Ban Pig Dogging
About Pig Dogging
Pig dogging is a legal blood “sport” that permits dogs to chase and latch onto wild pigs until the hunter catches up and stabs them to death. The pigs scream out in pain as the dogs hold them by their sensitive ears, cheeks and legs. The hunters claim that pig dogging is necessary due to pigs being non-native. However, pig doggers are far removed from their rhetoric of being “conservationists”. Evidence shows a large numbers of parks across Australia are populated with wild animals due to relocation by hunters, who are “seeding” the areas for future hunts [1].
Hunter promotes mauling of pig
The Law as it Currently Stands
Pig dogging is a legal exception to Section 18 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (POCTA): (2) A person must not: (a) cause, procure, permit, encourage or incite a fight in which one or more animals are pitted against another animal or animals, whether of the same species or not, or: in addition, the act of killing the animal must be such that no undue pain or suffering is inflicted on the animal.
In addition, POCTA 1979 requires that a person who hunts an animal must do so in a manner that does not inflict unnecessary pain on the animal. (2) For the purposes of this Act, a reference to an act of cruelty committed upon an animal includes a reference to any act or omission as a consequence of which the animal is unreasonably, unnecessarily or unjustifiably: (a) beaten, kicked, killed, wounded, pinioned, mutilated, maimed, abused, tormented, tortured, terrified or infuriated.
The Dogs
Regulations for hunting with dogs changes between the states and territories. In NSW, it is legal for dogs to ‘locate, hold, and bite’ the pigs, whilst in Victoria, dogs can use used to ‘point or flush’ pigs but not to ‘attack or hold pigs’. The pigs suffer more when holding is allowed, and it also increases the chances of injury for the dogs. In NSW, a solo hunter can use up to three dogs, while a group of hunters can have five. [1 PDF]
Welfare issues
There are a range of health and welfare risks for pig-dogs. These range from injuries, punishment-based training techniques, and poor quality of life, to over-breeding, early retirement, and culling or dumping. [1 PDF]
Breeding
Pig-dogs are most commonly medium-large mixed-breeds, such as Bull Arabs, Bull Terriers, and Wolfhounds. In some jurisdictions they have been declared “dangerous” due to their breed, subjecting them to housing restrictions. The dogs are selected based on their hunting ability, boldness, intelligence and strength. It is estimated that around 780,000 pig-dogs are born annually in Australia [1 PDF]. It is logical to make the assumption that some of the dogs bred are a surplus beyond the “replacements”, creating an unknown amount of “wastage”. Dogs who do not have the correct behaviour traits, or lack aggression, may be culled if they do not find homes [1 PDF].
Training and housing
A dog’s behaviour is heavily influenced by genetics and environmental factors. There is limited research on how pig-dogs are kept, however, single kennels are typically recommended. Although recommendations for kennel requirements exists, it is unlikely that these laws are enforced. Many dogs are also tethered, which restricts movement, exposes them to the elements, and provides no comfort. These living conditions can lead to aggression caused by frustration. Some hunting dogs are reported as being ‘stoic’, whilst others have been known to attack humans and other animals. Research shows that isolating a puppy can increase their aggression.
In addition to this, some hunters use punishment and fear to curb behaviour, for example, electric shock collars. This can increase the dogs aggression and anxiety [1 PDF].
Injuries
Hunting dogs are at risk of “heat exhaustion, poisoning, vehicular trauma, snake bite, accidental shooting, and dehydration while hunting” [1 PDF]. In Australia, dogs are required to wear a protective neck collar. This provides no protection to their vulnerable chests and abdomen. Many dogs suffer from horrific puncture wounds, caused by the large tusks of wild pigs. Veterinarians often report injuries sustained by the dogs. As hunts take place in rural areas, dogs are likely to suffer without treatment for long periods of time. As a result, some hunters bring “staple guns” to patch up the dogs, according to undercover witness reports. Dogs can die from these wounds.
Lost dogs
Many hunters have started using GPS collars and strobe lights to reduce the chance of a losing a dog. In saying this, some dogs still get lost due to chasing the wrong animal, or injury. An injured or lost dog is susceptible to dehydration, starvation, or becoming a stray.
Retirement and death
There is little research surrounding the “retirement” age of pig-dogs. A New Zealand study found the average age of pig-dogs to be three years. Older dogs are either re-homed, kept as breeders, or killed. Pig-dogs may have difficulty finding new homes, and will most likely struggle with house-training and unfamiliar environments. They likely face problems similar to ex-racing greyhounds due to their chasing-prey nature.
In Australia, it is legal to kill a “working” dog when they are no longer needed or are “failing” at their “job”. A study found that 21% were killed upon “retirement”. They can be killed by a veterinarian, or a gunshot. This number could be much higher, as people do not have to report their dog’s death. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6826489/ In addition to this, there is little chance of catching someone who kills their dogs via other methods.
Source: Sugars Hope, pig dogging injury.
The Pigs
Cruelty
The terror experienced by the hunted pigs is almost impossible to imagine. They are tracked and singled out by dogs who are trained to catch and hold them by biting down on their ears, faces, and legs. The pig’s screams – instead of sparking any empathy from the hunters – gives some hunters additional pleasure, causing them to encourage the dogs to continue to maul the pigs. When the hunter eventually knifes the pig, it is a horribly brutal death. Undercover investigators have witnessed many kills that have taken dozens of stabbings, almost as though the hunter is in a frenzy. Their deaths are followed by hunters jumping around, whooping and congratulating each other as though they have achieved something of note, something worthy of celebrating.
