is a backdoor way of ending the sport me and my family have loved for generation.
Vote NO. This bill will punish an accident.
Please vote No. As a Landowner I Still hunt as well as hunt with Dogs. We do all we can to make sure every dog is retrieved and back home every night. The GPS Systems we have invested in, The $250 a pop collars as well as the $400 Receivers were bought to keep track and catch the dogs before they go on to where we can't shoot anyways and off of the main highways. Many Deer have been shot in front of our dogs by Still Hunters and that has been fine. We have often helped the person get their deer out of the woods after retrieving the dogs. Not all locales are the same and this law will cause more problems than it is worth, increased costs to the State and Burdensome to the already stretched thin law enforcement. Coyotes are a much bigger threat to the landowner's livestock than deer hounds and they quickly become our priority when one is encountered.
I am an avid hunter and conservationist. I believe in protecting and renewing our natural resources. I currently do not hunt with dogs but I have in the past for numerous years, so I know both sides of the argument. I am not opposed to hunting with dogs.
My argument is that if dog hunters have land to hunt they need to hunt that land and not on others.
Everyone that hunts knows that deer become less and less prevalent as the long Virginia deer season wears on. With that, more and more development pushes deer to live within small blocks of wooded property. These small pockets will hold numerous deer as well as some really nice bucks. All hunter's know this! These are the same areas that my children play and my family enjoys nature. I am like most others. I am not a large property owner but I do want to enjoy the property that I do have and I don't really want to share the property. But every year this is what I have to do.
It has become the normal in my particular area that hunter will drop their dogs from the state maintained road and run them through your property, which they do not have permission to hunt. While they back stand the property, where they do have permission to hunt. Multiple calls and complaints have been made to VDGIF every time that I know this has happened. I'm sure it happens more than I know about. The same answer I get every time is, we are short staffed and theres nothing we can do about it, unless YOU catch them in the act. Since when did I become a law enforcement officer?
So again I am not opposed to hunting with dogs. If anyone chooses to hunt with dogs, please do not do it outside of that particular season and do it legally and ethically.
We all need to be held accountable for our actions and behavior in society. We all need to respect one another's beliefs and rights.
I would appreciate hearing from my delegate to further discuss this issue and to hear his views as well.
Thank you
Vote no to HB 1900
Please Please pass HB 1900. We have been harassed on our own property for 27 years by deer hunters letting their dogs out on the road to invade our property or turning the dogs loose on a few acres knowing they are going onto posted land. We have been threatened if we said no to their hunting. We have had chickens and livestock killed. I might add we have only had these problems with deer hunters hunting with dogs. There are other folks around who fox hunt and coon hunt and have never had a problem with those hunters.
Please vote no to HB1900,the writing is on the wall that there is a bigger agenda behind this bill. I've hunted with dogs in spotsylvania county from the day I started hunting which was 35 years ago and lived here all my life. It seems as more people move into our state and county that the people who lived here their whole life loose more and more rights. I'm not saying that there are not bad apples in the hounds hunting community but,there are laws on the books that our under staffed agencies can't enforce now we don't need another law. This is a bad Bill and as I read a lot of the comments and talk to others that support the bill I realize that they just don't understand dogg hunting at all. When a hound is on the trail of his game he will go where ever the game goes they know no boundaries but we as responsible hunters try hard to stop them before they go on others land but sometimes it's not always possible. We, love our dogs and don't want them out of our control anymore than other landowners. Please vote no to this bill and support our tradition and heritages in the Commonwealth
I hunt with dogs year round i rabbit hunt, rracoon hunt and deer hunt this bill will punish people for accident. Dogs don't know where the property lines are or anything like that. I would like to pass this to my kids on day instead of telling them how we use to run dogs. I understand punishing people that know they don't have permission to be on the land. But what about the people that follow the rules. I may be 13 but i understand everything about this bill from the hunters being mad to the home owners wanting gone. But I am on the side with the hunters. As in the Virginia Dog Hunting Alliance motto say " Defending Our Heritage. Thats what yall hunters that run dogs need to do. Vote no to the bill
Thank you
Please oppose HB1900
I vote no to hb 1900
I vote no to hb 1900 ive hunted for over 30 years with dogs and never had a problem with them on other people's land
VOTE NO FOR HB 1900, DO NOT PASS THIS BILL
I vote no to the HB 1900 Bill.
Please vote no..We have tracking system on our dogs so if they would get on someone property they would not be there a little before I track them please don't know
Please vote NO to hb 1900, there will always be bad apples no matter what laws you create. But the good will always out weigh the bad. No need to punish us all! I am a member of two clubs that give their land owners and neighboring land owners the up most respect. We vote people out of the club that do not agree with that. We do landowner dinners, we stop by and check on the elderly, we always share some meat from our harvest with them. No matter if they have 1 acre or 1000, it's their land and we respect them. And so many have positive attitudes towards us and understand what we do, even if they do not want us on their land we still try to have a good relationship with them. Please vote no...
Please Vote No on HB1900
Please, vote no on HB1900
I vote no to the HB 1900 Bill
Please vote NO to HB 1900. He have laws that regulate hunting in VA laready in place. Most of the issues the supporters of HB 1900 are referring to are covered under the current laws. The vast majority of dog hunters are law abiding, positive contributors to their communities. The majority of hunters and clubs have GREAT relationships with their landowners, and show them all respect when it comes to traveling on or around their land. The problems being communicated in support of this bill are originating from a VERY VERY SMALL segment of both sides. The large majority of both landowners AND hunters have a GREAT relationship and support eachother. Don't let the few speak for the masses in VA!!! Don't let the ones whoe DO NOT even live in the largely dog hunting counties, speak for the ones who live there and raise their families. This is more than a sport, it is a way of life, and it provides valuable leadership, responsiblity, and life skills for our children. Thanks in advance for all of your support onthis matter.
Please vote no!
I had a discussion the other night with a lady that WAS a supporter of this bill and others like it . We talked and she told me about the time dogs came on her property. They did not destroy any property. I asked her how many times a dog has been there and she stated once in 3 years. I asked her if that bothered her enough to take away everything that I and countless others love to do. She thought about it and stated no I guess not.
I have read countless lies of how the dogs are not fed and vicious. All tall tales. Hound hunting was in Virginia long before any of us were born so if you moved here you had to know it before hand.
Property rights are sacred. Nobody, especially hunters with dogs, should trespass private property. I have still hunted property with archery gear where hunting dogs interrupted the experience and it is not pleasant. It is just wrong that hunters using dogs believe they have a "right" to trespass on the property of others. It is totally wrong.
Please pass HB1900 in an effort to keep hunting dogs off of private property and to alleviate the trespassing and interruption of the landowner's use and pursuit of happiness on property they own and ON WHICH THEY PAY TAXES.
Vote no on this bill it's our heritage
Please vote no on HB1900. I strongly oppose this bill.
Vote NO on HB 1900!! This is a badly worded bill that will affect not only hunters that hunt with dogs but with the average neighbor whose dog may get loose and run onto another neighbors yard. If the neighbors have a problem with one another they are free to say, Well I told them to stay off my property and they didn't. This bill will promote the hard to get along with anyone neighbor to become more hostile and they could fabricate stories to just get the other neighbor punished.
This bill is being introduced only for personal gain by the Rep from Fairfax Va who seems to have no idea that there are already laws out there that protect the land owner from damage. The land owner only has to call the local law enforcement or wildlife Management officials to issue a complaint. Local land owners are taking matters into their own hands by killing any dog on their property, removing tracking collars and identification collars and trying to destroy them so the dog owners can't retrieve their dogs. Yet now they want to fine the dog owners with no proof that the dog was ever on their property. Luckily most dog hunters now have invested thousands of dollars on GPS collars to keep a track on where their dogs are to ensure they can get them back. HB1900 is not a good bill and should not be voted in.
Please do not support HB1900. This bill would punish all dog owners. The blue paint on the trees would be more hard to see and is not being required around the entire property.Vote No for this bill with no amendments and no substitute.
Vote NO on this bill!
Please do not passes this bill. I have a farm and the hunters are very helpful to me. Preventing deer from eating my crops and coyotes from killing my cattle. If we are going to fine people for animals that trespass how many farmers would have to pay when their livestock gets on to other people's property?? My neighbor has 40 cats that run all over my property. Do we need a law to fine cat owners as well ? This bill is aimed at hunting and dogs in particular. Everyone wants to have control of their property. Do we really have control of our property? My closets neighbor has 2 acres and 40 cats I have 1,200 and 50 cows yet I have to deal with cats . If we are going to punish one group we should punish all animal owners! Please vote no. Thank you
Please vote No on this bill!!
Please vote no to HB 1900 and any of its amendments.
Please vote NO on this bill. I live on a farm in Southampton county which is in the middle of dog hunting country. Over the years our farm has had cattle, hogs, chickens, goats, and pet dogs and cats at various times. There is a hunt club directly across the road from my house that uses dogs and another within a half mile of my house. We have never had any livestock or pets chased, attacked or killed by a hunting dog. I've been following some of the comments made on social media over the past few years regarding this issue, and based on my own experience, I just do not believe most of the accusations that several of the complainers are making.
Please vote NO! This will not solve anything. All it will do is cut revenue coming in from hunting.
Please pass this bill. It's not about controlling how others hunt it's about peace and quit on our own private property! Landowners have been backed into a corner by hounds and handlers. Any other intrusion on my home I'm within my rights to file charges, why not with this intrusion? This is a common sense compromise which still requires work and hassle for the one being intruded upon. If this can't work then more severe restrictions will need to be put in place.
No
Vote no to HB1900.
Vote NO to this bill.
Please vote yes on this bill. While both myself and my husband are avid hunters, we are tired of being over run on our own property. I should not have to fight to get in and out of my driveway, I should not have to fight to get down the road. Every season we end up spending a good chunk on change to repair fencing that these dogs take apart. We pay the mortgage, we pay the taxes on our 20 acres, what rights do we have? Every season gets worse then the one before. Hunting season has turned into a nightmare instead of a time we both enjoyed. My livestock is harassed, we are blocked in by trucks more often then not, enough is enough. This one particular hunt club believes they own this town, regardless if they have permission to hunt a chunk of land or not holds no value with them. My family is not for the ban of dog hunting, however some rules need to be changed to give land owners a leg to stand on seeing as it appears we do not have one.
As a hard working tax paying Virginia resdient i ask that you oppose this bill!
Please vote no on this bill. It will significantly alter hunting with hounds in Virginia to a point where a person will be breaking the law everytime they turn a dog loose.
PLEASE DO NOT PASS HB1900, VOTE NO!
This bill is so ridiculous and not to mention vague about warnings. It will cause more issues with dog hunting then they have now. Neighbors against neighbors, due to he said she said dog issues.
There are laws in effect that protect property owners with hunter trespassing, use them. There are also laws with dogs killing “chickens” because I have not ever seen a dog kill no cow, use them. And what are we talking about 6-7 weeks out of the year.
Hunters provide a lot to Virginia’s economy, as well as they help provide control with deer populations and disease among deer. Not only deer hunters have dogs. There are coon, rabbit, bird, and fox hunters. Hunters provide food for their family's and the community. They provide for these dogs; food, shelter, medical needs, hunting license, kennel license, as well as expensive tracking devices to locate these dogs.
Hunters want to retrieve their dogs, they want them to come home safe and unfortunately dogs do run across others land. Even if a hunter has hundreds of acres of land, a dog can still get by that owners property.
I understand that there are some who don’t follow the rules, however don’t penalize every law abiding hunter who lives in Virginia for those few.
PLEASE DO NOT PASS HB1900, VOTE NO!
Vote no on this bill please this country is based on freedom don't take ours away. Many of us have been raised hunting dogs. Why would you want to take away something that somebody else loves.
Vote No on HB 1900! More government is never the answer! This bill is made to appease a few without acknowledging its unintended consequences. If you have been wronged, understand you do have rights. Take care of that individual situation. Understand that no law will be a fix-all cure-all.
As a dog hunter I say vote yes all day. It is OUR responsibility as dog owners and hunters to be respectful of others and their property. Us legal dog hunters that have control of our animals are being hurt by the illegal dog hunters that frankly don't care about rules or laws. Maybe then our dog hunting tradition be looked at in a good light.
VOTE YES for this bill.
If the dog is killing or chasing your livestock, then u have rights covered under other laws. Are u positive that hounds are the culprit? It could be neighbor's pets or coyotes killing your livestock. If u hunt your personal land, then u are not required to purchase a license. Dogs cannot read and are doing what they have been bred to do. If your land is posted and a person releases did without permission, then that is trespassing. It is not the dogs fault that the owner ignored the law. Let's be reasonable. You are trying to get multiple items covered under one Bill when we have led to address the problems already.
Please vote YES to this bill .As you can see by all the "no" requests above those people are what landowners are up against. That's how many people feel it's ok to come on your land and interfere with your right to privacy. We don't pass laws because more people say they want to keep the abuse going. We pass laws because they protect people from things others do to them. Everyone that owns land should have the right to exclusive use of it and the ability to keep others and their pets off your land.
Please VOTE NO HB1900
I just don't understand if we hunt 900 acres in one block and you own 50 acres and dog hunters are going to get fined if dog goes across that line!!
What happen when my neighbor is riding down rd and sees my dog on side of rd. He stops takes pic of my collar and says it was trespassing !! Just this bill is a joke!!!
No.
Please vote NO to HB 1900.
Vote no to this bill a dog has never hurt anyone while in pursuit of game and the game is free ranging and belongs to no one so therefore there is no need for this bill if they don't like the culture of the land est. 400 yrs ago in the commonwealth then they shouldn't have moved here or they should learn to cope and get along with people majority of the complaints are by people who are from other states that moved here and are not accustom to the culture of the area as to which they moved I understand property rights and yes I see the arguement but the actuality of the issue doesn't warnent governmental intervention
PLEASE Vote No to HB 1900
Vote NO on HB 1900. More government is never the answer! This bill is written to appease a few without acknowledging its unintended consequences.(like almost every other law) If you have been wronged, know your rights, and rectify that situation the way it should be. Understand that no law is a fix-all cure-all. Furthermore, don't move somewhere with plans of changing the laws to make you happy.
I vote NO why take away a loved tradition that's been around for centuries please everyone vote no don't take this loved tradition away from us an our children growing up into this way of life we have an our hounds that love the sport as much as we do we don't do it just for us we do please people don't let a few bad mistakes take this away from us
PLEASE VOTE NO TO THIS BILL!
Hounds Men & Women are some of the most respectful folks out there and understand that not every landowner likes dog hunting, however the few bad apples cannot ruin it for those that follow the laws and make the effort to keep their dogs off other peoples property. A hunting dog is doing it's job and that is tracking or chasing game - They are not concerned with your property or what is on it, if they are in a chase. This would ruin the livelihood of many men and women along with their children who are starting to get involved and finding a love for the sport. Please do not take that away from those of us, who are law abiding hounds men and women, who are just trying to enjoy what has been provided by the good lord - A hot meal of game, that one of our hounds brought to us!
Please don't support this bill or any admendments to it.This bill is not only against dog hunting but dog owners in general.This Heritage has been around for hundreds of years,please don't let it stop now.Thank you.
As a wife, daughter, and sister of houndsmen I see every November the pure excitement and love when this season comes in for all ages. I know there are the few that don't have respect for others but there are people on both sides of the argument that have no respect. As a houndswoman I have raised hounds almost all of my life even going so far as to bottle feeding abandoned pups. I worry every time my husband goes to turn out hounds out on land our club leases that someone is going to shoot or steal our dogs. My husband and I try our hardest to prevent our dogs from going anywhere unwanted. Does it happen every now and then, yes. But we are always respectful of the landowners apologizing every time our dog is in their yard or thanking the nice ones who will stop and take time out of their day to pick up our dogs. While the sport is not perfect there are far more good apples than bad. The good apples out there need to hold the others to the code of ethics. Please do not pass this bill and give the good houndsmen the chance to fix and correct the bad ones.
