SUCCESS STORY: Told in person by American Red Cross Dog First Aid Instructor, Peggy Rew
Lucy
Nevada Humane Society volunteers Linda and Mark Scheffel took the dog class in October, 2010 and wanted to share this report: Walking in the Sunrise Pass area, our dog, Lucy became ensnared in animal trap. But thanks to your Dog First Aid Class, we were able to successfully free her from the trap. She was very unhappy, but calmed down immediately with the Creative Muzzling Techniques we learned. We used my husband’s belt to muzzle her and were able to free her from the trap without a scratch. Thank Goodness! This experience alone is well worth the time and cost of the class.
Would you know what to if your dog gets caught in a leg trap? Simple, but effective creative muzzling techniques for your own pet will give you time to resolve the situation.
Your Northern Nevada ARC Chapter has offered classes since 2008 and is one of only a handful of chapters that offer them. Classes are ongoing, so contact Peggy Rew for information. Rew will travel to your group for classes or for demos at special events or programs. 775.626.0982 or [email protected] or www.rewcrew.com
Told in Person February 16,2015 Back right leg of our dog, “Tank.” It shows pretty clearly the marking left by the trap he was caught in.
Tank’s injured leg
My husband and I live in the country above Dayton Valley and have three dogs. We have always been in the custom (and still do), of letting our dogs out each day – one, by one. The dogs usually just snoop around our property, marking their ‘territories,’ and then come home.
One day about two years ago, we had let “Tank” out as usual. But, for some reason, this time when we let him out, he didn’t come right back [why he went exploring or chasing something up in the hills is still beyond me. He usually doesn’t go far to explore like his mother does].
We waited patiently, but no dog. I cried and cried, but after the first day he was gone, I became so worried he was either caught by a mountain lion or even a coyote. It didn’t even occur to me of his being caught in a trap………..
When the second day went by I still couldn’t stop crying. I was sooooooooo worried. I kept looking out the front window in the hopes of seeing him – to no avail.
Then, just before dusk, exactly 48 hours when we’d last seen him, I looked out the window for the 100th time (or so it seemed), and I had to take a second look as there was “Tank!” He came home and wasn’t putting any weight on his back rear leg. I cannot tell you how thankful my husband and I were. I thought for sure we’d seen the last of him…………………
By the look of the wound on his leg, I assumed it was from a trap. He could never have gotten out of that trap unless the trapper had humanely let him go. There’s no other explanation.
I feel strongly there are traps still being placed up in the valley below the Virginia Range for possible coyotes but have no proof as I’ve never seen one in person .- Bonnie Matton
This happened about 35-40 years ago. We were living near Eureka. My dog usually went outside for short periods of time, always coming right back home. But one day she didn’t come back. My Dad went looking for her and found her trapped immediately outside our fenceline. She was already badly injured, having tried to bite off her paw. We got her to the veterinarian where the paw was amputated, but with lots of care, she survived. – Frances Wilde
Luna was trapped at the entrance to Mack’s Canyon area in southern Nevada. Her owner achieved a settlement with the trapper and believes trapper ID should be reinstated. Luna licked all the blood away before this picture was taken; she lost a lot of blood, but did recover.
Since passage of SB364, law now requires trapper ID or NDOW registration number on all traps set on public land. And the public has the right to disturb a trap that poses obvious risk.
Telephone Conversation May 3, 2015 and subsequent emails
I was returning home from my morning walk with a neighbor and my dog, Rocky,
on Friday, April 17th, between 9 and 9:30 a.m. Most of the lots in this
development are one acre. This lot is narrow and long, gaining access to the
Carson River. My backyard is fenced, with a 20’ side yard between my home and
the fence line, shared with the neighbor.
As I approached the street entrance of my driveway I heard what seemed to be
an animal in distress. After taking a moment to determine if it was bird or
other, I felt it to be a cat in trouble. I ran to the front door of my
neighbor’s and received no response. At this time I moved quickly to gather
tools and remove enough of the six foot tall fence boards to gain access to the
side yard of my neighbor to assist the animal. It is not unusual for cats to
roam in our neighborhood. I have had cats enter my house through the doggie
door, as one in particular would rest on the dining room chair, noticed on
several occasions. Another time much of my cat’s fur lay on the dining room
floor after an indoor battle, detected after returning home one evening. This
is when I decided to get him a buddy, and beef up the clan. There is not a
leash law in the county, though it is rare to witness dogs roaming freely,
without an owner close at hand.
