Humane Society fighting to ban bear baying in South Carolina

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The Humane Society of the United States is pressuring state officials to outlaw the practice of bear baying — a practice that has been banned in every other state other than South Carolina.

Before I continue, here's a little background on bear baying.

Hunters in South Carolina have been using captive bears to train dogs to flush out and corner wild bears for nearly as long as they've been hunting. The captive bears are usually declawed and defanged before being chained to a stake as hunting dogs bark and snap at it, trying to force the bear to stand on its hind legs so hunters can shoot it more easily.

Bear baying isn't just a training exercise. Hunting dog enthusiasts stage competitions, including large events in Spartanburg and York counties that draw people from throughout the country.

The State has a great article on the practice penned back in 2005 which you can find here.

The Humane Society of the United State gathered footage of bear baying in South Carolina earlier this year calling it cruel, inhumane, barbaric and unthinkable. The group is prepared to fight to outlaw the practice in the state for good. 

You can read the report from The Associated Press over here.

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