The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is the latest organization seeking to stop the use of dogs to hunt wolves in Wisconsin.
The ASPCA issued a news release Thursday stating it had filed a "friend of the court" brief in support of the lawsuit against the Department of Natural Resources.
The animal rights organization has asked the court to "prohibit the DNR from authorizing the use of dogs for wolf hunting unless and until restrictions are enacted that conform to state law."
According to the ASPCA’s brief, the DNR exceeded its authority by enacting regulations that do not impose the necessary restrictions on the training and use of dogs to hunt wolves, and instead "guarantee tragic encounters that will mutilate and kill hunting companions and pets."
Wisconsin is the only state to authorize the use of dogs to hunt wolves. The practice was authorized by the Legislature in Act 169. The legislation was passed in April.
The lawsuit challenging the use of dogs to hunt wolves in Wisconsin was filed Aug. 8 in Dane County Circuit Court. The plaintiffs include humane societies and individuals in Wisconsin.
Judge Peter Anderson placed a temporary injunction on wolf hunting with dogs while the case is decided.
The Wisconsin wolf hunting and trapping season has proceeded with all other aspects of Act 169 in place. Two of six wolf management zones were closed in mid-November as their harvest quotas were reached.
As of Thursday, the DNR reported 99 wolves had been killed out of a statewide quota of 116. The season was scheduled to run through Feb. 28 but is likely to end much sooner as quotas are reached in the remaining management zones.
A group called Mainstream Wisconsin Hunters also filed a brief in support of the lawsuit earlier in November.
In October, hunting organizations U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation, Safari Club International, the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association and United Sportsmen of Wisconsin were granted a motion to intervene in the lawsuit on behalf of the DNR.
Jeremy Rine, attorney for the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation, said the group hopes to assist the DNR in the case by providing additional information from hunters who use dogs.
A hearing on the parties’ cross-motions is scheduled Dec. 20 in Dane County Circuit Court.
In the Thursday press release, Stacy Wolf, vice president and chief counsel of the ASPCA’s Legal Advocacy and Humane Law Enforcement departments, said: “This is an important case because it asks the court to ensure that when states implement laws allowing hunting practices, they make certain that these provisions do not run afoul of state anti-cruelty laws. The decision in this case could have far reaching effects on how these laws are interpreted in the future, both in the state of Wisconsin and across the country.”
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