Dogs At Large Law

I have started a petition to request a revision for the present law governing hunting dogs. The current law allows hunting dogs to run free every month except April, May and June (when the state wide leash law is in effect) on any property zoned agricultural in Hanover County, Virginia. The dogs may traverse onto, through and all over private property without permission and hunter's may come onto private property without permission (without their weapons) to search for their dog(s). Some hunter's release their dogs in the evening leaving them to run all night howling and barking keeping property owner's awake while they are home asleep not to mention running through carefully planted vegetable gardens and flower gardens and chasing livestock. Property owner's may shoot a dog if they see it chasing their livestock. However, could you shoot a dog? Not to mention shoot one for being hungry? When I want to go onto some one's property, I go and ask permission to do so. This is how it should be. Property owner's pay for their property and that should warrant them the right to say who may utilize it. Many property owner's enjoy seeing wildlife on their property and believe, as a property owner, if someone wants to run dogs or hunt they should be required to obtain permission from the property owner to do so.

An overwhelming amount of property owner's would like to see the law changed to put the responsibility with the owner's of the hunting dogs not on the backs of the property owner's where it is now. Hanover County is extremely large so I have therefore set up this petition where those whom would like to be added to the petition may sign their names. The petition will be brought to the Hanover County (Virginia) Board of Supervisors to show there are many who would like to see the law revised. Following is a copy of the petition. Thank you for your interest.

Our problem and concern is not with the fox hunting organizations as they obtain permission to horseback ride (hunt) on the properties they use. These organizations also exercise their dogs by walking them during the off season. It is my understanding that there aren't any hunt clubs in Hanover County that fox hunt by horseback. Therefore, the hunting done with dogs in Hanover is by hunters. These same hunters turn their dogs loose for exercise and hunting unaccompanied and on properties they have no permission to utilize. The citizens of Hanover pay for their property and warrant the right to say who is allowed to utilize it. We believe a solution can be found.

A possible amendment with respect to obtaining permission to exercise or hunt with an acreage minimum requirement and collar tracking during released time (or accompaniment in the case of horseback riding fox hunters and bird dog hunters) would put the responsibility with the hunter where it belongs and minimize the stray dog wandering onto private property. We thank you for your consideration.