Dog killed by hunter's trap

A pet dog was killed by a hunter's trap near Memramcook, N.B., last week.

The dog, described as a pit bull cross, was off leash with its owner in the Westmorland County woods when it apparently got caught in the trap used to catch bobcats and raccoons. The owner of the dog has not been identified.

Nanette Pearl of the Moncton SPCA said dog owners forget or do not know that trapping occurs in New Brunswick and poses a risk to dogs running in the woods.

"Generally, we hear about this at least once a year," she said.

'It's an unfortunate incident that I feel both parties could share a little responsibility in it.' —Dale Clark

The trap that killed the dog was thought to be a conibear, a quick-moving mechanism that kills animals instantly or nearly so. They are often used as a humane alternative to traps that take longer to kill animals.

Dale Clark of the New Brunswick Trappers and Fur Harvesters Federation said the law requires all dogs to be on a leash when out in the wild. He said his association requests that its members keep traps far away from trails used by hikers and their pets.

"I'm not pointing the fingers strictly at the pet owner. I'm just saying it's an unfortunate incident that I feel both parties could share a little responsibility in it," he said.

The province also urged pet owners to not let their dogs off leash in areas not specifically marked that way, even when out in the woods.  Andrew Holland of with the Department of Natural Resources was surprised that a trap big enough to kill a medium-sized dog is still out in the bush.

"The time frame for using this type of trap expired on Dec. 31," he said.

Brochure on pet safety

Holland said a few years ago, the department met with trappers, kennel clubs and the SPCA to prepare a brochure for dog owners on safety in the woods. It is posted to the department's website.

There are about 1,200 trappers in the province. Holland said dog owners should be aware each trapper has the right to put traps in the wild as long as they're at least 300 meters from a dwelling.

Several regulated hunting and fur-harvesting seasons are now open or will soon open. Hunting and trapping seasons extend through the fall and winter months.

The department reminded pet owners that the Fish and Wildlife Act makes it illegal for dogs to run at large in a wildlife area. Pets should be kept under control or leashed at all times to minimize harassment of wildlife, he said, and it is illegal to disturb any legally placed trap or snare.

He reminded hunters and trappers of the distance restrictions near dwellings, schools, playgrounds, athletic fields, solid-waste disposal sites and places of business. It is illegal for hunters to discharge any bow within 100 metres or any firearm within 200 metres of those areas. It is illegal to set traps and/or snares within 300 metres of those areas.