Property Rights and Equal Protection under the law are basic and fundamental rights that apply to all people. Unless you own land next to a rogue hunt club or a group of bad apple deer dog hunters. Those type of clubs/hunters have no ethics for the sport, and no respect for their neighbors or communities that they terrorize regularly. If we are being honest with ourselves, EVERYONE on both sides of this issue knows exactly what and who we are talking about. These "bad apples" have a middle finger attitude for anyone that doesn't fall in line with their hobby. It has been tolerated for far too long and it is way overdue that something is done about it. HB 1900 is a very reasonable 1st step in trying to curtail some of the bad actors and give a small amount of relief to some people that feel completely helpless. If you are one of the self proclaimed majority of hound hunters that have do not have any problems with their neighbors then this bill will not effect you in any way other than to help protect the sport you love, by reigning in those that are giving you a bad name. However; if you continue to throw a blanket over any reasonable approach to reform, you will only hurt yourself. The longer we do nothing, the closer you are going to get to a ban. I don't want that and most everyone else doesn't want that, and the same tactics and line in the sand approach that you are taking today is the same as it was in Texas, and Alabama, and Georgia, and Florida and others. Look what happened to them. So maybe this one time you can set aside the b.s. and try to work on a compromise that helps everyone. Get on board and support voting YES TO HB 1900. The only people it hurts are the people that are hurting others.
I've had it with dogs running across MY land day in and day out.
Enough with the excuses. Your tradition ends at my property line. If deer doggers are so concerned about "Yankees" moving in, I suggest you deer doggers put your money where your mouth is and buy the land so those damn "Yankees" and outsiders can't.
Lots of traditions fade out. This isn't the 1970s anymore. The landscape has changed and a growing number of landowners feel the same way as me. Keep your dogs off my land. Stop with the lazy and lame excuses. This bill will put an end to the abuse of private property rights.
Vote YES to HB1900.
Property rights are infringed upon regularly. This bill does not remove dog hunting or even disallow for a pet to run freely where permitted. What it does do it gives the ability for a land owner to say yes or no to a dog on their property.
The way the bill is written supports land owners and gives them choice to choose who's dog is on their property.
Currently, under current law there is no choice to the landowner and it is forced on them to allow dogs on their land.
Please consider giving back the land owners choice and their property rights.
Most states prohibit deer hounds. Despite the hyperbole and fearmongering from the hound lobby, those states do a fine job of controlling their deer herds and the number of hunters is stable or increasing. The hound lobby simply lies and suggests deer numbers would explode without deer hounds and that hunters numbers would drop.
They also suggest the end of hounds would lead to "commercial hunting." Ironically, most of these hound clubs spend thousands of dollars every year to lease land. If that isn't "commercial hunting" then I don't know what is.
The hound lobby "leaders" will be directly responsible for the end of the sport. Their refusal to compromise or even admit there is a problem does nothing but allow the abuse of property rights to continue. The bobblehead hunters who simply parrot what their "leaders" tell them are equally responsible for this bill.
Pass it. Enough of the abuse of private property rights.
Vote yes. You do not have the right to allow your dog on my property.
VOTE NO on this bill. This bill is against anyone who hunts with any kind of dog . A bad bill for anyone living in rural virginia with dogs .
Please vote no to HB 1900! This bill would punish all dog owners!
"VOTE NO" on HB 1900.
Destruction of an American Tradition!
Large Revenues associated with this whole industry... Negitave impact on state tax income is a frivolously large waste on energy/time!!
Please pass this bill why would the right to retrieve even be far what it basically says is one small group can access anyones property yet no one else can for a dog that should be contained anyway it is giving all hunters and sportsmen a bad name
Vote NO to house bill 1900!! Hunting with hounds has been a life long tradition in our area and is a huge economical boost for local stores. Dog hunters spend lots of money in guns, bullets, tires, dog boxes, gas, food at local stores, dog feed, the list goes on and on. The country stores and farm supply's in our area count on hunting season. The bill is not even realistic the dogs cannot read posted signs and they cannot see lines on trees, hunters are using the most expensive and state of the art GPS equipment to help keep up with and control their hounds. We must all join together as hunters and quit trying to divide ourselves by implementing state regulations or we will all be looking for a new hobby.
I respectfully ask that you vote NO, and kill this bill. This bill will hurt every dog owner in Virginia.
Vote NO to HB 1900 This bill will affect ALL dog owners. Dog deer hunting is a VA Heritage and controls the deer population. It also increases revenue for the state. With the tracking systems used hounds are picked up effectively and quickly.
Vote NO! This bill will kill a heritage that runs deep in VA. There are a few bad apples, but generally most hound owners are good. They ask for permission and do their best to keep dogs off of people's land who they know are against it. Plus, you're trying to tell me that if your poodle gets loose and runs int9 your neighbors yard that you are going to get fined? That is absurd. I believe that this restricts more than just hound hunters, but pet owners as well. Vote no.
Please vote no to hb1900. This bill will discourage dog ownership and will be bad for all pet owners. This bill will likely take buisness away from companies like petsmart and petco as fewer people will be likely to want the responsibility of owning a dog.
This bill will also fill the courthouses with unnecessary cases of neighbor versus neighbor. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Michael W Hibbard of chesterfield Virginia.
Please vote no on hb1900
Please say no to SB1900 - This will hurt all dog owners not just hound owners! There is a tremendous amount of untold story behind this but the fact is that big money is behind it! Drain the swamp people!
This nation separated from England because we demanded our rights to our property. The Constitution is clear on the rights of landowners. Virginia's laws protect the dog owners and dog hunters but not the rights of landowners. Virginia's landowners should get equal rights and equal protections of our property.
HB1900 needs to become law in order to align Virginia's law with the Constitutions of both the United States and Virginia.
YES to HB1900
P.S. Hound hunters are advocating for socialism as they are forcing landowners to share our property. Stop the socialism.
Vote NO to this bill!
VOTE YES TO HB1900!!!
Give property rights back to deserving landowners. Primary offenders of this bill are bad apple hound hunters. This bill will begin to weed out the bad hunters without affecting those who conduct ethical hunts and respect neighboring landowners.
VOTE YES TO HB1900!
Vote No!!
No
Please vote YES to Hb-1900. Landowners have no tools to deal with these bad apples.
This bill protects the landowners and the hobby of hound hunting equally. I'm a landowner with several hundred acres in a couple different counties and the behavior is the same. Rampant hound trespass and rampart out of season running hiding behind fox hunting loop holes.
Please help we've ask DGIF with no help. We've asked the Vahda and they tell us "no compromise" for the unconditional use of our land for their hunts. Most of us have our life savings and retirements involved in these properties that we have absolutely no control over what or who comes on them.
If you believe in property rights and preserving the tradition of hound hunting please pass this bill.
Please vote NO on this bill! This bill is a means to attempt to do away with all hound hunting, period. There are simply too many things to consider when reading this bill. For instance, what happens when Fluffy the little house dog decides to take a stroll into the neighbors yard or someone accidentally lets Fluffy out of the house and he takes off and runs through five neighboring yards? Dogs can't read posted signs! The majority of hunters use GPS collars on their dogs for better control of where they go. The majority of hound hunters respect land owners. I know you have a few here and there that are rogues, but let's be realistic. I am a hound hunter, a farmer with livestock and a property owner. We have never had an issue with hounds harassing our livestock, be it our own or someone else's. We are very respectful of property owners. Never have we intruded onto someone's property without their knowledge. We have never had an issue with an aggressive dog. What people don't understand is that our hounds are our family. In fact, my two children have raised them. They love everyone, but they also love to hunt. Don't take that away from them or us. You can't punish everyone for the actions of a few.
Please vote no on this bill.
I understand people have a problem with hunting with dogs and that's ok but it's been a life time of fun for me my grandfather had dogs then my father and now me it's a tradition that has been passed down to me and I hope that one day I can pass it on to my kids one day. My dogs mean the world to me and hate to see it come to an end.
God bless
Vote NO on this ridiculous bill
Please vote NO to the HB 1900 bill
Please vote YES HB1900. As landowners we should not have to put fences up to keep unwanted dogs off our property. If the deer hunters that use dogs put fewer dogs out with shock collar's that go along with their tracking collar's then maybe they will be able to keep dog's off posted property. If the deer dog hunter knows they will have to pay a fine for the dog trespassing then the landowners will definitely have fewer problems.
Hunting with hounds is a heritage and we have been hunting with hounds for hundreds of years .All countries use some type of dog to hunt some type of game it's natural .To make this a crime is ridiculous.if these persons don't want animals wandering onto there property they should erect a fence or a barrier to stop such action from taking place ..I own land in two states no fences am I there all the time to make sure dogs don't cross into it no ..Dobi care if they do no intact I hope for a pack to come my way get in front of em and take some game .Point is it's always the few idiots that ruin good things don't let these idiots ruin the hound hunting tradition and heritage ...
Richard Dezern vote no to HB 1900
I would ask that you vote no to this bill. This bill was proposed merely because the wrong person had a bad experience. This bill essentially would end dog hunting. This bill is merely a pebble in a pond in southside Va where so many businesses depend on the revenue of dog huters. The ripple effect that it would cause in our economy would devestate many businesses. Please allow our economy to survive here and let our traditions as Virginians, as hunters, and as houndsmen continue.
Please vote YES and pass this bill. I believe that hunters who run dogs should be able to control them properly - or be fined if they cannot. I should not be out in my yard and consistently have dogs run through on an almost daily occurrence. I should not have hunters racing up my driveway at 8am to "find" their dogs - leaving behind ruts in my yard because this is where they decided to back up when they realized I was home! I should not have caught hunters on my property with my game cameras when I am not there, just walking around (supposedly looking for their dogs). I should not have to keep my outdoor cat, inside, because I am afraid she will be attacked or chased.
I should not have to put up a fence to keep people or dogs out - we would like to hunt our own property and a fence would undermine our own ability to do so.
I like dogs. And I understand hunting with them; it is a fast and fairly efficient way to flush game. I do not agree that the hunters shouldn't have to control their dogs though. If they can't afford tracking collars or shock collars or proper training, the dogs should not be allowed to run loose. And if hunters know they are releasing the dogs directly next to a property that they do not have access to, then they probably should not use the dogs there.
Vote yes on HB1900 please give us the quite enjoyment we deserve on our property .
Landowners rights should trump hunters rights.
This isn't just about hunting dogs; please vote NO to this bill
Stop with the "tradition" and "heritage" baloney. This isn't the 1970s anymore.
Your tradition and heritage abuse my property rights.
I fully support this bill.
Please vote NO to HB1900
Please DO NOT PASS THIS BILL. Let the country life remain the country life just as it has for hundreds of years in Virginia.
People move to the country for all kinds of reasons BUT don't try to change the country to suit you, embrace it.
Talk to your neighbors people. You do not need this law. I still can't get my head around this...you want to control what goes on on your land by telling someone who is and has been practicing a legal hunting method on his land to stop.
This bill's writer and many of its supporters have alternative reasons for wanting this bill to pass.
Please vote no on hb1900. This is a ridiculous bill that is unenforceable. The only thing this law will accomplish is to put an extra burden on law enforcement for false complaints and others that can not be proven to be valid.
Please Vote NO to HB1900, my family has hunted with hounds for generations,I got introduced to hound hunting when I was 9 years old and got hooked, I now have a kennel of my own and I can't get enough of it. I have made a lot of friends hunting with hounds and I'm happy to say most of them are the local land owners around my club.The ones that support this bill paint us as monsters, but let me ask you this would a monster take deer meat to the land owners around there club every year or would they hold land owner dinners to say thank you? Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read our comments and once again please Vote NO to HB 1900
Please support this bill. I own property in both Suffolk and Southampton county and certain times of the year are over run with dogs with no regard to property lines or me talking to the people asking them not to run on my property. Say yes to property rights!
Please vote no to HB1900 !!!!!!
Vote no for HB1900. Enforce the laws already in place. Adding fines just adds hostility to the situation.
I would ask you to vote no on this bill. This bill will effect anyone that owns a dog and their is absolutely nothing to stop false complaints being filed by antihunters and angry neighbors. I have a ten year old daughter that wants to hunt with dogs and loves helping me raise and train puppies this bill is a step in the direction of dog ownership elimination and by the time she is old enough to own her own dogs it will not be a option in this great state of Virginia any more. We have laws in place already to take care of the problems people claim to be having why not use them.
Vote NO to HB1900 PLEASE NOTE:
Everyone, This affects ALL PERSONS who own ANY type of dog, not just hunting dogs.ie- "I dont like your chihuahua in my "yard" because it deficates on my pretty green grass at the ditchline"
Whos going to pay for that monitoring?
Do not further a personal agenda to penalize all dog owners. Please take the time to regulate something more worthwhile with our state resources!!! How about mandatory drug testing to receive government benefits??
Please vote no to any form.of hb1900. This bill is un-Virginian, and un-inforcable. It has been proven with facts from law enforcement and the game department that this is not a real problem in need of new legislation.It i just a few bad seeds on both sides of the isle with loud mouths!!!
Vote no on hb 1900, what a night mare to enforce! This is a bad idea all the way around!
Please vote NO on this bill. Most complaints are about people and not the dogs. Trespassing by a human is one thing but not a dog. If livestock or property is damaged due to a dog then the owner is responsible. I love to hunt in all forms but I really love to watch and hear my dogs run. But the biggest joy of it all is when a kid or a first time hunter gets an opportunity to harvest a deer and to see the smile on their face. It's priceless!! Most young kids wouldn't continue to hunt if it weren't for the dogs. They sit hours in a tree waiting and have seen nothing. I know it happens because it was the case with my own kids. But with the dogs it gets them excited and there's more going on and keeps them occupied. That's much better than handing them a game or cell phone to keep them busy and not bored. Dog hunters make up 65% of all hunting license and yet only 5% of all charges are against them. DO NOT PASS ANY PART OF THIS BILL. Thank you for your time
i ask that members of the Rules Committee please vote NO on HB1900L
Please vote YES to HB1900.
Landowners deserve equal protection under the law. Bill HB1900 places the burden on the landowners with a means in which to address the bad apples. Property rights are being blatantly disrespected. Why would hunters that claim to respect property rights and follow the laws have an issue with the passing of this bill?
Vote no to this absurd bill , it will affect more then just hunters .
Vote NO to this bill.
If this was really about a "few bad apples" this bill would never have been introduced.
Deer doggers are the most belligerent, angry group of bullies I've seen. They act like they are entitled to run their dogs across my land because "my dogs can't read." They threaten and intimidate anyone who tries to stop their dogs from crossing onto property where they aren't wanted.
Heritage! Children! Tradition! they say. Baloney.
What a bunch of entitled, whiney brats. Deer doggers sound like liberal Democrats who don't get their way. I fully expect them to riot in downtown Richmond like a bunch of Clinton supporters if this bill passes.
Please support HB1900.
My family have put up with deliberate trespassing on our posted farm for 30+ years. We pay thousands in taxes each year and are unable to use our OWN land as we wish during the deer hunting season.
