Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Dec 24/02) - Yellowknife Municipal Enforcement are investigating the death of a pet dog after it was killed in a Conibear trap set in a wooded area behind Sir John Franklin school.

The dog and its owner were out for a morning walk, Wednesday, when the pet stumbled upon the trap while off-leash. The dog died a short while later from massive injuries to the head.

The owner's boyfriend reported the incident to Yellowknifer, but wanted to remain anonymous and did not wish to comment.

He said his girlfriend was also too shocked to talk about it.

City bylaw officers were summoned to the scene around 7:45 a.m., Dec. 18.

They were joined a short while later by RCMP and wildlife officers from Renewable Resources, Wildlife, and Economic Development.

Doug Gillard, manager of municipal enforcement, said the city has a bylaw prohibiting the use of traps or snares within one kilometre of a local residence, business, and municipal or territorial park. The maximum fine is $2,000.

At press time, they were still trying to determine who set the trap.

It was seized by bylaw officers after releasing the dog from its hold.

"My understanding is the lady was out with her dog. They were in a typical rocky area in between houses," said Gillard.

"She heard her dog struggling. Those traps are very difficult to release unless you have the equipment for it.

"She couldn't release it so she went to get help, and by the time she got back the dog was deceased. The owners of the dog are pretty distraught over it."

Raymond Bourget, senior wildlife officer with RWED, said the Conibear trap used was a Savigeau 2001-8. It is regarded by RWED and the trapping industry as a quick-kill trap.

The trap is set within an eight-inch wooden frame and loaded with two springs that releases a metal bar down on an animal's head when it enters the box.

It is commonly used to trap marten and other small, carnivorous fur-bearing animals, who are drawn into the trap by a bait, usually chunks of fish or meat.

Valerie Jackson, a friend of the dog's owner, lives on 53rd Ave. -- about two blocks away from where the trap was set.

She suspects the trap was set because of a large number of foxes venturing into the neighbourhood from nearby Tin Can Hill and becoming a nuisance.

"Over the years the number of foxes seemed to have increased around town and it actually started to cross my mind if anyone was doing anything like that (setting traps)," said Jackson.

Nonetheless, the incident has made her nervous, considering that she has two pet dogs of her own.

"I'm a little concerned because I walk my dogs in that general area," said Jackson.

She is also concerned because many of her neighbours have small children, and wondered what would happen if one were out playing and came across the trap.

"I don't understand the stupidity of what happened," said Jackson.

"It doesn't make an awful lot of sense to me."