Hannah Johnson Marion, Virginia 24354 Subject: Strong Opposition to HB1396 I am writing to express my strong opposition to House Bill 1396, which I believe will negatively impact hunting practices and pet ownership in Virginia. I urge you to consider the serious concerns outlined below before moving forward with this legislation. First and foremost, the proposed permit system detailed in HB1396 is unduly burdensome. Mandating a $19 state-issued permit for hunting with dogs, effective July 1, 2027, places an unnecessary financial obligation on hunters. We already pay for a hunting license and national forest stamp every year. This additional fee, while seemingly small, can accumulate and deter individuals and organizations—especially those with limited financial resources—from participating in legal hunting activities. It is only a punishment to my fellow hound hunters and myself that do follow the rules. The ones that break the law aren’t going to change because of new laws. It introduces a bureaucratic hurdle that does not enhance safety or conservation efforts but rather serves as a deterrent to a long-standing tradition in Virginia. Furthermore, the criminalization of lost dogs under this bill is deeply troubling. The imposition of strict penalties for "dog trespass," where a dog strays, gets lost, or is injured and wanders onto private property, is unduly harsh. It fails to account for the realities of dog ownership, where animals can unintentionally cross boundaries, particularly in rural or natural settings. The right to retrieve your dog is a very important thing, it keeps the dogs off of the land and in control of their handler. This provision could lead to unjust legal consequences for responsible dog owners who make every effort to control their pets. Finally, HB1396 appears to be designed to severely restrict or end traditional hound hunting in Virginia. By imposing heavy burdens on hunters to control dogs' movement across property lines, the bill sets an unrealistic standard that is virtually impossible to meet in a natural setting. This measure is similar to restrictive measures enacted in other states, which have effectively curtailed hound hunting. In conclusion, I strongly urge you to oppose HB1396. This bill introduces unnecessary financial burdens, unfairly penalizes dog owners, and threatens to end traditional hunting practices in Virginia. I ask that you carefully consider the negative impacts this legislation will have on responsible hunters and pet owners across the Commonwealth. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I am available to discuss these concerns further at your convenience. Sincerely, Hannah Johnson

I want to say on my behalf I say no to the bill of of running dogs. I run dogs myself on bear and coon, and I want to say if you all outlaw running dogs or have these bills and they pass it’s gonna make a long tradition die out, but that’s beside the point if you all end up taking it away the bear population is gonna increase getting in peoples trash killing livestock and us hunters keep that down and the same goes for coon hunting hunting with any type of dog hunting provides food on the table for some people, in this time some people rely on hunting and hunting with dogs to put food on their table because groceries are so expensive everything now days is expensive, so yes I say no to this proposed bill