We have livestock molested and injured, horses have aborted their foals from the dogs chasing them and running in their pastures. Our family are a hunting family yet are unable to hunt on our own farm in peace and undisturbed by pack after pack of hunting dogs routinely released just off of our property line. I also run a trap line for coyote and routinely have the traps knocked down by trespassing dogs or dogs get caught in my traps. I have placed signs warning of the traps but the careless dog owners do not care enough for their hounds to heed the warnings. The local hound hunting clubs surround our farm each year day after day and run their dogs through our farm. They set up on the adjacent properties and wait for the dogs to run the deer in an attempt to push deer from our farm to waiting hunters. They have no concern for my property rights or the safety of my family and children. When a deer is pushed to the property line, the hunters appear to shoot until the gun is emptied or the deer is down. Most or all of their errant shots are coming back at our farms and residences. In recent years there have been an increasing number of hound hunting related shootings in my area. Last year, a man was shot and killed 300 yards from my property line, the year before an off duty Sheriffs deputy was shot in the head while driving a farm/logging road, 2 years before that, a home was shot and pellets penetrated into a toddlers room. The list goes on and on. I am unable to let my small children play safely in their own back yard due to the careless shots taken and to rights these hound hunters have to come on my place and in my back yard, unannounced, to "look for their dogs". *** For 30+ years I have heard the hound hunters state over and over that there are just some "bad apples" out there. This law would finally address them and would have no effect on law abiding, ethical hound hunters. It is easy to assume that a person calling themselves a true hound hunter and opposing this law are in fact one of those "Bad Apples".
I support HB 1900, please vote YES. I have tried to talk to the three clubs that hunt around my property even writing letters to the clubs, DGIF, local Sheriff, and VHDA. I hear the same excuses dogs can not read, it is my tradition, etc, etc. If a law is not put in place to make the deer hunters using dogs accountable for the dogs actions then it will only get worse.
Please vote no to hb1900. There are already laws in place for dogs. This bill would make it to easy for false claims
I will not use my real name or information because of the viciousness of dog hunters to anyone that wants their private property rights secured. They have proven they cannot be reasoned with or compromised with. Please vote YES!!!!!!!!
Please vote YES to HB1900. This bill will provide landowners with the ability enforce ethical hunting. Hunt clubs and numbers of dogs continue to grow while parcels of land continue to shrink in rural areas where this type of activity occurs. This results in many dogs (often more than 1 club with their dogs in an area) chasing over land that does not belong to them, including public roadways. It prevents the landowner from being able to hunt his/her own property. I have personally experienced gunshots that cross my property boundaries from hunt clubs setting up on adjacent land, and members of my family have been threatened by hunters who have stated they had every intent to shoot in the direction where dogs are running on posted property if a deer was running. I have also observed increases in speeding, and litter when hunters are hunting with dogs. Landowners experience livestock loss, livestock/pet harassment, stress from having to guard livestock during hunting season, fear of being shot on one's own property, and an overall nuisance. Running dogs on posted property is simply use of another's property for legal trespass. It is unsafe, unethical, disrespectful, and must be stopped.
Vote No to HB 1900. This bill will end all of dog hunting as we know it. Do not destroy the tradition that has lived so strongly in our state.
Please vote no on this bill and protect our hunting heritage.
please vote no in opposition of HB1900. there are already laws in place including legislation put in place last year during the GA to assist landowners in dogs being "unethically hunted." This bill pits neighbor against neighbor in a suburban setting in potential "playground fights" used out of spite. This bill also leaves open the opportunity for mischevious activity from anti-hunting groups transporting dogs to private lands inturn calling officials in a flase claim. We need to support law enforcement in the effort of enforcing current laws protecting landowners. With funding and the budet cuts of most rural areas being a very big topic, this is a small fish compared to real issues VA residents are facing across the state. Let's start working on big fish.
Please vote NO on HB1900.
Please do not pass this .I'm a hunter and have hunted all my life with dogs as my grandfather did before me we have owned hunting dogs as well as your ordinary house dogs .they all get lose from time to time and run off .this bill will hurt all owners of animals.back when my grandfather was hunting with dogs all he had on them was collars with name on it and maybe a phone number.So if found some nice people would let him know where his dog is at and he would go get them.nowadays we have collars with numbers and name .and some sort of tracking system to retrieve as fast as possible.and on another note if a dog is chasing a deer ,rabbit or any other wild life I can almost guarantee it is only on someone property for a few minutes and off.unless it losses track .then most of the time it will go back the way it came.So not hurting no one property.that is why we put all that tracking system on them is so we can pick them up as soon as possible.I understand that we have property rights .but it you want to live in the country or were people us hunting dogs please understand that hunting dogs are bred to hunt and help provide for me and my family food for the year. because some with big family it cost a lot to feed.and without deer meat in freezer there would be very little meat for them to eat.because stuff in the store cost so much.
I live on a private lane totalling 30 people about 12 homes. This year i had to contact hanover county sherrifs office 3 times, the conservation officer twice. All due to treaspasers. My neighbor had one of these tresspassers install a new tree stand on his property. They would then dump the dogs at the begining of the lane, and sit in the tree stand.
I am tires of having my livestock killed and injured. I am tired of strange dudes parking on my property and dropping dogs, i am tired of seeing flashlights in my woods after dark for guys supposedly picking up dogs. This is why i support this bill.
As a hunter and a landowner I DO NOT support this bill!Please vote no!
Please vote NO on HB1900. Hunting with hounds is a VA tradition.
Before anyone takes a position on the bill they should actually read all of it.
I did and I am having a hard time understanding what the hounders and the no's are talking about in their posts. Having actually read the bill. I would suggest others read it too and vote yes. If you feel a no vote is in order please explain, and when you do. Please explain in the context of HB 1900 and how it will effect you personally if it is passed.
Vote NO on HB1900
Vote No on HB1900 !!
Respectfully, I ask you to see how this bill is so vague and and poorly written. On top of this it also impacts ALL dog owners in the common wealth and not just the Hunting dogs it was meant to "target". We have a new law from just this last year that addresses hunting dogs but, many of the anti hunting dog crowd is not aware of it, have not utilized nor have given it a chance to become effective. So I ask....do we really need another "law" so rich in vagueness that opens the door to the abuse of "false claims" of another? No amount of amendments can make this flawed piece make sense for the citizens of Virginia. Again, I respectfully ask you to vote NO to HB1900.
My vote is yes on this Bill.. This Bill does not put a end to hound hunting like all are implying, if anything it helps weed out the bad apples. Landowners need some relief from the constant hassles of the bad apples. This Bill offers that relief and is a good compromise.
Please vote NO on HB1900!
VOTE NO ON HB1900
Vote No, vote no , please vote no to h.b 1900. This bill will not just affect deer dogs , it will effect every type of hunting done with a dog. Squirrel , coon , bear , rabbit , hell even a lab may have to go on other property to retrieve a bird .Anyone who hunts any type of game with a dig will be under the gun now . But remember as well , the repubs gonna loose a whole lot of votes in November if this passes . There are already a few democrats that are ready to come on board with the dog hunters to get the votes . We out number the still hunters by a great margin and the democrats now realize this . VOTE NO. Hb-1900.
Please vote NO! I am a landowner as well as a mounted foxhunter. The majority of hound hunting is respectful and mindful of landowners. Increased regulations and fines will only hurt those who accidentally cross lines they are not allowed. Bad apples will be bad apples regardless of the law. Again, vote NO!
Please vote no on this bill. This bill is unfair to all dog owners including pet owners.
Vote no on HB 1900
Please vote no on HB1900
Please vote NO to HB1900!!!
Please vote NO TO HB 1900. Let find a better was. Shrink government, don't pass laws that are going to cost more funding to enforce than they are worth. Come together and find a different way to fix this problem after doing a propert study to see if there is actually a problem large enough that needs large government "fixing".
Vote Yes on HB 1900
YES YES YES
Please vote NO, and please understand this bill affects way more than just the deer hunters these people speak about. This affects people with pets, rabbit hunters, squirrel hunters, coons hunters, etc. There is way more at stake here than just deer hounds!!! No. No. No.
Please vote no to HB1900 !
As a hunter and a landowner/cattleman I ask that you respectfully vote NO toHB1900, it effects not only hunting but also has economic impact and on the states revenue from hound hunting and leasing of hunting properties. Thank you
Please show no support for HB1900. Vote NO. Lws on the books now to control this,it was presented by Delegate Matt Farrish last year and passed that penalizes a individual for releasing hounds on posted property. Hound complaints only tally 2% of all calls to State Game Wardens and local Officials. It is clearly a bill in support to do away a Va. tradition of using hounds and turning our hunting into commercialized hunting. Which will only benefit big rich land owners. The bill is poorly thought out as is most dog bills produced by our Northern Virginia Politicians. It says marked by Blue paint, lots of timber companies already use blue paint to mark trees, property lines, etc. This clearly another attack from planted land owners who move to the country but don't want to abide by the country way of living. What is next, penalties for neighbors whose cow, pig, horse, goats, lama, chicken, etc. gets out. I have lived on my rural property for 40 years and have seen animals from dogs to hogs to cows in my yard and me and my neighbors have always taken it as fair play as one of my dogs will surely end up in theirs. This bill will surely erraticate hunting by some and see a rising deer herd overtake our land. Again NO SUPPORT FOR HB1900.
Vote no. Dogs and other animals cannot read signs. The dogs are only following the deer and other animals where they naturally run. This bill defies logic.
Yes on 1900
Please vote NO for HB1900. The vague language in this bill will detrimentally effect not only hunters in Virginia but could potentially effect pet owners as well. Hunting with hounds - of all quarries and types is a longstanding tradition in Virginia - let's work to preserve it and to create a state where fostering strong relationships with neighbors is done through community building and not litigation.
This is not an anti-hunter bill, this is a property rights issue, the landowners have had to relinquish their land to the unsavory among the hound hunters for far too long. When the topic comes up every year, the hound hunters flood every media format with the claim that, "there are no problems, the landowners around them love them, there are no need for additional laws at all." Well, to be blunt, if that was actually the case, every one of them would be for this Bill since it only targets those who abuse their neighbors and give their heritage a bad name. As you can see from the responses here, looks like there most definitely a problem.
Thank you speaker Howell for listening to the landowners who are having their rights trampled on by dogs and their owners. You crafted a bill that is perfect, it only addresses those who are taking advantage of their neighbors while keeping hound hunting legal. With all of the continued issues, it would have been very easy to propose an outright ban, but your bill will give the tool that the landowners need to protect their land, and law enforcement needs as it is an actual enforceable piece of legislation.
I urge all of Virginia Representatives, vote YES on HB 1900!
Please support innocent people like me and vote Yes.
Vote YES on HB 1900!
Vote NO on HB1900. The law as drafted is vague and could be used to harass law abiding citizens. Hounds cannot be instructed on where to hunt.
I vote No to this bill, I live in Southampton County between two of largest hunt clubs around. I have not had any issues with the hunting dogs and I have chickens, horses and other farm animals. Hunting dogs are no different than stray dogs that roam around. Let these hunters keep their dogs and hunt, it's only a few months out of the year. Do not destroy the tradition that has lived so strongly in our state.
Please vote no on HB1900. Hunting with hounds is a Virginia tradittion and also provides valuable income to the state.
Vote NO to HB 1900. This bill is poorly drafted and lacks any intent element on the part of dog owners, the effect of which creates a blanket, difficult to enforce, mandate on all owners of dogs in the Commonwealth. Specifically, the bill creates civil penalties for: "any owner or custodian of a dog who, without permission, ALLOWS (emphasis added)it to run at large onto the property of another for the purpose of hunting or chasing game and in a manner that unduly burdens the quiet use and enjoyment of the property." § 3.2-6538(A)defines "running at large" as "while it is roaming, running, or self-hunting off the property of its owner or custodian and not under its owner's or custodian's immediate control."
No hunter or dog owner, in general, "allows" or has control over where a dog chooses to run or where a deer or any other wild game, rabbit, squirrel etc. goes. In this case, "allows" means any dog that is outside of a pen or home, or otherwise not confined, and not on a leash held by its owner or custodian. So basically, if your yard dog chases a squirrel onto your neighbor's property and the neighbor objects and the dog does it again, litigation could ensue over the 100-250$+ fine. The ONLY way to prevent this from happening is confining ALL dogs permanently, which is unfair and cruel to the dogs and frankly a big waste of taxpayer dollars to enforce. The other open-ended question here is what exactly "unduly burdening quiet enjoyment" really means in this context. Again, our courts will have to waste time entertaining litigation for the public to find out exactly what it means. I really can't see a reasonable person, which is the typical legal standard, finding that a dog(s) running after deer/squirrels/rabbits (that all run very fast by the way) across the property of another "unduly burdens" quiet enjoyment of the property. Dogs instinctively chase game, and hounds in particular, have been chasing game in Virginia since before the American revolution. If Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, who both had hounds and hunted, were around, they would certainly be dissappointed in this government overreach into a matter that is fundamentally local. This law, if passed, will only have the effect of wasting limited law enforcement and animal control enforcement resources of primarily small rural localities and lead to unneccessary litigation over a frankly trivial matter.
Please vote NO to HB1900
Yes
Please support HB 1900. Dogs are running deer and disrupting my hunting on my own property. No one has ever asked permission to run dogs on my property.
Please vote NO to hb1900!!!
Yes, this bill may indeed subject pet owners as well as deer hunters to penalties, but what part of "I don't want your dog on my property" do you people not understand? I don't care if it's a deer hound from 10 miles away or a poodle from next door.
Your tradition and heritage do not trump my property rights. What a weak argument.
I don't care if your dog can't read (for God's sake, please just stop with that lame excuse), it's not my responsibility to keep your dogs off my land so quit asking me to put up a fence, I'm not moving to a no-deer dog area and I don't care if hounds are "just doin' what hounds are bred to do."
No more excuses and lame, outdated arguments. Change or the laws will change.
YES on HB1900.
Please vote NO to this bill!
If you hound hunters don't see an issue, how about if me and all my buddies make man-drives through your land during bow and muzzleloader season while you are sitting in a tree? We'll bang pots and pans and holler at the top of our lungs as we cover every square inch of your land. Then some other guys will line the property boundary and shoot the deer as they run off your property.
See the problem?
YES HB1900.
I call AC to remove dogs from my land all the time. This bill needs to pass.
I'm amazed at all the people that are saying that the Speaker has crafted a poorly worded bill...A man who has a extremely impressive record of getting much needed legislation through, I don't think he could write a poorly worded bill and that is why the hound community is very afraid. This bill has been crafted perfectly, only bad apples need to worry about its consequences. Vote YES on HB1900! It is about time that landowners have some say in how their property is used!
I urge all legislators to vote NO on this ambiguous bill. Stomping on a time honored tradition that is generations old in a manner that amounts to he said she said is just wrong and will only result in more hostility.
There is a second agenda here: SOME landowners are taking steps to start fee hunting in the Commonwealth. They can't do that while hound hunting is legal. They also want to legalize baiting as a parallel step to insure their fee hunters are successful. This is NOT only about landowners having problems with dogs.
This bill definitely should be passed. They also should make it illegal to use dogs for hunting purposes it is a form of animal abuse.
Please Vote NO to this bill. We need to let local governments govern what is being done and take care of the trouble makers vs punishing everyone.
Similarly, since we have individuals who text while driving we need to not allow anyone to have a phone in their car when driving.
WE HAVE TOO many restrictions on what we do much less what an animal is likely to do.
Do not rush into this.
Regards,
Ron Rusnak
NO NO NO NO NO TO HB1900!!! It will do nothing but cause more trouble between land owners and neighbors. This bill doesn't just affect hunting with hounds it affects anyone with a dog!!
My wife, kids, chickens, goats, dogs, and cats need some level of recourse against these hounders. Please vote yes for HB1900
HB1900 is absolutely ridiculous and I am 100% against it.... STAND BY THOSE WHO STAND TOGETHER FIGHTING TO KEEP THIS LONG STANDING TRADITION AND WAY OF LIFE LEGAL...
#1 Dogs cannot read posted or no trespassing signs and they don't know property boundaries
#2 An innocent citizen who is neither for nor against dog hunting has a dog that roams. Their neighbor gets mad that it's on their property and calls the police. That not only ties up a police officer for NONSENSE but penalizes someone for something that cannot be controlled. The 15 minutes that officer is handling a dog situation could mean that he's 15 minutes too late getting to someone trying to harm themselves or someone in an accident.
