Thanks to advocacy engagement from the hunting and outdoor community, lawmakers in Congress removed an amendment with intentionally vague language that had been snuck into the massive Farm Bill by animal rights and anti-hunting factions.  

Labeled as the Greyhound Protection Act of 2025, H.R. 5017 could have banned everything from standard training and field trials for dogs as well as lawful hunting with them.  

The American Kennel Club said the iffy language went well beyond “commercial” greyhound racing, which only exists in one state. It could have also banned live lure training, use of live lures and open field coursing events involving live animals. 

Rep. Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA) introduced the measure, but the group behind it was Animal Wellness Action, a well-known anti-hunting group led by animal rights activist Wayne Pacelle, who resigned from the Humane Society of the United States, another anti-hunting organization, in 2018 amid allegations of sexual harassment. 

“It (H.R. 5017) does nothing to improve the wellbeing of dogs, and as written could ban or lead to bans on responsible dog training practices that are essential to developing well trained working and performance dogs, as well as popular responsible dog events in the community,” said AKC.  

“Because these terms lack clear statutory definitions, they could be interpreted in ways that affect lawful hunting activities and traditional dog training methods,” AKC warned. 

Vague language was the issue because “live lures” for dogs could be interpreted as upland birds, mountain lions or even farm animals like livestock. 

“They could do that with cow dogs. They could do that with bird dogs. They could do that with any dogs, really.” Doug Boykin, Wyoming houndsman, told Cowboy State Daily. "What about police dogs? Isn’t that using a live lure when they train them with people?”   

Hunt 2 Conserve strongly opposed the amendment and urged lawmakers to remove or better clarify it. 

About Hunt 2 Conserve 

Hunt 2 Conserve is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Its mission is to advance a legacy of hunting and conservation by educating, activating and developing stewards and defenders of these fundamentally American ideals. For more information, go to hunt2conserve.org. 

(Photo credit: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)