Kickass bear hunting

Kickass, the doorstop dog, woke up wondering if the people of Wisconsin realize that they live in the ONLY state that allows the summer “training” of hounds by a fringe element of the bear hunting crowd?  And not only is this unconscionable activity allowed, it is encouraged through a provision of the state paying $2,500 for each hound killed, usually by wolves trying to protect their young and their territory.  This summer activity occurs as all wild species are in the midst of rearing their young, and is an unspeakable affront to the wild landscape.  Imagine a sow bear with three cubs suddenly beset by snarling hounds, or a wolf trying to defend its den.  Because it is only allowed here—in Wisconsin, it attracts participants from across the country.  ((A family in Minnesota collected $10,000 from Wisconsin for five dogs killed while chasing bear.)  Recently, the deep-thinking Wisconsin legislature removed the necessity for bear hunters to even need a permit for such despicable “sport.”

In the grand GOP dismantling scheme of things—turning our fresh water over to polluters and replacing ecological scientists with barroom loud-mouths , the summer bear torture is perhaps not a big deal.

But it is, damn it.

It is an under-the-radar moral/humane issue that is so outrageous people can’t believe it exists.

It does.  But it doesn’t have to.

Come on, Wisconsin, tell the Legislature to pick this offensive tick off the State’s conscience, and then see that it gets done.

In the meantime, those who participate in the summer bear “fun” should be required to wear blaze yellow togas and ride donkeys.

Kickass feels better now.