#3 this is obviously to take another stab at law abiding citizens who love the long standing legacy of hunting dogs... PLEASE STAND BESIDE US IN THE FIGHT AGAINST KEEPING ALL HUNTING WITH DOGS LEGAL!!!!!
Yes on HB 1900
I was reading about this and I don't understand all of the hubbub. People should be able to keep a dog off of their land. This makes no sense. Vote yes for this.
The opposition to this bill continues to follow the hound hunting lobbyist's checklist.
1. "It's our heritage, they're taking our rights away" - A heritage based on the illegal trespassing on other's property? Hunt by whatever legal means you want, limit it to YOUR OWN PROPERTY! HB 1900 allows a landowner a say over what happens on their property. Hunting with hounds is still 100% legal, no hunting rights are taken away at all. The only thing being taken away is the access to property they shouldn't have been on in the first place.
2. "Commercial hunting is trying to take our rights/lands away" - Where Mr. Burch got this specter is a mystery, it has been the rallying cry for the past few years and it has no merit at all. It is nothing more than a deflection technique, "the bogeyman is coming! They want high fence hunting and baiting!" HB 1900 has NOTHING to do with commercialized hunting, it is PROPERTY RIGHTS! Stop the lies VAHDA, take responsibility for once!
3. "The Bill is written poorly, they're trying to keep a dog from being a dog" - No Mr. Burch, we're trying to keep a dog hunter from abusing landowners. This Bill has been written perfectly to help landowners who are bombarded by unscrupulous hound hunters, giving them a means to protect what is theirs. The hound lobby has been told numerous times to take care of the bad apples and they failed (or refused) to do so; HB 1900 is the legislation that is needed to address this issue.
HB 1900 puts the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the hound hunters to control their dogs, which is where it should be. Enough of the excuses, "my dogs can't read, build a fence, you shouldn't have moved into 'dog country', etc...", enough of the entitlements to other's lands! Make the "bad apples" responsible by passing this bill!
Please, support HB 1900, not only will this be good for landowners, it will also enable the practice of hound hunting to survive in Virginia.
Vote No on HB1900
No its a legacy
Please vote no to hb 1900
Please vote no on hb1900 this is a bill that can and will take away from our heritage.
Vote no this bill is made to easy to allow property owners to make not accurate accusations.
Please Vote No to Bill HB1900!
This Bill is not just about Deer Hounds, it is about all Hounds! Don't paint everyone with the same brush. I hunted 41 days of the 42 day season and we never had 1 complete, it is only 2% of all completes anyway. Hound hunting is a Multi million dollar industry in the state and if they do anyway with it your taxes will skyrocket. You will also be closing the doors on alot of Country stores that depend on hunting season to make their money for the year. Please Vote NO. Thanks!
When you don't ask me permission to be on my land for any reason. You are breaking the law. Even Law enforcement needs a warrant. What makes hounders so special. Vote Yes hb 1900
We have been trapping every hunting dog we find on our property for years now and turning them over to an animal rescue. They re-home them so the poor dog will not have to suffer the abuse any longer. Please vote yes to help stop the animal abuse.
VOTE NO to Bill HB1900! NOTE NO! VOTE NO!
There was no thought put behind this bill. Hunting with hounds has been a heritage passed down from the founders of this great nation. While I understand there a very few complaints each year, because when you group a large number of people there are always a few bad apples, but you can't punish the whole for the a few issues out of 1000s each each. This is like going after still hunters and taking away their tree stands because there are a few bad apples there that trespass onto people's property and hunt illegally.
What people in Richmond, and whomever has created and supports this bill, also do not realize is the amount of money that is generated by hunting dog hounds. Each owner spends thousands upon thousands of dollars a year, on licenses, dog food, shots, vaccines, medical supplies and vet visits, other various dog supplies such as name tag collars, leashes, bedding, building pens, GPS tracking devices, etc. This will be a huge economic impact on small businesses throughout the whole entire state, it will also effect sales tax generated revenue. It will also affect revenue collected by the city/counties that base business licenses off of generated sales.
In addition, the amount of issues this will create with neighbor disputes, that already don't get along, and normal nuisance calls, this will put a huge load of work on police, sheriffs, and local court systems.
There are many other ways that issues can be addressed to help elevate these types of issues, but this HB is NOT the way! VOTE NO!
Please vote yes and support this bill to give Virginia landowners the ability to enjoy their property as they see fit. The bill will only punish the "bad apples" (those who continually allow their dogs on property without permission). While Virginia is one of only 8 states that still allow hunting deer with dogs, this bill will certainly not end the tradition here. It will ensure deer dog hunters are responsible and accountable - putting the future of the heritage entirely in their hands. For those deer dog hunters and communities where roaming / trespassing dogs are not a problem, this bill not effect them at all.
Stand up for property rights and help protect Virginia landowners. Vote yes!
The majority says no on this bill majority rules.
The public would be better served if hunters had to sign a code of ethics when buying a hunting license. I am a hound hunter and wouldn't have a problem with signing an ethics code.
Please vote no on HB1900.
Please oppose HB1900.
Please vote YES on HB1900. Land owners should have the right to control their land and who comes on that land. No dog or hunter of any type should be able to trump someone's property rights!!
Landowner... Vote no
I don't understand what the problem is. If you want your pet locked up and you fined pass the bill. Responsible hunters will actively search for their dogs and retrieve them to stay away from problems with land owners that don't hunt. I hardly think it's worth wasting the legislatures time to worry about a perceived issue that is only a problem for a few people 8 weeks out of the year. The conservation police have enough problems with poaches and illegal hunters and can't handle the volume of calls the have now. So if you want to tie them up over this petty crap when they have far more pressing issues to deal with , pass the bill. Just remember when you need a conservation officer he may be wrangling a dangerous stray hunting dog and not be able to respond to you cry for help . I URGE YOU TO NOT PASS THIS BILL. IT A WASTE OF YOUR VALUABLE TIME. The people of Virginia did not elect you to be the dog catcher. We already have those peoe employed. Thank you.
PLEASE VOTE NO TO HB1900. As a hound hunter hunting on national forest the dog tend to end up on the adjoining private land And with the Gates closed when our seasons are open it is hard to stop the chase.
Please vote . This bill does effect every dog owner in the state of Virginia. I know many people who have hounds as pets (most have beagles which is the #3 most popular breed of pet in the US). The one thing I have learned about "hounds" is that they are great pets, very friendly and they "follow their nose with blind abandon". This law is going to effect a lot of hound owners (not just hunters) as well as any other group of dogs (like sporting dog breeds) that will follow their nose & wander, escape their confines or generally ignore their training and end up on a property with a "sign" that says they are not allowed. I moved to the country 15 years ago (and I am not a "country girl" by any means). I do have hunting dogs that occassionly show up in my yard or on our 10 acres but its been fewer & fewer over the last several years (I assume because of those tracking collar systems) but, they have never been aggressive, bothered my outside pets or chased any livestock on my property. Most have been deer dogs & a few rabbit dogs but, I have had more strays (over the whole year) than any hunting dogs. I worry more about a strange person on my property than any dog. Lets put the legislative time into more constructive issues than a dog wandering onto some ones property. Thank you.
Please vote NO on HB1900. This bill does effect every dog owner in the state of Virginia. I know many people who have hounds as pets (most have beagles which is the #3 most popular breed of pet in the US). The one thing I have learned about "hounds" is that they are great pets, very friendly and they "follow their nose with blind abandon". This law is going to effect a lot of hound owners (not just hunters) as well as any other group of dogs (like sporting dog breeds) that will follow their nose & wander, escape their confines or generally ignore their training and end up on a property with a "sign" that says they are not allowed. I moved to the country 15 years ago (and I am not a "country girl" by any means). I do have hunting dogs that occassionly show up in my yard or on our 10 acres but its been fewer & fewer over the last several years (I assume because of those tracking collar systems) but, they have never been aggressive, bothered my outside pets or chased any livestock on my property. Most have been deer dogs & a few rabbit dogs but, I have had more strays (over the whole year) than any hunting dogs. I worry more about a strange person on my property than any dog. Lets put the legislative time into more constructive issues than a dog wandering onto some ones property. Thank you.
This Bill is long over due. It is not to punish the few hunter's that abide by the laws just the ones that lease 5 acres and hunt a 100. Yes I know a dog can't read. Everyone is claiming the economy will decrease. All those leases will still be leased just by ethical hunter's. Half the state can't use dog's so lets make it an entire state. Work load will go down for the game wardens. This also will help with that one neighbor that lets his dog out all day and stays in your yard and destroys your property. Not everything is revolving around a dog hunter's privilege not right.
I vote no to Hb1900. This will be a gateway law to outlaw hunting with dogs in our commonwealth. When that is outlawed it will open the gates to commercial hunting and our way of life will be gone forever. I've grown up hunting with hounds and beagles and I would like for my children and grandchildren to have he same opportunities as I have had. We as houndsman spend endless amounts of money to stimulate the economy and do our very best to uphold a positive image in the publics eye. Our dogs our family and at the end of the day we want everyone (hunter and non-hunter) to go home safe at the end of the day. It will be a big mistake to pass hb1900. Thanks for your time and god bless.
Please vote "NO" for this bill. Most dog hunters take good care of their dogs and generated thousands of dollars ever year back into the economy. How would they feel if their "pet" poodle was to get out and they couldn't retrieve it.
A resounding NO to this bill please. This opens up everything for commercial hunting. Living in a smaller county with smaller tracks of land would make Hunting impossible. Don't let the Commonwealth be a place for pay to play for a trophy.
To refer those who use dogs as unethical is wrong. There are bad apples on either side of this argument. Don't classify all those who use dogs as unethical.
Vote No to this!!
This bill is just ridiculous. This is a thinly veiled attempt at starting the process of making hound hunting illegal. There are laws on the books already that just need better enforcement. We don't need more laws until the ones we have are enforced.
VOTE NO!! This bill is a bad idea for all sportsman from the bird hunter to any big game hunter that uses a dog to track or run game.
Please vote NO. This is a terrible Bill.
Vote No please,I do not support this bill.
Please vote No! Reading through these posts it is obvious that some of the people that want HB1900 passed are the same people who blindly followed Aaron Bumgarner in the now defunct Virginia Landowners Facebook page. This is the same page that advocated shooting hunting dogs (murder), removing collars from dogs (theft), and picking up dogs and taking them to the dog pound (theft). Some of the same people posting and advocating passage of this dubious bill are the same people who gave money to Aaron Bumgarner, and then later took him to court when he "mishandled funds". My point is this. The same people who blindly put their faith in Bumgarner now are now lining up behind another faulty cause. One has to question their judgment since they were so easily fooled before. Follow the money. Follow the $$$$. See who the big money players are in the Fredericksburg area and what their "real" agenda is. Search public records and see who "gave" Bumgarner the funds to pay for his farm in Southampton county, when he continues to make a fool of himself.
Please vote no
VOTE NO to a bill that is ridiculous!!!!!!
Please vote no HB1900.
VOTE NO TO THIS BILL! Simply put, this bill is a waste of time, there aren't enough law enforcement officers to help enforce these laws, this has been an ever growing fact in the commonwealth especially within the past couple of years, some people have entirely too much time on their hands in office to attack a treasured tradition in the commonwealth with an enormous outpouring community to defend senseless attempts like this bill to curtail a community that accounts for a lot of the commonwealths income each year, I think it's absolutely ridiculous!
Please vote no to HB 1900
Please vote No to HB 1900
Please vote NO to this bill!! Don't we have the necessary "leash" laws out there in place that should be used to enforce such acts with any form of dogs, not just hunting dogs in general.
Please vote no to HB1900
Please vote No. This bill will cause more problems then animal owners already have. I have had hunting dogs for 20 plus years. I put many hours a week in to my dogs and a lot of money into them to make sure they are well taken care of. I have the best tracking equipment you can buy to make sure my dogs come home safely and to keep them out of areas they shouldn't be. Things happen and you cant get to them fast enough they do cross land owners property. Out of all the years Ive been hunting I have never seen one stop their chase and destroy property or harm farm animals. All the dog men I have ever hunted with and myself do respect the landowners and ask permission first. My son is 16 and loves it. Hunting has taught him responibilty and respect for animals and the outdoors. They eat before we do! Living in the country doesn't give teenagers much to do who knows what he would be doing. I cant imagine what it will do to the dogs if owners get charged with hundreds of dollars worth of fines.
I say vote no because everyone is taking about hunting dogs but you have to rember it's for all dogs not just hunting dogs .so wake up people. And think about someones little house dog like a poodle.
It's plain to see by the comments that Va.hounds hunters want unconditional use of our hard earned land!!
Somehow dog food and collars ect. are a bigger expense and investment to these guys than someone spending a life savings on land.
This bill provides equal protection to hound hunters and landowners please help us vote YES on HB1900.
Please vote NO on HB1900....65% of the annual big game license purchases are made by those who hunt big game with dogs. Not to mention the Bird and small game hunters. This bill would ultimately put an end to hunting with dogs as we know it. That sure would put a dent in the states economy with a drop in license purchases, county fees, veterinarian business, dog food sales, etc., etc. this bill would definitely cause more harm than any good anyone could think that it would. It's a shame that people want to take away a state heritage that has been a part of our great country since its original founding fathers.
Sure, there are some bad apples and I'm sure there will be incidents but that's with anything in life. Darn, people get in fist fights over taking a parking spot at the grocery store these days but we're not taking away cars and grocery stores. Everyone's rights matter and just because the minority wants to change things to benefit them doesn't make it right to infringe upon of that of the majority. Again, please vote NO to this ridiculous bill. Thank you
Please vote no to Bill HB1900.
Please vote no to bill hb1900. I have been a dog hunter my whole life, and an outdoorsman. This bill is ridiculous, my dogs can't read and they don't know my property lines. Please vote no, there is no harm in dog hunting.
Please vote no on HB 1900! At best this is a thinly veiled attempt to end dog hunting and at worst this bill will pit neighbor against neighbor in a he said she said battle that will waist the time of law enforcement officers and money of our court systems. If we would all just start treating each other like we ourselves would want to be treated we don't need over reaching and unenforceable laws such as this!
Strongly urge you to vote YES on this much needed bill. The amended bill puts great burden on the landowner to comply and only those property owners who are having serious constant deer dog trespass issues would use this law as protecting their property rights. This bill does not burden clubs that are doing things correctly or a currently having no issues This bill does not impede the Right to Retrieve. This bill is what is needed to give the landowners who are having problems some rights to enjoy their property and most of all the bill protects the tradition of hound hunting ensure it survives for future generations of hunters.
The impassioned statements by many hound hunters insisting that they must be entitled to run their hounds on prohibited lands at any time they want, at any location they want, and as frequently as they want, over the objection of affected landowners and the potential disruption of their lives, are clear testaments to the critical need for this bill, HR 1900, to be enacted into law. I support the bill.
This is a property rights issue. The property owner ultimately should have the right to decide what he/she allows to occur on his/her property. Currently, the state gives permission for any hunter to use your private property without your consent when the hunter purchases a big game license. Technology and training exists to control dogs, the hunters simply do not want to change.
I vote no this bill is ridiculous!!
Vote YES to Hb1900 equal protection for hound hunting and landowners rights.
No rules or regulations and fragmenting of the land is breeding serios problems.
I truly hope it doesn't take someone getting killed to see some change. Landowners have no tools to deal with these problems yet hunters have all kinds of laws to protect them.
Please vote No.
I have a question. In the past few years, we have seen a drastic increase in the illegal shooting of dogs by some "hunters" or "landowners"(some of which who are now or soon will be convicted felons)and often those same lawbreakers are bragging on different social media sites about their actions. At the same time, we are seeing an increase in the theft of dog's collars and the tracking collars being stolen off of dogs. Additionally, many of those same people advocate catching dogs, and instead of calling the owners, taking the dogs to dog pounds. I assume their intent is to either cause the owner of the dogs a major issue trying to locate the dogs, or in the cases where the indentifying information has been removed from the dogs, they hope the dogs are put to death by the pound.
