Hunting Season Safety

I’ve thought a lot about my dog’s safety this hunting season. Within the first week, there have been two incidents of hunters shooting dogs. One sweet girl ran loose in the woods of Orrington while the other sweet dog walked with her owner in the woods wearing blaze orange.

My girl, Laura, is a red brindle. That means she could look a whole lot like a dark deer. Some of her greyhound friends are fawn-colored, the exact color of a deer in the woods. Hunting season always made me nervous, but this year is particularly scary.

Maine state law requires 100% identification before shooting. Check it out by clicking here. It’s not just dogs who are in danger. On the first weekend of hunting, three people were shot as well. As pet owners, all we can do is to try to keep our dogs safe.

First, keep your dogs close to you while out, especially in the woods. Work on your recall commands (a.k.a. “come”). Second, when out enjoying nature, make sure your dogs wear blaze orange or fluorescent colors.

For extra safety, you should also wear bright colors. Avoid tan and white during hunting season. For the hunters out there, please know what you’re shooting at before releasing the trigger. Not just for the dogs’ sake, but the sake of the people around you.