Pet owner asks trappers to be responsible

A Spectrum, by Billie Jo Kopsack

I am writing this letter in hopes it will create an awareness that snaring in a residential area can have serious implications. This is my story: I had a dear friend whose name was Toby -- he was dearly loved and cared for. Toby was an 8-month-old chocolate Labrador retriever. I have always owned Labs, and am aware of their tendency to go off exploring, if given a chance.

On Jan. 13, 2002, I took a chance of leaving an older dog in the house, and let Toby and another Lab pup that we were dog-sitting outside to play, knowing that my boyfriend was on his way home from work. It was a big mistake, one that I will have to live with for the rest of my life.

I feel I really let my Toby down. It was during this window of time that Toby and the puppy, Buddy, set out to explore, and we later learned that approximately half a mile from the house they were both caught in a trapper's snare. We searched that night, and for several days later. We put up signs and placed ads in the paper, but no Toby or Buddy. We felt that most likely they were stolen.

After 16 days, Toby had the heart and determination to find his way home. My Toby had been a 90-pound guy who now weighed nothing more than his bones. His neck had been caught in the snare, due to the temptation of being baited with a whole rabbit (which is against the law). His neck was severed through his trachea, and into the esophagus.

After we rushed him to the veterinarian, we set out to find the snare. We found Buddy, who had been lying next to Toby, and appeared to have died shortly after being snared. Fresh foot tracks indicated that Toby was let out of the snare by the trapper, who came to check his sets 16 days later, and had to drive by our driveway with our sign that read "MISSING CHOCOLATE LAB." The snares that he had set were only approximately 200 feet off the road, and no more than a quarter mile from where residents with children and pets are living.

As I mentioned in the beginning, I am not trying to escape the simple fact that ultimately if my Toby had not been left unsupervised for this window of time, this would not have happened. This burden burns me down deep in my soul.

On the other hand, I feel the duty to warn people with children and pets they could also be the victims of unethical trappers who set traps close to their back yard. It is not a pleasant thought to try to imagine what an animal goes through when they are victimized in a snare -- at the same time I'm not advocating outlawing snaring.

I am a person that lives in Alaska because I value being able to make my own life choices, and respect people as individuals and their choices as well. Unfortunately, laws are made due to unethical people who have no regard or respect for other people. This same type of mentality breeds individuals who think when a law is made, it applies to everyone but them.

I have lived 12 years on the Knik River Road. I have 30 acres that is one half mile off the road. I have enjoyed the seclusion while it lasted, but now, when I look out my windows, there are many roof tops that were not there a few years ago. The road was paved a couple of years ago, bringing a surge of new residents to the area. It simply is not wild and rural as it used to be.

In the past, Knik River Road was a hunter's and trapper's playground. This has become a conflict as the population expands, and there is less land for the recreational hunter and trapper to access. I know I would be an unrealistic optimist to think that laws that would give guidelines to responsible trapping would be made.

If the magic genie said "Make your wish," I would wish that there would be a law that they could not trap in residential areas. Trappers would need to check their traps at least every three days, mark them with identification numbers and these laws would be enforced.

I feel the ethical and responsible trapper would agree that checking traps every three days, and not trapping in residential areas, is reasonable.

So, all I can hopefully gain from writing this letter is that residents will be more aware and try to prevent a tragedy of this nature from happening to their children or pets.

Billie Jo Kopsack is a Knik River Road resident.