Nontarget Trapping Incident Report

Reported: Jan 26, 2008
Location: Silver City, New Mexico

Species: Dog
Trap Type: Leghold
Incident Date: unknown

Victim's Disposition: dead
Victim's Name: Rufus

Legal Action: Yes
Result: charged with failing to check trap within 24 hrs

Summary: A dog on his usual trail was caught in a leghold trap. The dog died quickly after being trapped as the ground was undisturbed, with a minimal mark on leg from the trap. Rufus died from head trauma — either hit his own head (unlikely) or was hit in the head by someone. The trapper had placed 75 traps around a subdivision in the Gila National Forest. The incident was reported to Game & Fish and to local law enforcement. The trap owner was found and charged with failure to check traps in 24 hours.

Source: Born Free USA incident report form