MADISON (WKOW) -- Dane County judge Peter Anderson delayed his decision on whether to issue an injunction that might block Wisconsin's new wolf hunt.
During a hearing Wednesday at the Dane County Courthouse, Judge Anderson heard arguments from the state and attorneys representing a coalition of humane societies, including Dane County Humane Society. They filed suit alleging the Department of Natural Resources failed to set up training requirements for wolf hunting dogs and that the lack of requirements will result in the death and injury of dogs.
He also stated his beliefs to state attorneys, citing precedent, that the court had the authority to rule in the case.
"Certainly the court has the authority to evaluate the lawfulness of administrative rules," Judge Anderson said. "Maybe that's your argument, we can't do anything temporarily. But I certainly can make a final determination at some point in the case."
He also posed theoretical questions to attorneys representing the Humane Societies.
"Somebody owns these dogs. They don't have any reason to want to see these dogs mauled in these fights," the judge said. "So why isn't it sufficient to let them make that decision? Why should the government have to tell people."
But, Judge Anderson declined to act on the request for injunction today, rescheduling his ruling on that until a hearing that has been set for Friday, August 31 at 1:30 p.m.
The Associated Press reports Judge Anderson stated he was reading case
law related to the lawsuit an hour before the hearing began and didn't
want to rush into a decision.
The judge also set a 2:00 p.m. hearing for Friday, September 14, where he plans to rule on a motion from the state to dismiss the action of the plaintiffs.
The coalition is asking for a temporary order blocking the DNR from issuing permits unless the agency notifies hunters they can't train dogs to go after wolves.
"Ultimately the question her is why the heck is the DNR and the Attorney General, who are supposed to be dedicated to upholding the policies prohibiting animal cruelty, authorizing and enabling a free for all in our Northwoods," said attorney Carl Sinderbrand, who is representing the coalition that filed the suit.
State attorneys say the group has no legal standing in this case, because they are not directly affected by the DNR rule regarding the use of dogs in the hunt.
"I don't think people who are merely offended by the use of dogs in wolf hunting have standing," said Assistant Attorney general Cynthia Hirsch.
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MADISON (WKOW) -- A Dane County judge will consider whether to block Wisconsin's new wolf hunt Wednesday.
Judge Peter Anderson is scheduled to decide whether to issue a temporary injunction while he sorts through a lawsuit challenging the hunt.
A coalition of humane societies, including Dane County, filed the suit last month alleging the Department of Natural Resources failed to set up training requirements for wolf hunting dogs. The group says the lack of requirements will result in what it called the archaic blood sport of wolf-dog combat in violation of state animal cruelty statutes.
