Puppy Mills Kitten Mills Minnesota

The traps are known as Conibear or body-gripping traps. As explained by Sportsmen Take Action: "Body-grip traps have 7" x 7" or 6" x 6" wide jaws (some jaws are 10" x 10") and are set vertically where a dog touches his or her nose to the trigger and the trap clamps over the head and cinches tightly behind the skull."

These traps are different from foothold traps, which are set to catch the animal by the foot (and the animal might try to chew off a limb to escape) or snares, which are steel cable nooses set to catch the animal by the neck.

The traps are set with smelly bait, attracting animals of varying sizes to it. Some trappers place body-grip traps in boxes or 5-gallon plastic buckets but a dog can still stick his or her head inside to get the bait.

Per Sportsmen Take Action: "Picture at right

shows how the body-grip trap is clamping on

the dog's muzzle. Unseen is how the other side of the trap jaws sink into the fur behind the head and reduce artery blood flow.

The springs are incredibly strong and

complicated to figure out. Some dogs live, but

most don't. Pictures like this are taken by

frustrated dog owners who have to wait for a

DNR Conservation Officer or sheriff to take

off the trap."

To view a video of a trap in action:

BODY-GRIP TRAP VIDEO

(WARNING - Video is disturbing but accurate and necessary view of problem. Produced by Dog Lovers 4 Safe Trapping MN)

THE PROBLEM:

PAIN, SUFFERING AND DEATH OF DOGS CAUGHT IN TRAPS

The pictures below are of a Minnesota dog named Kobe, a husky.

In 2014, this dog was caught in a body-grip trap, restricting blood flow to the head. When found, Kobe's head had ballooned to three times its normal size, resulting in deafness in one of Kobe's ears and requiring surgery to remove both eyes.

"These traps by law only have to be checked every three days," explains Kevin Auslund from Sportmen Taken Action. "This allows more traps to be set during trapping season. Consequently, some individual trappers will have over 100 of these killing traps dotting the landscape."

Kobe has been adopted and, though blind, is now doing well.

For the full story of Kobe, go to:

• Pine Journal: TRAPPED! Kobe's story spurs debate over need for updated trapping regulations

• KARE 11: Injured Dog at Center of Trapping Debate

Story of Bronco, who died:

• CBS local (12-18-2013) Hunter Asks For More Trapping Regulations After Dog Dies in Conibear

Traps continue to kill more dogs. Another victim: Lily

Lily was a 2-year-old chocolate Lab. The body-gripping trap that killed her last November was set in a ditch about 750 feet from the family's home in Pequot Lakes. Two weeks earlier Lily had given birth to eight puppies. Photos below are of Lily and her puppies;

and Lily killed by the trap.

Story of Lily, who died: Bill in Legislature tries to save dogs from accidental trappings

For additional stories and information regarding this issue, go to:

• Sportsmen Take Action

• Dog Lovers 4 Safe Trapping

Past articles:

• CBS local (11-13-2013) Body-grip traps restrict rescue searchers a great deal

• Star Tribune (1-14-2013) Number of dogs killed by traps concerns owners

DOGS TRAPPED AND SNARED IN MINNESOTA

Trapping occurs in many parts of Minnesota and is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The traps are set to catch various types of wildlife, but family pets can be harmed as well.

According to Dog Lovers 4 Safe Trapping MN, over 240 dogs have been caught in traps and snares in Minnesota, and that number only includes reported cases. 76 of those 240 dogs lost their lives. Map is courtesy of Dog Lovers 4 Safe Trapping MN. To view full size of the map, click here.

Always use caution when walking through wooded areas and marshes with your dog, especially in unfamiliar areas and during trapping season.

To report illegally set traps or an injury to a dog or cat resulting from a trap, contact your local animal control agency or the Minnesota DNR.

PROPOSED LEGISLATION

Bills have been introduced in past years at the MN Legislature to protect dogs, other animals, and humans from being caught in body-gripping traps when walking through the woods or along pathways. THE Proposed bill language required traps to be set in a safer manner; specifically, past bills have required body-gripping traps to be either fully submerged, placed in boxes (with specified size of the opening), or mounted five feet above the ground. (Efforts led by Dog Lovers 4 Safe Trapping.)

Bill language would not protect all species who are caught in these traps and suffer or die. However, it was an improvement on the current situation. If passed, bills would have greatly reduced the number of dogs killed and maimed by body-gripping traps each year.

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