I hear where you're coming from - barn hunt can be a bit divisive for people, I know others who feel the same way.

Lure coursing/Coursing Ability Tests (for non-sighthounds) and FastCAT are pure fun, lots of excited dogs ready to get after that plastic bag!

That’s a noble idea, but I would be concerned about the volume of rat poison in the city, and that if the rats have poison in them and the dogs bite them, the dogs could be poisoned as well.

If you’re interested in leaning into your dogs’ prey drives, might I suggest lure coursing, FastCAT, or barn hunt? It’s fun to see dog’s instincts come out in those events and it’s set up to be a safer experience for the dogs.