Hunter fined after pet dogs shot during Ontario coyote hunt, but owner says ‘justice has not been served’

The owner of two dogs that were shot dead during a hunting incident in Central Elgin last year says a hefty fine and suspended licence isn’t enough to deter hunters from crossing into private property. 

Kaitlin Strong’s and her husband’s two German shepherds, Hank and Mary Jane, were killed on their property in Belmont, Ont., last February.

Strong told CBC News last year that the dogs were playing in the wooded area behind the couple’s house, which is part of their property, when she heard a gunshot. While outside an hour later, she said, she discovered wet blood and drag marks on the snow in her neighbour’s open field. 

“It ruined my life,” Strong said.

Days later, provincial officials recovered the bodies of both dogs and returned them to the family

A 27-year-old Aylmer man appeared via video at the Provincial Offences administration building in St. Thomas on Monday afternoon. 

He pleaded guilty to two Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act offences, including discharging a firearm without due care and attention, killing a male and female German shepherd. He’s required to pay a $3,000 fine and his hunting licence will be suspended for one year. 

However, Strong said the punishment is too light. 

“The verdict that was delivered is, quite frankly, not harsh enough to deter these people from continuing with their behaviour,” Strong said. “Justice has not been served … We will continue to live with the ongoing issue of trespassing hunters on our land.”

Strong said she’s had several conversations with neighbours who have also seen hunters on their property. Just a few months after the dogs were shot, Strong remembers another incident where two people got out of a vehicle and began “scoping out” part of her property.

“We’re powerless. We own this land, we pay our taxes on this land, and we have a hard time getting anybody to care about these complaints,” she said.

“We will continue to live in an area where we have to accept that we share our land with anybody who wants to use it.” 

According to regulations set out by Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), it’s against the law to enter private property for hunting once notice is given, whether that is done verbally, with signs, markings or fences. 

However, the ministry regulations note that not all land is signed and it is on hunters to determine whether hunting is allowed. 

“It is your responsibility to find out who owns the land you wish to hunt on and to determine if entry is prohibited or certain activities like hunting are prohibited. If unsure, stay out,” the MNR website states. 

Strong said she wants the MNR to enforce stricter and heavier penalties to people who disobey rules. 

“We live in the country. People should be allowed to hunt, but we should also be allowed to have land that we can say we don’t want hunters on.”