WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE Ministry of Natural RESOURCES

Is hunting protection?  How about trapping?  Should we consider the cruelty of Penned Dog Hunting to be protective of our wildlife?  Maybe, they're protecting them while they conduct unnecessary animal research on them?

It's right in their name .. the Ministry of Natural Resources protects "RESOURCES".  Our wildlife is considered a "resource" to only one segment of our population, and that's hunters.  The resource therefore, is not the life of the animal or the animal itself ... but the flesh and the fur of the animal.

The MNRF panders to the Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters as well as the Ontario Sporting Dog Association.  Should we believe that these special interest groups hold the protection of raccoons, coyotes, fox or rabbits as a top priority?  Or would they be more concerned with the supply levels for their bloodsports?

Why then is the same agency that supports such perverse acts of animal cruelty, also charged with regulating Ontario's  Authorized Wildlife Custodians (Rehabbers) who have dedicated their lives to saving these very same animals?  THIS IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST!

By our estimates, the Ministry of Natural Resources spent no less than $500,000 on the over-the-top, military-style raid on Ontario's largest raccoon rescue centre (Mally's Third Chance) in September 2023, with the seizure of the raccoons, and their subsequently required daily care and housing needs for the 11.5 weeks they were in MNRF custody, before they killed them all.

For the raid on a family-run rescue facility with no more than 5-6 staff/volunteers present at any given time, the MNRF sent:

• over 50 armed officers and research technicians
• over 20 vehicles
• multiple drones
• a K9 unit
• and a helicopter 

The MNRF had porta-pottys and a catered lunch delivered to the site.

They transported the raccoons an hour away in multiple vehicles.

The other expenses would include:

• Housing and daily care requirements for up to 81 days
• Medical assessments and veterinary care
• Collection of lab samples
• Analysis of lab samples
• Euthanasia

WHO AUTHORIZED THIS MILITARY-STYLE RAID?

IF THE RISK WAS GREAT ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY THIS ACTION, THEY WHY DID THEY NOT ACT IN ANY KIND OF CAPACITY UNTIL MORE THAN 9 MONTHS LATER?

HOW HAVE THEY JUSTIFIED IT, GIVEN THEY NEGLECTED TO PERFORM A SINGLE SITE VISIT IN OVER 18 MONTHS BEFORE THE RAID, AND HAD IN FACT JUST RENEWED THE CUSTODIAN'S LICENSE JUST A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THE RAID? 

HOW MUCH MONEY WAS ACTUALLY SPENT?

WHY DIDN'T THEY JUST TAKE LAB SAMPLES ON SITE, AND LEAVE THE RACCOONS WHERE THEY WERE?

WHY WERE RESEARCH TECHNICIANS INVOLVED IN WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SEARCH FOR EVIDENCE OF REGULATORY INFRACTIONS AS LAID OUT ON THE SEARCH WARRANT?

The MNRF no longer holds the power of possible repercussions towards the raccoons over us. It was the only power they had to keep us attempting diplomatic relations with them. That’s now off the table.
The MNRF has clearly demonstrated their unwillingness to communicate with the public, so we’re going to focus our efforts above their heads to try to demand the province conduct an investigation.
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