Apr 5, 2009 6:38 pm US/Central
Owners Warn Of Animal Traps After Dog Killed
RAMSEY, Minn. (WCCO) ―
-
-
The Potters found their dog, Prada, dead in a trap about 20 feet from their property in Ramsey, Minn. on Dec. 16, 2008.
CBS
Dog owners in Ramsey learned a terrible lesson about safety after their pet was killed in a trap set for wild game.
Though the trap was legal, the family is worried other pets could lose their lives.
The Potters have lived in Ramsey, next to farmland, for the past 30 years and they've always had dogs. They knew traps were set near their property line when their dog Pearl became stuck. However, the dog's head was too big to fit in that trap.
"That's probably what saved her," said Dennis Potter.
But their younger dog Prada wasn't so lucky. The Vizsla was out at night on Dec. 16, during the trapping season. When she didn't come back after five minutes, Trude Potter got worried and went looking for her. Trude found her dead in a trap like this one about 20 feet from their property.
"Evidently the meat was inside and she put her head in and it snapped. I was devastated. It hurts to think about it right now," said Trude.
According to the Department of Natural Resources, it is legal to set any trap 7 1/2 inches or smaller on the ground. The Potters say they know they were wrong for letting her dog trespass, but they're upset the trap was set so close to their yard.
Trude told the trapper how she felt when he came to retrieve his trap.
"I said 'You killed my dog.' He said 'Well, it's your fault.' It was, I let them out loose but I didn't think I had to worry that much," she said.
Now the Potters keep their animals tied up outside and they warned other dog owners in the area. They don't want anyone else to learn this painful lesson.
"She was family and she was so smart," said Trude.
The DNR said they don't often see dogs get caught in traps, especially since fewer people are trapping animals. However, there are efforts underway to encourage trappers to put their traps up in trees or in cages to avoid snaring pets.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
