Cocker spaniel dies in neighbor’s trap

A Dorintosh, Saskatchewan family is morning the loss of their dog. On April 24, Barb Heaver and her cocker spaniel Cocoa were out visiting a friend in town when Cocoa wandered off onto Paul Strelezki’s property. Strelezki had baited a Conibear trap with sardines. Cocoa was found dead in the trap. Strelezki placed the traps on his property to protect his chickens from skunks and foxes. Strelezki says he never intended the trap for Cocoa. “I like dogs…I didn’t set a trap for it. I set it for the skunks.”

Police were called to the scene however Strelezki’s traps were legally set and no charges were filed. Conibear traps are a type of body gripping trap which forcefully snaps around the animal’s neck causing death by either severing the spinal cord or causing asphyxiation. However, the animal may only be caught by a limb and be left to die. Conibear traps are legal in most states however there are rules regarding their use (i.e. location and size). If your pet becomes ensnared in a Conibear trap here are instructions how to free it: TrapFree Oregon: Conibear traps and how to release them.