Hunting dogs are animals, they cannot read and they don't know what a property line is. They are simply doing what they love and don't care where that takes them or how far they have to go for it. When a dog is on a track, it is extremely difficult to break them off of it, they are so focused on chasing the game that they are not concerned with anything else happening.

How are we to put more regulations on only a select group of dogs, when a lot of people have beagles, walkers and such as pets. If those pets go onto private property, are they treated the same? Or any neighborhood dog, will they get the same treatment if they cross that line that they can't actually see? Any dog will chase game if they want to. My neighbor has a great pyrenees that ends up in our yard quite often because it goes through the invisible fence chasing a deer, and we don't have any issue with it. He, like our hunting dogs, are on a mission and aren't there to cause you or your property harm. There have been labs in the past entered into field trials and they hung with the hounds through the whole thing.

Hound hunting has such a rich history in Virginia, and to pass this bill would be the start of the end of hound hunting. Future generations will not get to know the joy of dropping that tailgate to hear that beautiful music those dogs make, doing what they love to do. I cannot express enough that this regulation should not be passed. As with everything in this world, there is a small group of people that shed a bad light on our traditions, but don't let those few bring down the whole thing. Hound hunting is such a big part of so many people's lives. I just ask that you really think about how many people will be negatively affected by this regulation.