Fox penning is a blood sport in which dozens of dogs compete in a fenced-in area to chase—and sometimes rip apart—foxes and coyotes. Trapped in the wild and sold to fox pens, often in other states, the fox or coyote must run for his life inside fences where there is no hope of getting away.
Grisly from start to finish, fox penning begins when the steel jaws of a leghold trap snap shut on a coyote or fox, inflicting terrible pain. A trapper removes the animal from the trap and packs her into a cage with other injured animals.
The caged animals may be hauled hundreds of miles. With no food or water, some animals die on the trip. Once bought by pen operators, the foxes and coyotes provide amusement for participants who travel from state to state to wager on their dogs.
With dogs tearing apart the captive animals, there is a constant demand for fresh wildlife for the fox pens.
Florida Bans Fox Pens
Florida's Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission unanimously decided to prohibit fox and coyote pens in their state.
Learn MoreNews & Events
-
January 26, 2012
Virginia Voters Oppose Cruel Practice of “Fox Penning” by More Than 8-to-1 Margin
-
July 1, 2011
Teaching People and Coyotes How to Peacefully Coexist
The Humane Society of the United States is reaching out to animal control officers, law enforcement officers, and community animal advocates from around the country, offering special training on how to deal with conflicts involving one of America’s hardiest wild creatures: coyotes.
-
June 29, 2011
South Carolina Neighbors Fight a Fox Pen
“Even if one animal dies for human entertainment, that’s too much,” said Kevin Gause, who fought a proposed fox pen in his South Carolina community.
-
February 15, 2011
Animal Advocates Lobby Indiana Lawmakers for Animal Welfare Legislation
Animal advocates from across Indiana rallied at the state capitol in Indianapolis to urge their legislators to enact stronger animal protection laws as part of The HSUS' Humane Lobby Day 2011. Citizen advocates urged legislators to strengthen laws to crack down on animal fighting and prohibit coyote and fox penning, and to oppose captive trophy hunts.
Our Victories
-
September 6, 2011
California Legislature Passes Bill Banning Shark Fin Trade
-
June 30, 2011
Federal Court Upholds Endangered Species Listing for Polar Bears
-
November 3, 2010
Arizona Voters Shoot Down Prop 109
Voters sent a strong message to the Arizona Legislature on Tuesday by rejecting Proposition 109, a referendum that would have amended the Arizona Constitution to give the legislature “exclusive” authority over wildlife issues while seeking to also forbid citizens from initiating statutory petitions.
-
September 24, 2010
The HSUS Applauds Gov. Rendell for Cracking Down on Poaching
The HSUS praised Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell for signing an important bill that cracks down on poachers who attempt to hunt in Pennsylvania when their licenses have been suspended in other states.