Does anything really think that "hunters" or "landowners" who will readily shoot dogs, steal collars, and turn dogs into pounds with evil intentions would hesitate to lie to a CPO or LEO and accuse a dog of being on their land or lease so the owner of said dog could be falsely charged? All dogs owned by an individual hunter will have the same contact info on each dog. All anyone with less than honorable intentions would have to do is catch one dog just once (no matter where the dog is) and that person could make false complaints every day that a certain houndman's dogs was where it should not be. Does anyone else see how easily this proposed law could be misused?
Vote NO to HB 1900!
I urge you to vote YES on this bill. The amended bill puts great burden on landowners, who are having frequent deer dog trespass issues. This bill is needed to give the landowners the right to enjoy their property, without interference from deer dogs who endanger their farm animals and the peace entitled to them when the bought their land.
This is MY land and I am the LAW of it. KEEP YOUR DOGS OFF OF IT.
Vote no to this bill.
Please vote no to HB.1900 it is a unfair bill thats punishing all for the acts of few.
Please vote no
Vote no. This is rediculous. I'm sure there's some bad apples out there who release dogs on others property but majority of us dont. We lease 1600 acres surrounded by 2200 acres of public land and have an additional 1200 acres we have verbal permission on. But occasionally running bear we still end up on someone else's land. We've run bear 20 miles before being able to pull dogs off of it. We shouldn't be punished for that.
Please Vote NO HB1900.
I say no to HB1900. I don't stand for HB1900 and it's cowardly agenda. The hidden agenda behind this bill is to commercialize deer hunting in the state of Virginia. This bill is unfair and is geared toward ending sport of hunting with hounds. Hunting with hounds is a major support for our communities and help many local businesses stay afloat. Statically houndsman are not responsible for the majority of hunting violations. I say no to this ridiculous bill.
Hunting with hounds is part of our culture in rural Va. I'm 49 years old and I have hunted with hounds my entire life and I am a proud owner of deer hounds. The problem with this bill, is it was created by people that have "bigger plans" for rural Va. "COMMERCIAL HUNTING". Make no mistake about it, they are disguising the real reason for this bill. Saying that hounds running through your property is an infringement on your rights is like going to the Outer Banks and saying the fishermen on the beach, blocking your view of the ocean is an infringement of your rights. RIDICULOUS! So,why do they feel the need to disguise the real reason for this bill? Because they know their agenda is selfish and wrong, and if it weren't for this "smoke and mirrors" trick ordinary citizens wouldn't support it. Property rights or not, you better think twice about being in favor of this bill. Let's keep our wildlife wild, not raised on some steroid impregnated feeder like a prize bull that will be auctioned of the highest out of state bidder. This bill is designed to be a stepping stone in that exact direction and I ask that you vote NO to HB1900!
I am asking for all senators to Kill bill HB1900. This bill was created to directly attack people who hunt with hounds. In doing so it encompassed all dogs and created a problem far more bigger then the 2% of complaints hound hunters make up each year.
Who is going to fund the man power and the time taking by the localities to attempt to prosecute these cases? This law creates work that will waste time and money of our local authorities when they could be doing something that truly matters (problems like drugs, theft, assisting with child protective services matters, etc.). To have the law called every time a dog comes on your property hunting or non hunting is crazy. Most of the time dogs are moving on with no intent of harming you or anything you have (that statement is directed at all dogs!).
So why drive your taxes up and make counties struggle even more than many already are just because a dog was passing through. If it is honestly harming your property I understand your issue but remember the wildlife you see belongs to the commonwealth of VA not one individual!
I again say kill bill hb1900 for ALL dog owners sake!
Please vote NO to this bill. It will not all affect hunting dogs but all dog owners. It will also take away from business in the state and from state revenue. Dog owners in general spend 1000s of dollars a year on dogs and hunting and that puts money in the states and business pocket. Please vote NO to this bill and any like it. Thank you
Please vote no to HB 1900!
As a Virginia native, I respectfully ask the Rules Committee to terminate HB1900 by voting NO to this bill. No amendment could bring this preposturous bill to make sense for the majority of Virginians. Dog owners across the state - herding, hunting, sporting, service, pet, etc - could potentially face charges over painted trees and word of mouth. Are dogs the only trespassing animals in the state? If not, why are the other animals' owners not prosecuted or fined in the ways this bill would allow a dog owner to be? I fail to understand how this bill will help enforce laws already in place, but only necessitate good neighbors. The focus of Virginia lawmakers should reside in areas that deserve and demand attention, not promoting the demise of a 400 year-old Virginia tradition.
Vote NO on the HB1900 we have people coming out of state to hunt with us... If it wasn't for people coming from out of state we wouldn't be getting the money for things like planting oysters,and planting fish...
God lord there are some clueless people on here.
"Commercial hunting" means the transfer of money from one person to another for the sole purpose of hunting. You hound hunters all lease land, so you are taking part in commercial hunting. Stop with that lame argument.
Tradition. Heritage. Your tradition does not trump my property rights. This isn't the 1970s anymore. The landscape has changed dramatically. Change or your "tradition" will die.
Economy. Forty-nine states do not allow deer hounds. Their economies are fine.
All hunting dogs. Sorry, fellas, but I can control my bird dog with a simple "here." If that doesn't work, I can push a tone button. That always works. No one complains about the daily trespass by bird dogs, rabbit dogs, waterfowl dogs, etc. It's deer hounds, nothing else.
Change or watch your tradition go the way of that other Virginia tradition, slavery.
PLEASE VOTE NO ! This Bill is toxic,flawed and will cause strife, anger and all out resentments between neighbors and friends. The wording has changed however the bill itself has not. They have changed the wording to hunting dogs now. Any dog whether it's a hound, large breed or even the smallest dog will put it's nose on the ground and start smelling. That dog can be considered "HUNTING". Say you daughter lets her little puppy out to stretch it's little legs and your neighbor has something against you or something to gain from causing you problems. He could post put up a sign after the fact " No Dogs" and her puppy had previously set one of its feet on his property or even not. Well, $100 fine and a lot of angry feelings. Not to mention that law enforcement and court burdens. As far as chasing game on to other lands. Well, the dogs do not herd wild game to go certain places. The wild animal belong to the Commonwealth of Virginia and goes where it decides to go. The dogs follow them. Trying to stop the dogs where they are not wanted is a priority to me. I do everything legally, physically and most importantly ethically to ensure this. Example sometimes they maybe running a doe and it's buck season only, highways and lots of times crossing property lines in places not accessible. Rational discussion is the answer. Not legislative. If both sides sit down and act like adults instead of little children then both sides benefit. Saying that I do believe this bill is being pushed by out of state corporate money to implement commercial hunting in Virginia. This will affect not only Hound Hunter but the average family farms and average landowner. Civil discussion is the answer. This bill is so wrong on so many levels. Thank you.
Vote to SUPPORT HB1900.
Restore landowner rights in Virginia! Make owners responsible for their dogs. The heritage will continue for those that choose to do it right while the bad apples deal with the consequences. Thanks
Vote NO!
Please vote no! My children enjoy every second with our hunting dogs. This will not just effect hunting dogs but all dogs in general and will be a law enforcement nightmare.
VOTE NO TO HB1900. As a houndswoman & mother of a little boy who adores his hunting dogs & hunting I would love for this tradition to continue. Hunting with hounds is teaching my son respect, responsibility, and to one day keep him off the streets. We live in a very rural area where hunting with hounds a long standing tradition and a hobby, where lots of money gets put back into our economy. We don't have the luxury of many things for our children to do in the winter months. Hunting is also teaching my son survival skills and how live off the land and how to feed his family.
You will not stop those who dump there dogs or continue to do ignore the laws, unfortunately. And that's with any law you pass, look at the population of citizens in the prison and jail systems who ignore the laws.
I am also curious on this law will be fully enforced when most localities have no leash laws. Also, most animal control officers DO NOT work weekends. Other officers have more important issues to contend to during their shifts than to worry about a dog wandering on someone else's property, and the DGIF is so understaffed, that it took them over 8 hours to help me with a problem this past year. Which did me no good when the problem I had was at 7:45am and they didn't call me back until 5:15pm.
SO PLEASE VOTE NO HB1900!
Please vote no to HB1900. Please do not take our tradition away from us.
HB1900 is just more language saying the same as what we already have laws passed to address dog trespass,HB1329 being one bill. Please say NO to 1900.
I will not support this bill or anyone that votes for this bill!
If you are a landowner, the current VA laws give undeterred rights to YOUR land to the Hound Hunters no matter if they are a VA resident or not.
*Support bill HB1900 to regain some of the rights that have been stolen from you as a landowner.
**If you're a landowner in Virginia and wish to know more about what is being done on the landowners behalf please check out and join the "Old Dominion Property Rights Alliance". Its Free.
*Also, when you contact your legislator to Support HB1900, ask them about the "Right to Retrieve" law in Virginia. A law passed for Hound Hunters. It allows ANY person or persons to enter YOUR property unannounced, help themselves to your back yard, barn yard, pasture, wherever. You as the homeowner/landowner have NO rights to stop them. If confronted, all they have to say is, "I'm looking for my dog". If requested, they have to give their name and that's all!!
The teeth-gnashing, the fear-mongering and the lame arguments are proof positive that hound hunters will continue to be their own worst enemies.
They continue to insist that their "heritage" trample my rights as a property owner and that they should be allowed to let their dogs run at will, property boundaries be damned.
It's time to give landowners full control of their own property. YES on HB1900.
I have been hunting dogs all my life it is a tradition for Virginia Hunters to use dogs this is another attempt to stop dog hunters from using dogs my hunting club has about 14 dogs you mean to tell me that if they go on the property we could spend in excess of $1,400 in one day because all of them going on property this is not right please reject this bill
Please vote no to hb 1900. This bill isn't about just deer dogs , anyone who hunts with any kind of dog on any game is effected. I can't go in the woods tonight and holler Mr Coon if you can hear me , when my dog strikes you , you can only run 500 yards to the east , 700 too the west and 209 to the south because that Land is posted and the landowner doesn't like dogs when you get that far . Remember if the republicans vote for this and it passes , we gonna help the dema get control this November . I have never voted demo in my life but I damn sure will along with about 100,000 more this November if it passes.
Please vote no for bill HB 1900. This bill is totally absurd this whole bill relies on the fact that a dog has to know where it's allowed to go and where it's not which is just plain dumb
I say no to this bill HB 1900.I have my grandchild and nephews that love to hunt with dogs.They enjoy learning this sport and just like every thing else Take the fun out of teaching kids how to get out and see nature at its best.With all do respect just say no to this bill HB 1900
Please vote no
please vote no on h.b. 1900. This a bad bill that will make all types of hunting with Hounds a mess as well as pet owners in rural areas . Never thought I'd see a republican in virginia try to introduce and get a liberals bill passed . Time for the people to Speak in November if this goes through . We weigh out number the still hunters who are pretending to be land owners and doing all the moaning and whining .
Please vote no to this bill it will only create more problems for both sides
Please vote no. There are literally hundreds, maybe thousands of hunt clubs in Eastern Virginia that depend on hounds and their owners to keep this traditional hunting method going. These clubs continue to provide a vital role in introducing countless youth hunters to organized, safe hunting. The dog owners go to great trouble and expense to keep track of their dogs, but accidents happen. Risk of $100 liability per dog would cause many if no most of these clubs which have grown up around the deer-dogging tradition to fade away. Hunting in this state will never be the same.
Why would any ethical, law-abiding hound hunter have a problem with a bill that will punish the "few bad apples" they insist are the problem?
Could it be because nearly all of them trample private property rights in pursuit of their "tradition" and "heritage?"
If it's only a few bad apples, one would think all hound hunters would favor a bill that cracks down on those bad apples.
Truth is, they simply want to continue to run their dogs wherever they feel like, no matter whose property it is. They know this and that's why they are fighting HB1900.
Enough is enough. YES on HB1900.
Does anybody else feel like these fictitious names and forest animals writing to this forum are all the same person???
VOTE NO TO HB1900
Please vote no this bill will cause more problems than it helps.it punishes all dog owners and dog hunters for the actions of a few.there has to be a better way.It would be abused easily by a someone with a grudge against someone else and would be a nightmare to enforce it is too broad punish the group's that are breaking the law it is already a law that does not allow any one to cast dogs on posted land.
To the gentleman that compares this to fishing on the outer Banks.....That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. The beaches on the outer Banks are public property. My farm is private property. HUGE difference.
Culture, fishing is part of the culture at the obx. Some may move there and want to change that. Wasn't directing my comment towards who owns the beach. Sorry for the confusion.
VOTE NO TO HB1900!
Vote no! The whole bill is rediculous. I live in a part of the county with no leash laws for a reason. The bill is too broad.vote no!
Please vote no.
Please vote NO to HB1900!
Ruh roh! Passed committee 10-3. Is the end of private property abuse in the near future? Or will houndsmen continue to their heritage of hunting on everyone else's property even if this becomes law?
Please shut down this bill it's going to cause a lot of unnecessary calls to law enforcement agencies when they need to be doing something as in working a wreck or they will be dealing with neighborly disputes when people need to just be neighbors again and work there own problems out amongst each other if you don't like how people lived before you move there then do a little research before you jump on the first 20 acres beside a hunt club with 650 acres a little common sense use to go a long way in this world now it seems it less and less shown people just want to make mountains out of mole hills more and more these days.
Vote NO !!!!!! We already have laws in pace. Enforce them.
Please vote NO, I don't own hunting dogs however this far reaching bill will affect all dog owners not just hunters, this is a horrible bill.
I vote Nooooo Do Not pass this
If this passes I hope that those who vote to pass are voted out of office
I VOTE NO DO NOT PASS THIS!!!!!
VOTE NO TO HB 1900
Please do not pass bill hb1900. This bill affects all owners of dogs not just dog hunters. Every person who lives in a subdivision with there little dogs will be affected by this. This is a sure fire way to pin neighbors against neighbors starting wars. So again please DO NOT PASS THIS BILL!!!!!
PLEASE VOTE NO TO HB1900
No one should support this bill. Not only does it fine hunters but anyone that owns a dog. I pay dues to a club and hunt 11000 acres with no homes around and it's my fault thst I should be fined because a dog goes in a different direction and is on someone land? From what I read a person that owns a dog in town will be fined when the dog goes over to the next door. What the hell! Most hunters that still hunt do so with the possibility of anything coming through the woods. That's why it's the outdoors! To say that because of a pack of maybe just one dog a hunt is ruined. Then I guess the whole world is to be fined and God should be fined for creating animals and all of his creations! Including everyone that supports this bill!
I emphatically do not support this bill. I grew up in the country and had dogs that were not for hunting. They ran and roamed as they saw fit. Never did we have a problem with them nor did they cause problems for the neighbors. Now I hunt both still hunting and dog hunting. In both instances dogs have improved my hunting. Hunting dogs running are doing just that...hunting with their nose to the ground and running. They aren't stopping to mess with people or their property. I (along with anyone who has any common sense) do not agree and will never agree that a hunting dog is terrorizing anything or anyone. These same people pushing for this will be the same people complaining about deer, foxes, coyotes, bears, and other wild animals coming on their property. Pretty soon they will push for legislation to be passed that bans wild animals from coming on their land. If this bill is passed it will crush not only hunting in Virginia but the hunting industry in Virginia that brings real dollars into the state from both residents and non-residents. Not to mention the amount of deer and other wild life that won't get harvested if this is passed will cause the population to grow and grow and grow beyond what is manageable, which will cause over population leading to disease and more wild life being struck on the road causing accidents, injuries, and even death. It's a no brainer. VOTE NO IN THIS BILL!!!!!
