A West Island family has a warning for animal owners who frequent the Bois-de-Liesse Nature Park after their dog was killed by a trap set in the woods nearby.
Last Friday, Jean Jallet was walking his dog Buster in a wooded area near the Nature Park.
During the outing Buster got caught in an animal trap, snapping his neck, killing him instantly.
Jallet's daughter Jennifer posted a video of a similar trap, commonly known as a conibear trap, found not far from the one that killed the family dog. The video included the notice of a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible. The post has since been removed.
Conibear traps are regulated in Quebec and can be used to trap certain animals, some only if authorized by the Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks.
According to the Ministry, "Every person has the right to trap in accordance with the law. To trap, a person must be the holder of a professional trapping licence and have it on hand. "
A licensed trapper is allowed to trap on both public and private land, though in the case of private land a written agreement is needed prior to any traps being set.
"In a spirit of courtesy and respect for others, trappers must pay special attention to the place where they install their traps. It is in their interests to maintain good relations with the people around them, to help maintain a positive public perception of the activity" the Ministry wrote on its website.
"It is important to ensure that installed traps are safe for other humans. Trappers must also take all the necessary precautions to avoid capturing domestic animals, whether in woodland areas or on cultivated land."
Pierrefonds-Roxboro officials and police are aware of the incident.