Shubie snares source unknown
Posted Apr 11, 2012 06:43:46 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Dog walkers will be keeping an eye out for anything amiss in Dartmouth’s Shubie Park today, after the discovery of more wire snares.
City officials, dog owners and canine-related business owners have combed the off-leash area of the park, searching any more of the metal nooses.
The first was found around a border collie’s neck on Saturday. The dog had pulled the wire free from its anchor and wasn’t hurt.
Two other similar devices were found on Tuesday.
Janet Chernin, owner of Canine Casbah, tells News 95.7 the snares are inherently dangerous to dogs.
“If the snares are being laid the manner that most snares are, which is to hide the snare and cover it with debris, the natural instinct for a dog is to sniff around. Any dog’s head is going to get in the snare.”
She adds that dogs are not the only ones who are at risk.
“Young children, two- and three-year-olds, who are wearing sneakers this time of year, easily could step into the snare also. So it has other concerns for people walking.”
Another dog owner is sharing information about the traps with the hope that the culprit will be found.
Rodney Habib, owner of Planet Paws Essentials, says there’s now a Facebook page to help park users identify the traps.
“You’ll see where we’ve actually posted pictures of the snare, the branch, how the snares were actually set up, and how the culprit twisted them,” he said.
Habib says the local hunting community is offering their opinion.
“We’ve got about 20 phone calls from experienced hunters who said ‘Listen, we’re looking at the pictures of those snares. That is clearly done by an amateur,'” he said. “So, whether or not it’s put there to relay some sort of message, or whether it’s somebody who’s extremely inexperienced, that’s the scary part that we’re not sure of right now.”
Park staff have been told to watch for any suspicious activity or metal devices. If any dog walkers find other snares, they are encouraged to contact police.
