UPDATED POST:
Valerie, who sent us along a few more pictures of George, tells us more about her beloved dog: "Let me tell you a bit about George. He had a rough start to life as a homeless dog living on a reserve on James Bay, 16 hours north of Montreal. He was rescued along with his best friend Gracie a few short years ago and they found their way to us. George had a very regal bearing while he thought deep thoughts, but he was also a goofball who loved to play and cuddle. He loved boat rides, going to work with my husband Ric and, of course, long walks on local trails."

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ORGINAL POST

Buckhorn's Valerie Strain is petitioning Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry MPP Bill Mauro for "No traps On Trails" after her dog George was caught and killed in a baited kill-trap (aka Conibear) just before Christmas. "He died a slow death while I struggled unsuccessfully to free him," Valerie says in the petition, adding that "The trap was located on Crown Land just a few feet from a side trail and within 20 ft of a popular snowmobile/ATV trail."

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) was informed of what happened and is investigating but told Valerie there are no rules about how close to trails the trap can be set and no requirement to notify the public that they are there. "There does not seem to be any way for the public to find out where traplines are; they could be anywhere on Crown Land, on your neighbour's property, even in Provincial Parks and you wouldn't know," she says.

George meeting a moose on same trail where he died

"My husband and I both grew up in rural areas," adds Valerie in the petition. "We had no idea the risk we were taking every time we took our dogs out on this trail. One of our responsibilities as pet owners is to keep them safe. We failed George in that regard. Please help us make sure this doesn't happen to another family pet, or worse, a child out on a walk with his parents."

To prevent more deaths on Ontario trails and improve the safety of everyone sharing our outdoor spaces, she is urging the MNRF to:

1. launch a public awareness campaign about the danger to pets and people from active traps - including publishing maps online that show registered trapline areas, and

2. improve trapping practices and regulations – including setting a minimum distance from public trails, and marking trails that run close to traplines.

Learn more about her petition here.

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