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Warning: graphic image below.

Blu, a three-year-old house cat, may lose a leg after it was snared in a foothold trap set somewhere in Ladner.

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The cat made its way back home last week with severe damage to a hind leg with dead and dying flesh.

Blu’s owner, Josie Moubert, was told by a veterinarian that the injury was the result of a foothold or body-gripping trap.

“I’ve had pets my whole life and never experienced anything like this,” said Moubert. “Whomever caught Blu released him from the trap but didn’t call the number on his collar. Our veterinarian suspects that due to the level of rotten flesh, Blu was in the trap for at least two days.”

Last month, a raccoon was euthanized after being caught in a leghold trap in the same residential neighbourhood of Ladner.

The Fur-Bearers, an animal advocacy group, is calling on the City of Delta to create a bylaw to regulate traps within the community.

“Municipalities in British Columbia cannot rely on the province to appropriately manage all wildlife-related issues, as can be evidenced by several enacting or asking to enact similar trap bans,” said Michael Howie, The Fur-Bearers spokesman. “This trap was likely set within an urban environment, and possibly within sight of a large elementary school. The City of Delta has both the duty to protect their residents from such dangerous behaviour and the authority to enact bylaws related to such under the Community Charter.”

Currently in B.C., it’s illegal to set a trap within 200 metres of a dwelling.

“A bylaw would also create education for local residents who may be trying to catch and/or kill animals on their property,” said Howie. “It’s time to acknowledge that provincial laws have not done the job of protecting people and pets from traps, and that communities are speaking out against their use.”

Photo by Handout / PNG

The Fur-Bearers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the identification and conviction of the person responsible for setting the trap.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to about what happened to Blu is disgusted by it,” said Moubert. “Our family still doesn’t know if he’ll make it.”

sbrown@postmedia.com

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