I have a friend who lives in a small town on the Ottawa River in Ontario. Early this December, she and her beloved dog were out walking in the woods when, all of a sudden her dog, who had wandered on ahead was heard yelping in distress a few metres off the trail. My friend approached her pet only to find him completely entangled in a trap, gasping for breath and writhing in pain. It was a gruesome sight and one not easily forgotten. The dog died after a few torturous minutes.
Of course this isn’t the first time such a tragedy has occurred in the woods of North America and licensed trapping is still a legitimate business or activity. It is controlled by various government agencies that require all traps to be readily identified with a marker or, in this case, an inverted bucket. That’s great if you are an adult human but quite unlikely to deter a curious canine, or even an inquisitive young child.
My friend had been enjoying her walk in an area regularly hiked by the locals—in the winter cross-country skiers and Snowmobilers make good use of it as well. And yet there was not a single sign posted warning the public that trap lines may be set and that pet owners would be advised to keep their animals on a leash and their children in view.
I share the opinion of many who believe that trapping is a completely outdated, cruel and unnecessary activity in our culture in this day and age. However, it is a legally endorsed operation and so, for the time being, we are probably forced to accept it. Would it be too much to ask for the placement of a few warning signs?
My heart goes out to my friend. Her loss is devastating and the residual images of the ordeal will haunt her for a long time to come. When she is feeling better, she will step up, tell her story and make a pitch to the appropriate agencies to make sure this kind of unforeseeable tragedy does not happen to anyone else’s beloved companion.
