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Dog “Poppy” Caught in Leghold, Pole Mountain, Medicine Bow National Forest

 

“Poppy” was trapped in a leghold, breaking a bone in her foot, requiring a cast for six weeks on November 11, 2019. She is a Labrador, mixed breed.  Location was Wyoming 210 (Happy Jack Road), end of road 712AA.

Poppy and I were hiking when she was trapped in a steel leg-hold trap as we approached a “distributed” campground at the end of road 712AA, on the public lands in the Medicine Bow National Forest, Pole Mountain Unit in November 2019. High winds and a snowstorm made it difficult to find her. I finally heard her screams above the wind. After freeing her crushed foot from the trap, I carried her in a sling made from her orange vest, a mile and a half in the snowstorm back to the car and took her to my veterinarian.

Poppy was trapped by the foot in a steel trap. The trap was located a short distance from a parking area in a “distributed” campground. The trap was above ground, by a log and marked by what appeared to be a crow wing dangling from a branch above the trap. When the trap snapped shut it crushed her foot and broke a bone in it.

After carrying Poppy back to the car, I immediately took her to my veterinarian. Following an examination and X-rays, my veterinarian determined that Poppy had a broken bone in her left foot. She then set and wrapped Poppy’s foot and placed it in a cast that ran from her foot to her shoulder. The cast remained on Poppy’s leg for six weeks. When the cast came off, Poppy was able to walk and soon run on her left foot. My veterinarian warned me that there is a possibility that she will develop arthritis in her left foot due to the trauma she experienced from the trap. The examinations, care and follow-up visits resulted in bills totaling over $500. 

Close-up Map:  712A heads north off WY210 (Happy Jack Road [HJR])  and forks to the left.  712AA continues north then curves to the east, ending in the distributed campground where Poppy was trapped.  It is approximately 1.6 miles from HJR to the campground.  41.27076,-105.39332

Know what to do if your pet is caught in a trap or snare. Download to your smartphone for access in the field.

Watch our 11-minute video: “How to Release Your Pet From a Trap

Carry tools with you if needed to help release your pet. We have assembled UNtrap Packs to make it easier for you. At a minimum, carry an aircraft cable cutter if your pet is caught in a snare. These tools could save your pet’s life.

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Have you experienced a negative trapping incident involving you, your pet, your family, or another living thing?
Please share your story on our trapping incident form so that we can help you in whatever way we can and bring the realities of trapping to a broader public. Your personal information will be respected, and you may submit anonymously.

Provide as much as possible of the following information so that your report will be as effective as possible. Include species of animal, type of trapping device, name of dog (if applicable), any injuries incurred by animals or humans involved, medical expenses, and as much additional detail as possible. Also, photos are very helpful but not required. We encourage you to include multiple photos and videos of trap, trap set area, bait, wild animal, dog, injury, and a picture of your dog without the trap to add a face to your story.

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Stay safe, everyone!

 

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