The area that I was opening is approximately 800 sq. ft., and the fence line
is 20 feet from my home’s north facing wall. In this fenced area, separated
from his backyard, he has erected two rows of solar heating arrays that run
most of the 25 foot length enclosure. I would guess the panels to be set at a
45 degree angle, and I could not identify the reason of urgent cat cry from the
now open fence.
I dropped flat to the ground and crawled under the pool heating structures, to observe that it was one of my two cats. The weeds and underbrush made it difficult to know what had trapped my cat, until I was under the second array, in which I could understand that it was a foot trap. I was able to release her, and kept a distance to observe her gaining safety within my home. After closing down any outside access, I returned to the fence to retrieve my dropped phone.
Rocky perished in neighbor’s trap
As I lowered to the ground this time, I noticed my dog, Rocky, flat against
the ground, and I could not understand what he was so intent on. Again, the
understanding was not clear until I was under the second row of panels, and I
saw he was crushed by a second trap. I called my other neighbor, who in turn
called 911. Deputy Mike Mathews, with Churchill County Sheriff, was the first
to respond. He waited to enter the property, until making contact with the
owner, who was out of town for a few days. The Deputy then contacted animal
control, and fish and game. I requested to have my dog home, and the deputy
confessed that neither he, nor animal control knew how to release the trap.
My brother-in-law said that he would do it, so a call was made to the owner
requesting permission for my brother-in-law to enter and get Rocky. I later
spoke with my brother-in-law, Darrin, to be informed that there were a total of
four traps. One live, two foot traps (a #2 and #3), the fourth being a
conibear-type, all secured to the same stake, and a can of cat food used for
bait. My cat was trapped in the #2 foot trap, my dog killed in the conibear. I
do have a case number and my understanding is that it has gone to the District
Attorney to determine what the trapping rights are in this situation.
Mike, the Deputy on scene performed follow-up calls and visits to my
neighbors and family involved, and let me know during the visit that there is
much “grey” area in the laws of trapping. My animals were trapped on Friday,
the neighbors returned home on the following day, Saturday, to stage an evening
party for their newly wedded son. I stated some of my opinions before and
during the party. He stated that “he could call the sheriff, or we could talk
about it the following day.” He never made contact the following day. Very tall
A-frame ladders and a bright flood light seem to gather the attention at an
outdoor evening congregation of people. ; )
I have lost two deeply loved cats in the last year, and each time I have
taken a photo of the felines, with my contact information on back. Never has
this neighbor indicated a problem with animals, nor alerted me that he had set
traps that would endanger my loved ones. There were no warnings, verbally
expressed, or printed and posted.
-Celeste Mills
_______________
Subsequent email May 25, 2015
Hey Trish- You most certainly have my permission to use the photos I sent. I hope that the loss of Rocky and the injury to Topaz will aid in awareness to the cruel and “grey” areas our laws allow for trapping.
Topaz amputation
Topaz has lost three of her four toes. Her body discarded them over time, and they were removed with the first two dressing changes. I must say that I feared the worst for her foot, as the odor of dying tissue under her soft cast was quite strong for several days, which cleared after the second cast change. I think the vets (she was seen by 3 or 4 different doctors during the 5 trips) wanted to see what nature chose to remove, then they went in to aid the process and get a thorough inspection while she was under anesthesia. She still prefers to move on three feet, and pulls that back paw under when she is moving quickly. I was informed by the vet that she will have nerve sensitivity for awhile. I had lost a small amount of a finger tip 10 years ago and am just getting used to sensation with that digit. I can only imagine what discomfort her whole foot is going through as the nerves regenerate. She has the large (landing) pad, so that is a plus for her active life. I witnessed her go after a cat that came into the yard last week, so she has little fear for a cat challenge with her injury. The surgery brought her total medical bills up to $475.00, and I expect that is about it for Topaz’s severe injury. My neighbor has not spoken to me since all of this tragedy was revealed. I know that I released Topaz from a foot hold trap. My brother-in-law claims that the size is a #2, the smaller of the two foot hold traps that were set on the property. Best always- Celeste