Sticking a pig is inhumane because it does not cause instantaneous death. It takes time for the pig to lose consciousness from a lack of oxygen to the brain following destruction of the heart.
Welfare of pigs
Wild pigs receive no protection against animal cruelty and are excluded from the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979, which states that:
2) A person must not:
(a) cause, procure, permit, encourage or incite a fight in which one or more animals are pitted against another animal or animals, whether of the same species or not.
If it is inhumane for other species, why is it not inhumane for pigs?
In addition to this, a person does not need a license to hunt pigs in NSW on private land. This means that hunters do not have to be registered.
When the dubious Game Council (funded by NSW citizens) was around, they would hold a pig dogging workshop. This was supposed to be the most “elite” training program, yet they used a rubber deer for people to practice stabbing. The majority of the time, pig dogging involves people with no training or skills, sometimes drinking and intoxicated, out in the bush with knives and dogs - the slow and horrific deaths of animals being the “highlight” of these trips.
Footage
From our research, we failed to find a single pig that was killed quickly. Instead of quickly ending their life, the hunter holds the pig by their back legs and lets the dogs chew on the pig, all while the pigs are screaming for their lives. Every video shows that pig doggers are either completely incompetent, or deliberately taking their time with the kill.
Animal Liberation has footage of a hunter cursing and swearing at a pig, stabbing her multiple times. It was discovered afterwards that she was carrying babies. It is difficult to imagine the horror for this pig, trying not only to save her own life, but fighting with the maternal-instincts to protect her young as well.
You only have to watch seconds of pig dogging footage to witness the cruelty.
Fight or flight response
Animals exhibit a fight or flight response when they experience danger or feel a threat. This is known as a stress response and encourages the body to respond with violent muscular action [1]. Some examples are:
Acceleration of heart and lung action
Paling or flushing, or alternating between both
Inhibition of stomach and upper-intestinal action to the point where digestion slows down or stops
General effect on the sphincters of the body
Constriction of blood vessels in many parts of the body
Liberation of nutrients (particularly fat and glucose) for muscular action
Dilation of blood vessels for muscles
Inhibition of the lacrimal gland (responsible for tear production) and salivation
Dilation of pupil (mydriasis)
Relaxation of bladder
Auditory exclusion (loss of hearing)
Tunnel vision (loss of peripheral vision)
Disinhibition of spinal reflexes
Shaking
A pig that is being chased by dogs will first attempt to flee the situation once they realise they are in danger. If they are caught, they will attempt to fight off the dogs. Both reactions require intense muscular effort, supported by all of the body’s systems.
Other Issues
Young children often participate in or witness pig dogging, and risk becoming inured to the suffering of other species. They are taught that killing another living being is “fun”, which can impact the ability to feel empathy during important stages of development. In America, nearly all students who were involved in mass school shootings “practised” on animals [4].
Farmers are at war with pig doggers as they cause damage to farming communities, by taking and killing animals, destroying fences, and stealing property. Pig doggers have also been associated with other crimes including drug and gun infringements.
There are approximately 30,000 pig doggers in QLD and NSW. There is a push to increase these numbers by making this previously predominately male “culture” appealing to young women. There is a dedicated Facebook page, Babes and Boars, with over 13,000 followers. Due to their graphic nature, there is a resistance to the images of pig dogging being shown in public domains and by commercial media.
What is Animal Liberation Doing?
Animal Liberation’s pig dogging awareness campaign has been running since 2010. Since then, we have downloaded a small library of footage showing sadism by pig doggers, wounds to dogs and pig doggers, and piglets being released into the wild.
In 2010, Lynda Stoner went undercover to investigate pig dogging. She attended the Game Council’s two-day pig dogging workshop. Whilst she was there, she witnessed pig doggers laughing at the prospect of “dog whispering” to train dogs as opposed to more brutal methods. During the workshop, hunters were told they should “wrap their dogs in Gladwrap and staples wounds closed” if they get gored. Lynda also witnessed the dogs, who were used during the workshop, being kept in cages on the back of a ute for the duration of the day. On the actual pig hunt, hunters were mimicking a gun and “shooting” at horses, cows, and other animals.
Animal Liberation researched and wrote the majority of the content for the 7.30 Report expose on pig dogging, which brought great attention to the cruelty. We have visited many rural communities with Greens member, David Shoebridge, to speak to locals about pig dogging and participated in a Parliament house pig dogging forum hosted by David.
As a result of our campaigns, Pig doggers have since been advised to be less public with their footage and not post on YouTube.
What Can I Do?
Pigs are incredibly intelligent creatures, who do not deserve to be treated so inhumanely. Wild pigs don’t often have the sympathy of the wider community as they are an introduced species. Society, however, does not condone animal fighting and thus should be against any “sport” that pits animals against each other. You can help by:
Supporting a ban on pig dogging below
Sharing information about pig dogging with your friends and family
Writing to your local MP to support a ban on pig dogging
Demanding the establishment of an Independent Office of Animal Welfare.
Credit: The Life Of Pikelet – A family of rescued dogs and a rescued piglet!