Public concern grows after farm dog euthanized due to kill snare on city property

“These traps put pets and public safety at risk. Questions that need answers: are kill snares allowed this close to city limits and public access? Why weren’t residents clearly warned? What is being done to prevent this from happening again?” said another.

North Battleford’s public and intergovernmental relations coordinator has since provided a statement to battlefordsNOW regarding concerns. Candace Toma said WMF staff discovered the dog ensnared on city property and immediately transported it to a local vet for treatment.

“When the vet notified the owner of the dog, the dog’s owner chose to request the vet to euthanize the animal. The City of North Battleford has covered the veterinary costs for the treatment of the animal,” she said.

The permit to conduct trapping was issued by the provincial government and as required, property owners within a mandated radius surrounding the city’s property were notified that trapping would occur.

“This is to ensure that property owners could contain their personal animals to their respective properties, so they would not be “at large”, and would not be subject to incidental contact with snares set on city property,” said Toma.

When concerns were raised by local property owners, the city temporarily suspended trapping activities for five days to allow additional time for residents to safeguard their personal animals. Trapping resumed earlier this week in accordance with the provincial permit.

Toma added the fence located at the WMF is designed to be a perimeter indicator for the city’s property, not to be impassible.

“It may serve to deter some animals and persons, but it will not stop everything, especially with a rising level of snow which makes fencing easier to jump for animals like coyotes,” she said.

Enhancing this fence to a level that would prevent all entry would require an investment that would come to a high cost for taxpayers.

Trapping activities will continue at the WMF until the coyote population decreases. The city estimates this could take until Friday given the continued number of coyotes being caught. The public will be notified when traps are removed from city property.

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Alyssa.rudolph@pattisonmedia.com

by Alyssa Rudolph

Public concern grows after farm dog euthanized due to kill snare on city property

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