The provincial government doesn’t seem to be willing to budge on its hunting regulations in the wake of the death of therapy dog Kaoru by a hunter in September.
“There are no current changes planned for boundaries in the region,” a spokesperson from the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development told The Chief.
“Human safety is the province’s top priority, and the province acts swiftly when a safety concern is identified and verified.”
“Hunters need to be aware of their target and what is beyond it, if there is any doubt, don’t shoot.”
On Sept. 18, Valley Calderoni, founder of Canine Valley rehabilitation centre, was walking the Tamaskan, and nine other dogs from the centre, when Kaoru was shot by a hunter.
“I watched her get shot,” Calderoni said immediately after the incident.
Initially, it was suspected the hunter mistook Kaoru for a wolf, but he was not in an area where hunting of wolves was permitted.
Wolf hunting is permitted, however, nearby to where the incident occurred.
The lone hunter shot the dog from about 20 feet away, according to Calderoni, who was distraught about the incident when speaking with The Chief shortly after it occurred.
The local Conservation Officer Service will make an official recommendation to the Crown for charges against the hunter this week, according to Sgt. Simon Gravel, of the Sea to Sky Zone Conservation Officer Service.
In order to obtain a hunting licence, a hunter must first successfully complete a hunter safety-training course, the ministry spokesperson added.
Calderoni had launched an online petition and fundraising campaign that saw an outpouring of public support.
Her campaign on Change.org called “Create a No Shooting - No Hunting zone along Highway 99 between Squamish & Whistler,” garnered close to 31,000 signatures in one month. The petition is to be delivered to Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forest, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.
On Tuesday night, representatives from Canine Valley, including Calderoni appeared before council to ask that even if the local government has no jurisdiction to change hunting zones, that individual councillors support the campaign.
She also said her business is offering bright safety equipment free of charge in December.
As of Nov. 5, Calderoni had also raised $15,885, exceeding her goal of $12,000 in an online fundraising campaign. The GoFundMe campaign raised the money from 320 donors in one month. The funds are in part for the campaign to install a “No Hunting & No Shoot Zone from Squamish to Whistler,” as well as to raise awareness and support the ongoing work of Canine Valley, the education centre Calderoni founded and runs.
Most hunting seasons open each year in September. The ministry recommends that dogs be on leash or under control on Crown land and be outfitted with hi-vis, or other markings, to make them visible.
“People should also make continuous noise when hiking to alert others that you are in the area and to reduce the potential for human/wildlife conflict.”
