A BC family is sharing the traumatic story of their working dog who lost a leg after spending days in a trap set near their farm. Pearl, an Anatolian Shepherd Dog, is a working guardian dog and family companion on the Hartley farm, located northwest of Fort St. John.
Pearl went missing on Saturday, February 3. Clayton and Ricki Hartley couldn’t find Pearl until the following Monday, when they found her suffering in a leg-hold trap near their property. It is believed the trap was set to target wolves. Despite rushing her to a veterinarian, Pearl’s injuries were so severe amputation was necessary. She is recovering but will not be able to work as a guardian dog. The Hartleys were not informed of trapping in the area, and no warning signs were posted. Pearl’s incident happened within weeks of another trapping incident near Kitimat, where a dog was caught in multiple leg-hold traps set for wolves. Like the Hartley’s situation, no warning signs were posted.
Dangers of traps to pets known by government
The Fur-Bearers, a wildlife protection charity, has advocated for common sense updates to trapping regulations for over a decade, but the government has not introduced any changes to protect the public from commercial and recreational trapping. Data obtained by The Fur-Bearers shows that the Ministry of Forests was aware of 74 trapping incidents involving pets from 2015-2021, an average of over 10 incidents per year.
“Residents of British Columbia shouldn’t fear going for walks with their dogs or allowing Guardian Dogs to effectively do their jobs,” says Lesley Fox, Executive Director for The Fur-Bearers. “But the inaction of the government has made that a reality. There is no way to know if a casual walk with your family’s best friend will end in a horrifying tragedy – despite clear, simple solutions that could prevent it. It’s time for the government to listen and protect families from the dangers of commercial and recreational trapping.”
The Fur-Bearers have five common sense updates to trapping regulations that will immediately begin protecting the public:
- Mandatory warning signs near active traps,
- Mandatory notification of active trapping for nearby landowners,
- Mandatory ID tags on traps,
- Mandatory reporting of trapping incidents involving domestic animals; and,
- Setbacks of 1,000 metres from publicly accessible areas and dwellings.
An open letter was sent by The Fur-Bearers to Premier David Eby calling for these trapping reforms; The Fur-Bearers have also contacted the BC Conservation Officer Service regarding its response to the trapping incident.
Take Action!
Use the form below to send a letter to BC Premier David Eby, Bruce Ralston (Minister of Forests), Nathan Cullen (Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship), and your MLA. Supporters outside of Canada can contact the BC Premier at premier@gov.bc.ca.