Do not pass this bill
Please vot No to this bill! No one who hunts can possibly comply with this law. This bill is trying to destroy a tradtition that has been around since the beginning of time. Please take into account that most of the people who hunt with hounds are good hard working people. This is something that we have been doing with our families for generations. My husband and I want to see our children grow up the way we did and be able to experience this. Please vote No!
Please vote no to this bill. I feel it will put neighbor against neighbor and increase our understaffed police and sherriffs departments further.
Please vote NO against HB1900
Please vote NO on HB 1900. Here are just a few reasons to vote no:
1) most of the actions described by others are already illegal. If someone is blocking the road or driveway or harassing you, call the police. In fact, if someone is DRIVING on your property, that doesn't even line up with the right to retrieve laws.
2) if the proponents don't want our dogs to cross off our property and onto theirs, how about deer? Will they refrain from shooting a deer that crosses the line? Or is it ok for the deer and other animals to cross, but just not dogs?
3) and lastly, have you folks READ this bill? It doesn't say hunting hounds. It applies to ALL dogs. Ever had a dog get loose from his leash? Better hope you taught him to read and see blue paint. Otherwise, bring that $100 with you when you come scoop up the poop!
Vote no on this bill
I was strictly a still hunter for years but now I hunt with a club that uses dogs when the season is open. I still bow hunt in the early part of the season and I hunt with the dogs during gun season when the deer are off their patterns. I know the frustration some still hunters get when they haven't seen a deer in a while and then some hunting dog come through. You think they screw up the woods but they don't. If anything they may push some deer onto your property that weren't there to begin with. The biggest thing with this statement that I hope everyone realizes is that we are all hunters and we have a strong voice because of our numbers in this state. By hunting with my club I learned what the heritage is that they speak of. Mine as most clubs is made up of fathers, brothers, uncles and most of all friends that all come together to enjoy the sport of hunting and they bring guests as well witch keeps the sport alive. If you start to attack one part of the sport the numbers will drop as will our voice as hunters. If you are having an issue talk to each other most people are more than happy to work with you. WE NEED TO KEEP THIS OUT Of THE COURTS OR WE WILL ALL LOSE
This bill should be voted down. It is a bill to stop something people have been doing forever. Everyone shoulf not have to pay for a few people messing up. Vote no tomorrow.
Please vote no
As you review this bill, pondering whether to vote yes or no, consider the many ramifications. Dog hunting has been part of this country's heritage since our forefathers sacrificed to create our great nation. Our first president owned and hunted with hounds. All dog hunters, deer, fox, bear, birds, etc. are conservationists helping to keep wildlife manageable. Without hunting and population control, wild animals would run rampant, destroying crops, causing wrecks, cross breading and carrying disease. Think of the valuable revenues the state would lose from hunting licenses, dog food, vet and prescription bills and equipment totaling thousands of dollars per year per hunter. Additionally, think of the valuable time taken from law enforcement for investigating false claims or someone's house dog that has gotten loose and ran across their neighbor's property. Our hunt club has experienced this waste as we have been reported several times over the last two years with unsubstantiated claims, wasting not only the game warden's time but your tax dollars. We have tried to work with the game wardens to prevent this, inviting them to our meetings to discuss issues and problem solving to avoid additional waste. If people are this concerned over someone's dog being on or crossing their property, then maybe they should reconsider where they purchase a home. Country living is that, country living. This bill is for a very few and to punish all would be ludicrous. Let's enforce existing laws, not create senseless new ones.
REMEMBER: This bill AFFECTS ALL dog owners, not just dog hunters. Please vote NO for this bill.
Please vote NO!!!!! This bill not only will affect hunting dogs but people's pets as well. Yes a dog can get loose now and then but a dog can't read. You can't put a sign up and expect a dog to read it. This is the dumbest law.
No to HB1900! There are ample laws on the books for intentional hound release on posted property as well as limitations on right to retrieve. Enforce those instead of punishing the innocent as a product of bad legislation.
Family tradition please vote no!!!!!!!!!
No to HB 1900!!!dogs can read n it's gonna kill a sport that a lot of Virginians love to do so please vote NO to HB1900
No to hb1900!
Please vote no on this bill it is only going to cause more problems. Dogs will follow the game they are trained to hunt any if it goes on the neighbors property I can be fined for this is wrong. This is not just deer dogs but all dogs, hunting and house.
Please vote NO on HB1900! Thank you!
Vote no to hb1900
Vote NO HB1900
Please vote no to HB 1900, this bill will cause problems for all dog owners across the state.
Vote No to HB 1900
Please vote NO on HB1900.
As stated numerously times already, running hounds is a tradition in VA and much of the southeast.
I am a member of four hunt clubs with adjoining or nearly adjoining leases in Pittsylvania county. Meaning, I'm doing all I can do to not to infringe on property owners with my hounds.
I have GPS and training collars on my hounds and use the training function to catch them whenever I can to prevent them from going onto posted land.
But there are tracts of land that I am a member of the lease of, that there is no immediate access to the property line on some sides thereby, no way I can stop my hounds from crossing the property line.
Please do not pass legislation that will punish all hunters and dog owners for bad choices of others.
Please vote no on HB1900. This is an absurd bill. Local law enforcement and VDGIF officers have more than enough power to stop someone intentionally trespassing. You should not punish honest sportsman for what dishonest ones do.
VOTE NO! This is a ridiculous law. The heritage of dog hunting has been around since the beginning of this country, and then these people come into my space and want to change and affect what I have been doing since the 60's, AND without thoughts of the consequences except how it affects them.
Well our law makers are supposed to be responsible and think about these consequences. 1) Dog owners will give up their dogs and overwhelm the animal shelters across the state. 2) Hunting license sales will reduce by at least 2/3. 3) sale of hunting supplies bought from Cabelas, Green Top, Bass Pro, Gander Mountain, Dicks Sports, Walmart and other local companies will suffer to the point of small business closing and certainly revenues of all affected in a major way. The amount of Tax revenue lost will be very significant. (I was just at Bass Pro - Richmond and was told their number are already down, how much more can they take.) 4) local country stores thrive on the hunter's revenue, Dog hunting is a major part of this and the resultant loss of dog hunters will put them out of business.!!! OUT OF BUSINESS.!!!
I am the head of a club that has 9 members 5 of these member are only interested in dog hunting, so I know this is correct. I myself would not hunt nearly as much without deer dogs.
Please vote no on HB1900.
Please vote no on this bill. I am an avid deer Hunter and have been my whole life. Don't punish the law abiding hunters because of a few outlaw hunters. Yes I respect the landowners that are dealing with this issue, we have the same problem on our club property that we pay money to hunt. And yes we run dogs also. There has got to be a better way to handle this then penalizing all dog hunters.
VOTE NO TO HB1900. I am an avid sportsman and outdoor enthusiast that enjoys dogs. I have pets and hunting dogs alike. The comments about a few bad apples among dog hunters concerns me because I am both a land owner and dog hunter in Virginia. There seems to be more bad apples among landowners who want to control people than dog enthusiast. To say that this law protects land owners rights is unrealistic. If a dog runs across my property I smile and think he/she is so beautifully and it's just doing what it was naturally bred to do. It's awesome to see and know what a dog is capable of. I'm sorry that some of you bitter below average personalities can't appreciate that. Sincerely Virginia deer hunter and dog advocate
VOTE NO TO HB1900. I am an avid sportsman and outdoor enthusiast that enjoys dogs. I have pets and hunting dogs alike. The comments about a few bad apples among dog hunters concerns me because I am both a land owner and dog hunter in Virginia. There seems to be more bad apples among landowners who want to control people than dog enthusiast. To say that this law protects land owners rights is unrealistic. If a dog runs across my property I smile and think he/she is so beautifully and it's just doing what it was naturally bred to do. It's awesome to see and know what a dog is capable of. I'm sorry that some of you bitter below average personalities can't appreciate that. Sincerely Virginia deer hunter and dog advocate
Vote no hb1900
I vote no on the bill because how they going to punish everybody for a few certain people I wish people would stop trying to take away will be love in our tradition the kids and family love to do
Vote Yes on HB 1900. This is an issue of Property Owner's Rights. Turn Hound Hunting into a "Heritage" your children can be proud of, respect the right of your neighbors to the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of their own property instead of the "Heritage" of taking away from others for your own enjoyment.
Vote no on hb1900
Please vote no on HB 1900. This bill is crazy. It is going to be a "he said she said " bunch of craziness. If you have the name and number of someone you can swear up and down his dog was on their property when indeed it was not.
These people talking about hunting dogs threatening people and live stock are full of it. In 30 years I have never had a dog attack live stock or chickens. They are certainly not mean or aggressive to people. They have the same temperament as a house pet. They just do what they are meant to do, trail scent.
Don't let the big money commercial hunting movement get what they want. They are what is behind this push.
Vote NO to HB1900!!!!
Please vote no one Hb1900
Please vote yes!
Please Vote NO to HB1900. I've hunted with dogs all my life never hand any problems with landowners. Just treat everyone with respect. Hunting with dogs is a tradition that's past down through generation.
There are young hunters occupying their time training and
hunting dogs . Do not take a good thing away from our
kids .
I respectfully ask that you not support House Bill 1900. Hunting with dogs is a 400 year old Virginia heritage. Hunters who use dogs commit less than 2% of all wildlife violations while they are 65% of those who hunt. Tools are already available for use against criminal trespass by the use of dogs. Last year's trespass bill, that Delegate Fariss sponsored, closed the last loophole to enforce intentional acts of releasing dogs to trespass. Enforcement will be a tremendous unfunded expense for Sheriff Departments, Animal Control and Police Departments. Since the Bill applies to all dogs it could put neighbor against neighbor as it could be used as a tool for revenge for the slightest grievance between one another.
By attacking accidental or unintentional dog trespass I believe this Bill is part of the national agenda to end hunting with dogs, promote hunting over bait and facilitate commercial hunting not a bill to deal with “bad actor” hunters.
Again, I ask that you vote NO to House Bill 1900.
Please Vote NO to HB1900!!!!!
Please vote no on this bill. This bill will destroy Virginia's dog hunting heritage. This law is an unfunded mandate and will be very cost prohibitive to enforce. It will also hurt dog related businesses such as veterinarians, dog food sales, convenience stores, sporting goods outlets, and any other revenue obtained from owning hunting dogs. This is just another tactic to make VA a guided hunt state like Texas. The first step to making this happen is to get rid of hunting dogs all together.
Vote NO to.HB 1900....On my understanding, this bill doesn't just apply to hound hunters it applies to everyone, even regular country folk like myself, and even you, if you have a dog. We have a house dog. He's cute and sweet and fluffy... never outside unleashed, but he has been known to make a break for it, or escape from my 13 year old son when he is walking him. If this bill is passed, I could be fined by my neighbor... and this could especially be true if my neighbor doesn't like me for whatever reason, say they hate my mailbox, or the fact that UPS delivers to my home a lot. It has the potential to pit neighbor against neighbor, friend against friend, and family against family, and for what really? It will tie up our valuable law enforcement unnecessarily, and this would be even worse in larger areas where crime is high and the law enforcement have much more pressing things to do besides run referee over dogs.
Please don't pass this bill. My family has owned dogs and I'm planning on getting a pack. There is nothing wrong with hunting with dogs. The native americans used dogs to hunt deer and many other animals. Dogs are not just dogs to people or to hunters they are part of the family and tradition in hunting in the south.
Please vote NO to HB1900.
Please vote no on HB1900. This bill opens Pandora's box for he said she said legalities. Just a disgruntled neighbor could call or say for no reason that a dog trespassed. I know this isn't the aim, but it will happen. Dog hunting is a tradition of the commonwealth. If ANYONE owns a dog (pet) you know they can wonder off and simply explore. Hunting dogs simply do what they are born to do. Track and chase the game and yes sometimes onto others property. Typically they aren't there long. They simply pass through. We try to stop them if possible, but it's not always obtainable. Please do not pass this ludicrous BILL HB1900.
Vote NO to HB1900
VOTE NO My Lab can't read !!
Vote NO on this bill.
Vote no to HB1900 bill
Please vote NO to the bill HB1900
Please vote NO! Let dogs be dogs!
Vote NO to this bill.
Please do NOT pass this bill. I think its ridiculous. I mean since when can a dog read a posted sign?
Please vote no on this bill!!!
There are outlaws out there please pass the law. No game wardens to be found in deer season in westmoreland county. Dump dogs on posted land and go on rented or private land and say we have a right to retrieve our dog. They have no permission to turn dogs out. I would love to see the road hunters have to actually get out of there trucks and go hunt. Pure lazy and outlaws!!! PASS THE LAW and supply each county with at least one game warden to patrol and write tickets to unlawful hunters!!!!
Please vote NO to this ridiculous bill. We own beagles and are avid rabbit hunters. A dog is bred to hunt, you are not only depriving the hunter of the love of hearing their hound do what they are trained and bred to do, but you are taking a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. VOTE NO!
PLEASE VOTE NO TO THIS BILL HB1900
Please vote no to HB1900 Bill !!
I don't want dog hunting to end but dog hunter rights should not trump LANDOWNER RIGHTS!!! All I want is the "Right To Retrieve" to be abolished.
This is nothing more than legal permission to trespass.
I sympathize with the dog hunting tradition, and dogs go where they go, but being able to come on my land whenever you wish without my permission, simply by saying "I'm looking for my dog" is un-American.
This is no different than if I came into your house whenever I felt like it and you could legally do nothing about it. If the dog hunting community can't grasp this concept then it is destined to be abolished.
Please vote no. I am a dog lover and hunter. Our dogs are our family. Hunting with dogs is a family tradition that builds strong connections in communities. There are adequate laws in place for dog hunting. The threat of a loose vicious dog is understandable but hunt dogs are being monitored and picked up. We take great care to keep our dogs safe. Please vote no.
Please vote no to hb1900. I have hounds and I hunt stands too. My daughter enjoys her hounds. This law is ridiculous and not only against hunting but will cause problems between neighbors if they don't like each other. It's for all dogs. Hound hunting brings a lot of revenue to this state and I can guarantee u will never control out population of deer without it. Also who will lease these large tracts of land. U can't still hunt all those thick places. It's ridiculous. Just greedy jealous people who don't agree with how we hunt.
Do not pass this bill. I still hunt as well as dog hunt. There are so many arguments as to how dogs ruined my hunt. I don't want them on my land. It's my land, I should be able to not have dogs on it if I don't want them there. You own the land and have the right to do as you please. But you do not own the animals or have the right to contain any of the animals that pass on the land. There is no difference in a dog. Bad hunters are bad hunters in every spectrum. Singling out one type is profiling and harassing. Squirrels, coyotes, foxes, and even bear have ruined my hunts as a still hunter. If we are attacking dogs, why not attack them too and keep them off the lands. Passing these harsh laws on dog hunters will destroy the hunting economy and as well as the environment. The only reason that these laws against dog hunters are being pushed is because of padded pockets and these so called hunters who can't kill a deer still hunting. They believe that this will icrease there odds of killing a tv deer. Wrong. This will increase the cwd that is already running rampid. Other diseases will soon rush in affecting more animals. Simply put, enough deer will not be harvested and the population will be filled with disease and not to mention the overabundance of automobile accidents and crop destruction this will cause. Lets face it, dog hunters harvest a majority of va's deer in a season. And thats the part behind most of these landowners reason for pushing to end dog hunting by creating so many laws that many cant do what they enjoy. One of the biggest people pushing this bill wants to make va like the west where you have to purchase stamps and pay thousands to harvest a deer. That's the real issue. Greed. Move out west if that is what you want. But to those of us who actually feed our families with the harvest, dog hunting is much more than these greedy landowners trophy buck chasing. It's survival.They infringe on everyone's rights because they think that they should be able to do anything their way because of the land they own. You only pay taxes, see if it's your land when the government wants it. Quickly you will see its not. Everyone should be against this bill because when one starts, more will quickly follow. And soon unless you pay thousands you won't hunt any land.
