Family Cat Grievously Injured by Another Ladner-Area Trap
An Animal Rights Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM The Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals
June 2019

Blu’s harrowing experience came on the heels of staff at the City of Delta recommending the city not enact a by-law regarding traps following the incredible suffering experienced by a raccoon who was also caught by a foot-hold trap in the same neighbourhood.

Cat Blu
Photo of Blu before his injury provided by Josie Moubert

A family cat is suffering and may lose a leg due to a trap set somewhere in the urban section of Ladner, prompting renewed calls for municipal intervention in trapping and another reward from a wildlife protection non-profit.

The Fur-Bearers learned that Blu, a 3-year-old cat who lives with his family in Ladner, found his way home with severe damage to a hind leg with dead and dying flesh (necrosis). The veterinarian who is treating Blu noted the injury was the result of a foot-hold or body-gripping trap.

“I’ve had pets my whole life and never experienced anything like this,” says Josie Moubert, Blu’s caregiver. “Whomever caught Blue released him from the trap but didn’t call the number on his collar. Our veterinarian suspects that due to the level of rotten flesh, Blu was in the trap for at least two days.”

Blu’s harrowing experience came on the heels of staff at the City of Delta recommending the city not enact a by-law regarding traps following the incredible suffering experienced by a raccoon who was also caught by a foot-hold trap in the same neighbourhood.

“Municipalities in British Columbia cannot rely on the province to appropriately manage all wildlife-related issues, as can be evidenced by several enacting or asking to enact similar trap bans,” says Michael Howie, a spokesperson for The Fur-Bearers. “This trap was likely set within an urban environment, and possibly within sight of a large elementary school. The City of Delta has both the duty to protect their residents from such dangerous behaviour and the authority to enact by-laws related to such under the Community Charger.”

Currently in British Columbia it is illegal to set a trap within 200 metres of a dwelling – but that is only enforced if traps are found, reported, and law enforcement can determine who set the trap.

“A by-law would also create education for local residents who may be trying to catch and/or kill animals on their property,” says Howie. “It’s time to acknowledge that provincial laws have not done the job of protecting people and pets from traps, and that communities are speaking out against their use.”

The Fur-Bearers is also offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the identification and conviction of the person(s) responsible for setting this trap, should it be proven to be illegal. They are also calling on local landowners who are using legal traps to publicly acknowledge this with signage and communication to nearby residents so that educated decisions can be made.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to about what happened to Blu is disgusted by it,” says Moubert. “Our family still doesn’t know if he’ll make it.”

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