Statement in Response to False Accusations March 27, 2008 On Sunday, March 23, 2008, an email was distributed by Bob Kane, president of the Virginia Hunting Dog Owners' Association and former chairman of the Sportsmen and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance. The email included an article by Linda McNatt of The Virginian-Pilot published March 21, 2008, about a recent court case involving an employee of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) accused of stealing a hunting dog's tracking collar. Mr. Kane's commentary about the case in that email falsely stated, "PETA's $$ hired DGIF Board vice-chairman Richard Railey Esq."
Mr. Railey learned of Mr. Kane's e-mail on Tuesday, March 25, and is shocked by it. He responds that he has never accepted a case representing PETA or, to his knowledge, a PETA member, and he has never received payment or compensation from PETA or any other animal rights or animal welfare organization.
In October, 2007 Mr. Railey, who is an attorney, was contacted by persons inquiring about possible representation of certain individuals criminally charged in Southampton County. He agreed to meet with these defendants. As soon as Mr. Railey determined the nature of the cases he advised that he is an avid hound hunter, had no interest in these cases, and turned them down immediately. Certainly, these individuals were entitled to competent legal representation, but in Mr. Railey's opinion, given the circumstances he could not competently represent these individuals. Any involvement on his part in this matter ended at this juncture.
The Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries and the management of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries are disappointed that this false assertion has been made and disseminated via mass emailing. Within the hunting community, of which Mr. Railey is a passionate and lifelong member, to the extent this e-mail might be believed, it could be damaging to his reputation and standing. Once material such as this is disseminated on the internet, it is very difficult to retract or refute.
Unfortunately, this is the latest of a number of inaccurate statements that have been circulated during the past year through a variety of channels generally relating to the Department's current Hunting with Hounds Study. This e-mail, like other similar inaccurate statements circulated and posted on internet sites, has the effect among many sportsmen of unfairly discrediting the Board and the Department. One such internet rumor is that Board of Game and Inland Fisheries members are somehow secretly colluding with anti-hunting interests to eliminate certain types of hunting in Virginia, a charge that could not be further from the truth.
The Board of Game and Inland Fisheries and DGIF management and staff wish to take this opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to the stated goal of the Hunting with Hounds Study, which is "To provide diverse opportunities for hunting with hounds in Virginia in a manner that is fair, sportsmanlike and consistent with the rights of property owners and other citizens."
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