Please vote NO! This bill is just one step closer to making any sort of hunting with dogs illegal. Most of the times is the land owners would leave the dogs alone they would run straight across their property and keep going, not tear anything up! Hunting with dogs keeps a lot of the younger generation in the more rural areas out of trouble because they have something to occupy their time, therefore they do not have to search for other things to do causing them to potentially make bad decisions! If the worst thing that happens is a dog coming on someone's land and it gets picked up... where's the harm? Sure it's aggravating at 9:00pm but at least if a 16 year old boy steps out the truck you know he isn't out drinking or in drugs! Come on politicians! Look at the bigger picture here! Keep our youth safe even if it means aggravating a few neighbors.
Please vote No to the dog bill HB1900 no!!!! I'm 54 years old and have always hunted with dogs!!! My grandfather spent a lot of time teaching me the right way to live and treat people from the deer stand and the truck seat hunting with dogs!! A big no to this bill!!!!
Say NO!!!! This bill is rediculess. It is trying to take away the right to dog hunt. Dogs can't read signs. Under this bill your pet Chihuahua could step one foot on your neighbors property while playing with your kids in the back yard and you get fined. JUST SAY NO!!!
I am a citizen who served my United States Air Force for over 26 years of honorable service. I grew up in Charlotte County, Virginia and my grandfather taught me about hunting with dogs. It was not just a sport but it was a legacy and it was something we shared to the day I left for the military. Today I am retired and still enjoy hunting with dogs. I hate the fact that a lot of individual's who are not from the Common Wealth of Virginia have purchased land and now want to change things to fit their style. I grew up on a farm and we were always grain farmer's and the deer their grazed and ate some of the crops. So we contributed to the health and welfare of the wild game. I totally 100% disagree with this bill and if it passed then I will be reluctant with a lot of others to continue hunting do justice a favor and kill the bill please. Veteran's like me enjoy the camaraderie of hunting with dogs and other hunters. It is not just a sport it has been a way of life for many of us. Please don't take something that has been a legacy away from us for many years.
Sincerely,
Michael P. Jackson
Veteran & Hunter
I do not agree with HB1900. As a dog hunter, a still hunter and a landowner I do not see this bill creating a solution to anything. Thank you.
I am opposed the bill but do offer a proposal I stated earlier my reason's for opposing the bill. I now have a viable solution I feel that would work for both the dog hunters and the tree stand hunters. I think that if they would give the Stand Hunters 1 November until the 3rd weekend before dog season that would give them free time to hunt without dog interference. Another proposal would be to give the dog hunters more time in January an additional two weeks added to the season. Whatever, way they chose to do it the situation could be worked so everyone get what they want out of this. Changing dates and allowing more time to hunt could be the ticket. I don't think it would diminished the deer population. So that's my military view point on the matter. Also, perhaps they could add an additional week without dogs to the end of the season for the Tree hunters whatever, way they chose to do it would work. Logistically speaking it would take time but it would work moving dates. Having been stationed prior in Delaware they added a week season for handguns so why could Virginia do the same thing for Tree Stand Hunters. That way we all get what we want!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sincerely,
Michael P. Jackson
Please vote no no no on hb1900 !! This bill is ridiculous!!!!
Please vote NO to Hb1900. We have to keep our heritage around for our children and grandchildren to experience and enjoy they are the future of deer hunting in virginia
As a hunter, and a farmer, I would like to share with you my concerns for the
future of hunting with hounds in the State of Virginia. As a hunter, I can not stress how important the use of hounds is to controlling the deer population in the state. We have a small hunt club, 30 members, and it has been our experience that the hunters are much more
successful with the use of hounds. As a farmer, this is very important to
me. Although I love to hunt, there has to be a balance between being able to
support a healthy deer herd and being able to be profitable as a farmer.
Hunting with hounds allows us to better control the deer population and
maintain a healthy deer herd. We also work in conjunction with the
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to study our deer herd and make
sure they are healthy.
I feel that this bill is another attempt to end the use of hounds for
hunting. I would like to ask you to kill this bill, as it would be a
detriment to hunting in Virginia.
Please Vote NO!!! on HB1900
Please vote NO against HB1900!
Please vote NO to HB1900! The future of hunting with hounds tradition depends on the Commonwealth overcoming yet another detrimental bill directly pointed at hunters and their beloved hounds. Hunting with hounds not only helps control the ever growing deer population of Virginia, but hunters provide a revenue for the state from fuel to dog food to GPS tracking collars. If the deer population was allowed to continue to increase, not only would there be more accidents involving vehicles and deer but farmers would also feel the impact from deer pressure damaging their crops, a farmers ONLY source of income. So please, VOTE NO TO HB1900 allowing for hunters of the Commonwealth to continue with tradition for generations to come.
Vote no on HB 1900 I hunt with dogs and my kids love to too,and you can argue about tradition an landowners rights all day but this bill pertains to all dogs not just hunting dogs. So if my house dog gets on my neighbors property then I can be fined or if my neighbors dog comes onto my 240 acres i could have him fined. This bill will create conflict not only between hound hunters an landowners but neighbors against neighbors and put a strain on localities and resources that are already streched in some places kill this bill and work on something that will be beneficial to the state of Virginia.
Please vote NO on HB1900. Unintended consequences always follow. All my neighbors will be disappointed when they have to pay $100 for Fluffy to defecate in my front yard. Count on clogged courthouses.
Vote no to hb1900
I do not in any way support the HB 1900 bill or any amendments made to such bill. This country roots has always supported hunting and the hunting with hounds. We tend to forget where we came from and for the most part unless there is personal gain attached to it where we are going. I remember some of the best times of my life were spent with my father and grandfather in the woods listening to a great pack of hounds doing what they were bred to do. A lot of the ones supporting this bill have never had this pleasure nor do they want to. Point is I'm not trying to take away your pleasures in life so why are you attacking mine.
This is a necessary and long overdue law because hound hunters continue to assume that what's mine is also theirs. Socialism at work. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders would be proud of the deer dog community.
Please vote no to HB1900. This Bill is not about nuisance dogs, it's about the HSUS and big money preserves moving in from states that do not allow dogs to run deer and do not want to assimilate to Virginia's traditions. "Born here" Virginians do not want this Bill.
Please vote NO.
Please vote No to this bill. Don't let a few people with there personal agendas ruin a sport that is the heritage of this state. It has proved to be the best way to manage wildlife to prevent overpopulation.
Dear Delegates,
I'm writing you as a plea for you to please oppose HB1900.
I am a hound mother and a dog hunter. Please understand that dog hunters
are a vast community that loves our dogs to the fullest and we never intend
any harm to anyone's land. Unfortunately, after every effort to teach them
to read we have failed miserably, we do our best efforts to buy the latest
in technology to keep a watchful eye on them at all times. We try to make
contact with landowners when it is necessary to be on their property and
treat it with the utmost respect as if it were our own land. Our dogs mean
no harm to anyone or their land they are the most loving breed around.
Thank you for your time and effort in regards to this matter. I hope you
find it in your hearts to consider our pleas. They are not just dogs they
are our family we raise them, give them medical attention when needed and
all the love in the world! This isn't just about us it is all for them.
i vote no on hb1900, it not only allows anti-hunters to punish dog owners but also anyone that has posted land (leased land ) other hunting clubs that have problems with ajointing clubs could create major problems. plus where would the extra resources come from to enforce the law,there isnt enough deputy time run all over the county for each call.
i vote no on hb1900, it not only allows anti-hunters to punish dog owners but also anyone that has posted land (leased land ) other hunting clubs that have problems with ajointing clubs could create major problems. plus where would the extra resources come from to enforce the law,there isnt enough deputy time run all over the county for each call.Now i agree that dogs shouldnt be intentionally turned loose on posted land, but i bear hunt and had my dogs cross 3 private land owners property on over a 22 mile chase.that would have cost me over a 1000 just for one day of hunting, and all my hunts start on national forest land,with the closest private property over 2 miles away
I oppose this bill. Please vote NO on HB 1900
Vote no, dog hunting is a tradition in southern va. You do away with dog hunting, I promise you people will stop hunting. The amount of money that is spent in va. on dog food , caring for dogs, etc. This bill will effect your dog vets, the people that sale dog food, dog pens, the list could go on and on. I see the people that are complaining about dogs seem to own farms and still hunt I guess. there are already laws in place for trespassing. As far as I know, my dogs are smart but I haven't taught them how to read posted signs yet. This bill is a joke. IT's a pay to play vote. if this law is passed, what would keep some one from picking up dogs, taking them to there land, calling the law and saying the dog was trespassing and getting a couple hundred dollars a week. VOTE NO, AND MAKE SURE YOU CALL CHAIRMAN HOWELL AND LET HIM KNOW. HE'S A (DUMB ASS)
Please vote no on HB 1900
I oppose this bill. Please vote NO on HB 1900.
Delegates,
I'm an avid hunter as well as a dog owner. I oppose the HB1900 bill and both amendments. I'm asking that you please vote NO to this bill. As a proud hound owner I make every effort possible to train and restrain my hounds from entering a non permitted landowners property. I utilize the latest technology (which is not cheap) to assist me in making every effort possible to retrieve my hounds before entering a non permitted property. If you have ever hound hunted you are aware that a hound can not be prevented from entering a private landowners property in every instance. A Dog does not know boundary lines or what a posted sign stands for. PLEASE VOTE NO!! Thank You
Please vote NO to HB1900!! This bill is simply an attack on a Virginia tradition by individuals interested in their own agenda. While property rights may be their rallying cry, those pursuing this bill are just as interested in commercializing hunting. They have little interest in putting food on their table or spending quality time in the woods with their children and grandchildren, the two main goals of most houndsmen. They are only interested in growing those giant deer you see on tv and charging outrageous prices for guided hunts. The impact to the health of the deer herd, vehicular insurance rates, and farmer's crop damage would also see detrimental effect. Leave our tradition alone. NO on HB1900!!
http://www.hb1900.com Vote yes to this bill. If you are intelligent, care about a property owner, and the hunting tradition you are doing a disservice to do anything except to vote yes. This does two things it protects Land owners and ethical law abiding hound hunters. As one scours the comments why do you think they are against at it. Simply, you must train your dog's, be provided active rather than reactive, and most importantly accountable. These are all reasonable efforts that will take place when HB 1900 passes. Gone will be conflicts. There is only one logical solution.
I don't think people are seeing the BIG picture here. Too many things to consider with this. I am a hunter, land owner, and dog owner. The state will lose money, shelters will be overloaded with dogs (which they will have to kill-who will adopt an older energetic hound that can't get the proper exercise), sales and small business will plunder (vets offices,food (for dogs and hunter), truck boxes, gun and ammo,clothing,tires, tracking,GPS, licences, gasoline, other accessories) and there will be more hatred among neighbors. This is not only going to affect the hunter, but any dog that has the freedom to stretch their legs. Plus, law enforcement has bigger things to do on a daily basis, rather than receive calls on a dog trespassing. This bill is assinie, and is just a stab at those who hunt with hounds. I, AND MY DOGS, VOTE NO TO THE HB1900. Thank you.
PLEASE vote NO to HB1900!!!!
Please Vote NO to HB1900!! I am an animal lover and hound mother. Hound hunters are a large community of men, women and children that are carrying on this tradition. We as hound owners love and care for our animals. We spend thousands of dollars a year on food, shelter, vaccinations, de-wormer, vet care if needed, and tracking systems to locate our hounds in the hopes that they are never on someone else's property and we are able to catch them quickly. It is imperative that we catch our hounds quickly so that they can get food, water and rest after faithfully serving their owners in a hunt. We as hound owners are responsible for our hounds, but in that same statement, our hounds cannot read a posted sign. I would love to be able to teach them time, so that they can come home before it gets dark. I would love to teach them to read so that they may never cross onto another's property. I would more than gladly teach them to never cross the road and if they do, to stop and look both ways. Unfortunately, as smart as they may be and very quick to learn, these are things that they will not learn, and as a hound mother, I worry about every moment of every day. Even at this moment I worry about them. My hounds are in their pens probably sleeping or looking at squirrels and I can only pray that they never get too curious and escape from their pens. Please vote NO. This bill doesn't just impact hound owners but our hounds who are innocent and do not know why they are potentially having their rights to be dogs, taken away.
Please vote NO to HB1900!
Please vote NO on this bill.
Your heritage does not trump my private property rights.
Every other state that does not allow deer hounds manages to keep their deer population under control.
This will have no impact on rabbit, squirrel, duck or bird dogs. The only problems come from deer and bear hounds.
If you are tired of losing land to outsiders, start buying the land when it is for sale.
No, your dogs can't read, but I assume you can.
If there are only a handful of irresponsible hound hunters, then responsible, ethical hound hunters should support this bill.
There is no conspiracy to end hound hunting. Landowners just want to use their own land as they choose, even if that includes keeping you and your dogs off it.
Please vote yes on this bill. Something needs to be done and this is a reasonable solution to an ongoing problem. If a dog strays or wanders onto my property, I have no problem with that. But there are those that willfully and regularly run their dogs through my land. This bill could help with that.
Reading through the comments here it is pretty amazing. I don't think most folks have actually read the proposed bill as many say this will impact all dogs - no it won't, it's right there in black and white - that it will be a burden on law enforcement - not according to the VAHDA since all they say is that there are no problems. Suddenly neighbors will not get along because a law exists? I am guessing that if there is a problem then those neighbors don't get along now.
I love the comments about how the entire economy will collapse suddenly due to what the hound hunting community claims are only a few bad actors. Which is it folks? Either there are only a few trouble makers and this will help you clean them up and keep the sport alive or many of the commenters here are in fear as they understand they are the problem and will have to change the way they act in order to not get in trouble.
The hounds can run anyplace we want venue is the only place where you hear about commercial hunting in Virginia, nobody else is talking about it, nobody. You are not going to get a large scale, high dollar, trophy client to come and sit in a pine thicket with a shotgun in hopes of getting a big buck, I don't care how big of a pile of corn one placed there (a law which by the way was co-patroned by one of the hound hunting's most favored Delegates). Fear mongering and deceit on the part of the VAHDA is leading this charge.
Vote yes on HB1900. Allow those who want to hound hunt to do so, and those who don't want dogs on their land to do so as well, pretty sure the 14th amendment specifies that sort of solution.
First of all everyone loves dogs, they are wonderful creatures. But the hunters who intentionally let loose their deer hounds on clearly marked private property which enable them to "legally follow" their hounds are the problem. It happens frequently in our rural area and really needs to be stopped. This bill needs to be passed. Its not going to impact inadvertent stray hounds or their owners.
Please vote YES on this bill. I, like many others who have commented have no issue with hunting, but I do have issue when irresponsible, rude hunters who feel they can run roughshod over land owner's rights while cloaking themselves in the standard line, "I am just retrieving my dog". What ever happened to still hunting? Why do these so called hunters feel the need to run their pickups up and down the roads with the latest electronic gizmos attached to their dogs, chasing them across numerous posted properties? Also the amount of trash and beer cans and liquor bottles increases along the roadways during hunting season. Plus the fact that they dispose of the deer carcasses in the local streams.
I vote no to this bill, dogs are not just simply pets, or used for just hunting, they are a part of the family, we play and have fun with them, and when it's time to get serious, they'll stop playing and be serious as well, so I vote no to the bill
Opponents of this bill talk about how their dogs are family and then turn around and talk about killing those family members or turning them over to shelters (which will kill those family members) if HB1900 passes.
Just goes to show how little dog hunters really care for their animals. Family members? Yeah, right.
I do not support this bill. Whoever wrote it has no understanding of hunting nor of what dogs can and cannot be trained to do.
