Printable View
There are now, legal and practical options available in Ontario for tracking systems. I think its time for the houndsmen of Ontario to take the lead on this and advocate for new legislation. I believe that Tracking collars and I.D. collars/tags should be mandatory for all hunting dogs. It should also be illegal to remove or disable these collars and tags.
why would you think that?
To protect dogs from trespassing and from landowners shooting them and removing the evidence. This should apply to all service dogs not just dogs used for hunting purposes.Quote:
Originally Posted by thunderbelly
I agree with you. I had a fully ID'd dog stolen... including microchip. Yes, I have never found the person, but if I had I would want them charged. They probably would just say it must have fallen off, but a microchip doesn't fall off.
I need more explaining, so far, I disagree with you, and think forcing someone to spend that much money on something that isn't necessary, doesn't make any sense.
As far as applying to all service dogs, how would wearing a GPS tracking collar help a seeing eye dog ( or whatever the PC term is)? All the service dogs I see, are on leashes and under control of the owner. When I am hunting my dogs are under my control, but not on leashes. I use mini cow bells on my dogs ( left over from my beagle days) or an electronic beeper to keep in contact with them.
I believe your intentions are good, but without reasons for a blanket statement like "Tracking collars and I.D. collars/tags should be mandatory for all hunting dogs. It should also be illegal to remove or disable these collars and tags. " I could never agree with you on this. Please, change my mind.
I'll explain my thoughts on the I.D collars and or tags, separately from the tracking collars. I can think of no reasonable reason why anyone would not want to identify themselves as the owner of their dog. You can easily purchase a collar complete with a brass I.D tag for under ten dollars.
id tags, are essential, my dogs always have my contact info on them, plus the hunt camp info if we are out that way. Although loosing a dog to theft is tragic, making a law that says they have to wear tracking collars and the removal of the tracking collar illegal seems foolish. Anyone low enough to steal a dog, probably wouldn't think twice about cutting a plastic collar off the dog. If you are lucky, they unbuckle the collar instead, and you can find it where they tossed it, before driving away with your dog.
I don't believe the primary intention of this is to prevent dog theft. Thieves will be thieves. However, I do believe that gps systems can mitigate the problem. Gps systems can alert the operator as soon as the collar stops moving and will also indicate that the collar is moving @ 60 kph strait along a concession rd. Thru regular use the operator is able to stay in closer contact with the collar and assess what is happening in real time.Quote:
Originally Posted by thunderbelly
Until they can come up with a small enough gps system that can actually be implanted into the dog. Mandatory use of a gps collar on a hunting dog will be useless in theft prevention. They will simply remove the collar at time of theft and be gone.
I agree gps tracking systems were not designed for theft preventionQuote:
Originally Posted by fishhawk
Why make tracking systems mandatory.
Safety of the dogs.
Safety of the general public and hunters.
Respecting others property and respecting other hunters
Respect for Game
In answer to your question, with no intent to change your mind, most service dogs are not on leash and roam in wilderness areas at all times of year to locate lost individuals or human remains. Service dogs are typically owned and paid for by the owners out of the owners pockets and take a lot of training to become certified to National standards. Making it mandatory may also require the team (not the owners) to provide the units, the cost of a GPS in this case is minimal considering the other costs involved.Quote:
Originally Posted by thunderbelly
I would say, most service dogs are cruising malls, and escorting their handlers through their daily routines. I think, ( because of your signature and statement) you are talking about service dogs that perform search and rescue. I don't know much about that area, I imagine there are some instances when the dog is off leash. While tracking, my dogs, are on long leashes, a practice I thought was common to most. While hunting birds, they are off leash, but within ear shot at all times,. While small game hunting, they are also close enough to hear the mini cowbell hanging from their collar. I don't allow them to chase deer, personal preference, but I suppose if I was to use them to track bear, I would have them on a gps system. When hunting coyotes, there is no need for a bell or tracking collar, all the action happens within sight.
I have to agree with an earlier statement, if someone was to steal one of my dogs, having a gps collar on them, would just lead me to the place the acehole parked, and tossed my dog's collar. I am pretty sure, once he got my dog home, he would see the ID tag I have on their normal collars, realize his mistake, and call me right away.
Had my dog stolen, tracking collar discarded into a road side ditch about 3 miles away. Dog was ear tattooed, got him back 5 months later, still had my yard collar on, but name plate removed. Bad people will always do bad things.
The main benefit of using tracking systems is to prevent loss of Hounds. I can speak from personal experience. I started using a radio tracking system approximately 25 years ago, and since that day I have never come home without my treasured Beagles. The new gps systems have improved that benefit and can do a lot more. I believe its just part of being a responsible Hound owner. Most Hound owners that I know and associate with already have these units in use. Its quite common to attend a Beagle field trial with 70 or 80 Hounds entered and every single one of them is wearing a tracking collar.
The first myth antis throw at us is we don't care about or value our Hounds and abandon them after the hunt. The public at large doesn't know the difference between myths like this and reality. I believe a mandatory program of tracking systems could create some goodwill and dispel some myths with the general public.
The only thing I wish the GPS collars had was the same type of shut off that the wildlife collars have, a magnet. The GPS collars are too easy to turn off. Had this happen a couple of years back . Collar was turned off where they left the property and the scum bag turned the dog loose some 20 clicks away. They also took his ID collar off. Got the dog back from the animal shelter in Bancroft, but never found the GPS collar.
Not a hounds man however believe tracking collars is an added insurance for the well being of the dogs. However making it mandatory isn't the option Easy enough for them too say see they need to be legislated to protect their pooch.Quote:
Originally Posted by swampsinger
Educating hunter on the benefits of use and eliminating barriers to using it the answer.
I am confused???? I know of one outdoor store that sells GPS trackers for dogs. When I asked about the legality of them in Onatrio the owners response was simply " If it was illegal I wouldn't sell them!" But an article in the Ontario outdoors specifically said that a law was passed to ban them due to interference with military and emergency response radios, but the article a few pages later on using dogs to track deer showed a dog with a GPS collar. Confused??
Generally the GPS tracking systems sold in Canada are legal in Canada - so the response from the outdoor store you were at is a reasonable one.Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank16
There are many people running US bought Garmin collars up here that operate on radio frequencies that are reserved for MURS - these are the illegal ones
Garmin now has a Canada-legal tracking collar system.
Regarding the "law being passed" - it's not a new law. It's a law regarding radio frequency usage that has been around for decades.
I think that all people need to be tracked at all times, that way when your dog goes missing we can immediately located who's tracking signature is beside that of the dog and arrest them for theft. The families of that person must pay for the operation at birth and the annual cost.
:D
Now there's an idea. :)
I had a dog stolen , never to be seen again; tracking collar would not have helped.(Dog was microchipped.)
As someone said earlier, thieves just remove collars and ID.
Gps tracking systems are not intended to prevent dog theft.