As a 30 year houndsman the most upsetting thing about this bill to me is the gamesmanship that is clearly being played. Just as probably 95% of the other commenters here I clicked the link on the VAHDA page to comment. I had heard of this bill but did not pay much attention to it until recently as it had not even been to a committee yet. I read the entire bill, the original, and the one that just passed. I then read all of the postings on our VAHDA site, I am personally disgusted with whom ever is running our page. What we are being told, and what is actually proposed is not the same. There is no mention to ending RTR here, we all know the law from last year did not really do anything. Most of all we all know there are problems, some worse than others, and yes some get handled, but a whole lot do not get taken care of.
Last year we were clearly told by the VAHDA that we had to be in Richmond as the Game and Fish committee was going to vote to end deer dog hunting. The very first words I heard out of the Chairman's mouth were that there was no proposal to impact deer dog hunting at all, and as a matter of fact it was the year they only look at fishing laws.
They always say follow the money, there are several posts on the VAHDA page asking for more donations, I guess I would like to know where that money is going now that we have been lied to both years in a row.
If we want our tradition to continue then we need to deal with the problems that exist, a lot has changed in 30 years, it's time we adjust as well or my grandson won't have 10 years to enjoy the hounds.
To me this bill is about as good a solution as there is. I say vote yes.
VOTE NO!!! This bill indicates all dogs, not only hunting dogs or hounds!! So you would be punishable by law for your little chihuahua, rat terrier, jack russell and so on, as well!
Please vote no on this bill. In reality it is anti-hunting, and a nuisance bill. It will allow anti hunting factions to buy a small lot in an area where all other land owners allow hound hunting, and each time a hound is in the area law enforce ment is called. I know the aim is deer hunting, but the mounted foxhunters need to beware as well. This was a stated policy of p.e.t.a. to disrupt hunting countries.
I vote no on this bill
Please vote no to this bill hb1900
Please VOTE YES on this bill. I've tried to speak to the hunters who repeatedly run their dogs through our property. They don't care. One of them tried to run me off the road while making obscene gestures at me as they sped by. They leave trash behind in retaliation. One claimed he was christian as though that excuses his behavior. Why shouldn't parents be concerned that men with guns could be trespassing on their property while their children are playing in the yard? If hunters refuse to abide by property owners' requests not to trespass why should we assume they're considerate enough to leave their guns in the truck when they do so? It's not unheard of that hunters are often under the influence of alcohol/drugs. If I encounter a trespasser on my property when I'm out enjoying the woods am I within my rights to stand my ground if I feel threatened? And why shouldn't I feel threatened? If the sign says No Trespassing, there should be no one trespassing.
For the sake of hound hunting for generations to come please vote no on this bill. This is the first step to end hound hunting. We don't need more laws to enforce we need to enforce the ones we already have
Please vote NO on HB1900.hunting with hounds is a heritage as old as the common wealth.again please vote NO and keep this family tradition alive so the sons and daughters of my son and daughter will be able to experience first hand rather than in a memory.thanx for your time
Say no to this bill it's just still hunters trying to get their way,because the still hunters of Virginia believe that when your running your dogs it messes up their hunting and it's not just still hunters it's some landowners that don't like people using dogs to hunt with. If you take away the deer dog hunting your taking away a family tradition you'll be taking away my family tradition. Im a young boy i have 3 dogs on my own I love running my dogs. If you all would just take the time and think about all those families that yall would possibly be hurting by saying yes to this bill think about the little kids that go with their dad hunting and if yall say yes they wont be able to hunt really anymore with their dad. My dad had dogs he loved his. It's a tradition that has started and really truly should never die. But yall listen say no this will hurt the tradition of running dogs. Thank yall for your time
Please say no! If you pass this law then you aren't just hurting the hunters your hurting the dogs too. Hunters don't force the dogs too run it's their choice. I have ten beagles that run no matter what and I don't make them. One of them doesn't even run but I still love her. Please don't ruin it for the dogs. God put them in this world to do what they love to do and let's not forget about that. Plus im a little kid and I love going out in the woods with my dad and hearing the sound of them run. So for the families please say no and let dog hunting stay alive.
I urge you to vote a resounding 'NO' on this legislation.
I see several problems with this bill.
Wildlife Conservation Officers and County Law Enforcement Personnel have enough problems to deal with; without having the additional responsibility of "playing dog warden".
HB 1900 will cause additional landowner/hunter conflicts.
I believe that the potential law will be used a tool for spiteful action between neighbors.
I am 63 years old. At an early age, I was taught to respect the property upon which I walked when hunting with my dogs (beagles). While the "right to retrieve" law does permit me to trespass for the retrieval of my dog, it does NOT authorize me to disrespect the individual who owns the land upon which the dog is trespassing. When it is possible, I always strive to ask permission to retrieve my dog.
When I cast my beagles, I can not guarantee in which direction they may go
or where a chase may lead them. Despite my best efforts, they may wander
upon someone's property who is anti-dog and anti-hunting. Using a law such
as represented by HB 1900, I would be liable for prosecution and a hefty fine.
In my opinion, HB 1900 would create more problems than it would solve.
No law can teach respect to those who have no respect.
Thank You for permitting me to express my opinion.
Vote YES for HB1900! Two years ago, a hunting dog ran out of a ditch and stopped in front of my car in the middle of the road. After I hit my brakes, it paused to look at me before continuing to sniff and walk down the middle of the road. This is when I noticed two dog-hunter trucks (antennas on roof, dog cages in back) that were slowly driving along behind the dog. They were not there to collect their dog. They were allowing the dog to walk along a road with many houses on it so that it could alert the dog hunters to deer scent trails in people's front yards!
Additionally, I am a hunter. My family hunts. We hunt on our own property, but we have had it with dogs being released so that they "just happen" to run through our land and neighbor's land to flush out deer that are bedded down in our backwoods. It happens every year.
I vote NO to Bill HB1900!
This Bill is ridiculous ! I have 13 dogs and live on 65 acres. Two years ago for some reason or another , ONE of my dogs came up missing.. My husband thought he followed my scent, cause that's what dogs do", out of my drive when I went to the beauty shop. He called me and we quickly began searching for him. It took me a WEEK to locate my dog. He was hanging out across a buy highway, he was smart not to come back across the road ! He covered over three miles of Property owned by a dozen land owners. In my searches NOT ONE landowner had seen him ! If it wasn't for Face Book I probably would not have gotten him back. I posted street signs, stayed up late at night searching , had family and friends out searching and it still took a WEEK ! My dog did not HARM ANYONE OR ANYTHING ! You need to go after the Owners of Aggressive NATURE dogs that don't take care of them ! Don't buy their licenses, Tie them out and pop babies out of them for a few hundred bucks !!!! Those are the dog owners you need to address. An old hound or beagle that runs rabbits or deer never mauled some child or old lady, a jogger or someone elses cat to death !!!! Get with the program people !!!
I VOTE NO !!!
PLEASE VOTE NO.
VOTE YES TO HB 1900!!!
Hunters as a general rule are good people, but sadly not all. Hunters seem to feel entitled to hunt all land that borders theirs and this is not right. This gives them the right to hunt all land because all land borders other land. This is why landowners need protection.
If a landowner can catch a dog, that dog is hunting not chasing. Hunters if confronted about dumping dogs become confrontational and this is very dangerous to everyone involved. This law would go a long way in preventing these altercations.
As a landowner bordering a very disrespectful hunting club, I could write about this issue all day. Instead, I will list a few issues that we deal with daily during hunting season.
1. My dogs live on 200 acres and have to be restricted for their safety during hunting season.
2. My dogs bark relentlessly at the windows due to hunting dogs in our yard.
3. The hunting dogs chase and sometimes tree our cats. We have been out after dark many times trying to coax them down.
4. We have hunting dogs on our land at 3am in order to bust up our woods and send the deer to their property.
5. Hunters release their dogs on driveways, property lines and powerlines because these are easy access points.
6. Trucks are parked on road frontage, doors open, guns handy and we live on this property with our pets.
7. My family, grandchildren are bow hunters. They would bow hunt all deer season. This is not possible when dogs stay on your property day and night.
I have read hunters referring to landowners as “city slickers” and being disrespectful because they don’t want dogs on their property yet they live in the country. My final statement, this 66 year old “city slicker”, disrespectful landowner, has bought 200+acres along with daughter and son-in-law over the last 46 years and lives on the property is tired of the excuses. The dogs can’t read, dog hunting is a heritage and crying over the money they spend on dogs and collars has gotten old.
We as landowners need some representation and hunters need some restrictions to hold them accountable for their irresponsible actions. Please vote yes to hb 1900!!!
Please vote YES to HB 1900 for the landowners of Va. Honest, respectful hunters that hunt their land will never be effected by this law. If will only effect the few bad apples that could eventually ruin hunting with dogs for everyone. The disrespect from these hunters is at an all time high. They think they are entitled to hunt where ever their dogs go and they dump them on my property every hunting season. I'm sorry but I purchased my land and I pay taxes on it, not you. My everyday life should not be disrupted because your dogs can't read posted signs. It is the hunters that hide behind that excuse that are the reason this law is being considered. It is the first step in weeding out the hunters that totally disrespect the sport and ruin it for others. It is very simple, protect your heritage by hunting your dogs on your land. Protect your heritage by respecting landowners. Protect your heritage by taking care of your dogs and not dumping them at the end of the season. The overflow of collarless hunting dogs at the local animal shelters right now will be your next issue.
Please vote no for this bill it's all types of problems with it the game warden doesn't want to have to play dog warden I like running my dogs i have 17 american foxhounds and i love them so do all us hunters a favor and say no
While a hotly discussed topic, I must say that I do support this bill and urge that it not be passe. The use of hunting dogs provides hours of enjoyment to so many people. I, for one, enjoy just listening to the sound of a good chase. It is not important to me whether or not I am successful in the hunt, just so happy to be able to participate. That being said, please remember that there is a great amount of income generated for many many businesses through the use of hunting dogs. Passing of this bill will impact these business and ultimately result in less income for the State of Virginia through sales taxes. So please do not pass this bill.
it would seem that my typing is not up to par today. I do not, repeat..do not support this bill.
Vote no on hb1900
I feel like this is an unimportant bill. Focus on others please.
also its only 100 bucks per dog
Vote No!
This is ridiculous!
Vote No. It will be a burden to enforce and will divert resources from more important issues. You can't legislate neighbor relations to this extent. If we passed laws to deal with every neighbor annoyance EVERYONE would be in court.
This bill is ridiculous and the same ones for it are going to be the ones holding dogs,baiting dogs,and using there hate towards hound hunting to tie up law enforcement for ridiculous and twisted accusations.I am a landowner and from a farm family.We hunt around livestock and hounds do not bother them.Its the same thing from anti hound and hunters,rtr is used to trespass but never any proof.Cpos are there for a reason and saying can be set up.Vote NO on Hb1900 and propose a bill that ends commercial hunting and strict harsh punishments for unjust killing of dogs.Vote no on 1900
To the not so bright folks and the general Public.If you can't sell Wildgame meat in Va. Why should you be able to profit and out a price tag on an animal.Hunt clubs and groups DO NOT PROFIT off leasing land to hunt..Commercial outfits do profit off hunting.Just to clear that up for the haters.vote no on HB 1900
VOTE YES TO HB 1900!!! Owners need to be responsible for their dogs and that means not letting them roam around and going onto other peoples property.
The messages posted here by pro-hunting supporters seem to simply ignore the fact that dogs are the owners responsibility. When dogs are out of the owners control they can harm people and the property of others while the owner is conveniently absent and not held accountable. My children should be able to walk anywhere on my property without risk of harm by someone's hunting dog or pet. I purchased my land and pay taxes. I expect my rights as the landowner to be respected and protected.
If hunting with dogs is such an important activity buy enough land to keep your animals on your land. Purchase training devices that keep the dogs under your control and away from property that is not yours and you have no right to tresspass. This issue isn't as prevalent with rabbit or bird dogs. However, deer dogs will run across miles of private property with the owner absent.
Please hold animal owners responsible for their animals. It doesn't matter if the animal is a pet, livestock, or working animal.
My property is my property. It is paid for by my honest work. My taxes are paid. No one should be allowed on my property without my permission. Dogs are not allowed to trespass without repercussions to their owners.
I am a dog huntin woman! The very argument over this is showing the educated from the ignorant & heartless. I agree, there are a minority of irresponsible hunters, but the majority are responsible. Just because a hunting dog may jump a drive and cross over lines, doesn't mean the owners are at that point pursuing the animal being hunted. In fact all responsible hunters are Not. They are at that point simply trying to retrieve their dogs! Dog owners of responsible hunters absolutely try their hardest to not allow their dogs to get across lines. So, I guess you simply want to punish the majority for the few bad apples! That just isn't right. I believe the bad apples could have enforced punishment in a different manner without punishing the responsible majority. For example, my son didn't do anything wrong the other day in class along with the majority of his class, yet the substitute teacher punished everyone for the actions of 4 out of 16 students. Needless to say, I stood my ground for my son and he wasn't going to be punished for the actions of those 4. So, VOTE NO on Bill HB1900
I say no to bill hb1900 not written clear enough for me maybe I miss understand hb1900 I can hunt game west of 29 with dogs that cross property lines and not be fined but if I hunt same game east of 29 and they cross property lines I can be (crazy) hb1900 is to single out deer hunting with dogs because that is only game that can be hunted east of 29 that can't be west of 29 with dogs seems to me other dog hunters east of 29 might have to travel west of 29 to hunt rabbits foxes coyotes and raccoon hunt with out being fined for dogs that cross property lines I also own land pay taxes and work hard for it but the state can tell me what part of the land I can disturb to build on far as wetlands I hope I can get legislation to change some of those laws already to suit me there are already laws for purposely turning hunting dogs loose on posted property haven't even given that law a chance
copy of letter sent to delegate
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Mr Campbell,
We are residents of Bland county and are concerned with Bill 1900. As dog owners and lovers, also farmers who own livestock, we fully understand the importance of keeping one's animals under control. We also, however own dogs used to hunt. The possibilities of this bill creating problems between landowners and dog owners is a true concern. Dogs can't read signs and don't understand fences, and as such in the times one of our dogs does get on someone else's property we are quick to do whatever possible to retrieve them. As for the "one warning" clause in the bill, who is going to police this, what's to keep a landowner to claim a second or later offense when it's not true.
Please vote against this bill.
I recommend a no vote would be appropriate.
Hunting with hounds is a great sport for those who understand the concept. the people who don't understand probably don't want to understand what it is all about.
Please vote no and preserve hunting with hounds in the state of Va.
Thanks for every ones support for a no vote.
I do not believe this bill will serve to alleviate the problem it is meant to curtail.
You can see that it has been amended several times since it was first introduced so those that are supporting it realize it is poorly thought out and are just now trying to fix it in a short amount of time.
If a hunter is hunting quail on his property and the dog hasn't been broken to not run deer, rabbit, squirrels or any other animal, it may take off and go on the very property this bill is trying to protect.
How are you going to stop that? With another law?
This whole debate takes me back to my youth in Campbell County when the "road hunters" as we called them would gather around their pickup trucks on the back roads and drink beer as they waited for their dogs to run the deer out of the woods. I'll never forget when a truck full of drunk road "hunters" pulled out into our automobile without even looking, breaking my mother's wrist. Or the time the road hunters shot across the road right in front of my sister's car. And who can forget the times when the hunters looking for their dogs on our posted "no hunting" property tore up our yard and fields because they had the "right" to go where their dogs go. I see nothing has changed.
This law is absolutely ridiculous..VOTE NO! The real issue is all these people just want what they see on TV. We'll this isn't Texas or Iowa. This is Virginia and we have a strong tradition of hound hunting so stop trying to change our way of life because you don't like a dog on your land. I have an idea next time my dogs run a deer past you..DON'T SHOOT IT