Leg traps in Nose Hill Park

[Old Yeller]

Hahaha, we're all jumping on the mob mentality fear bandwagon.... jesus give me a break.

I didn't realize a few key details on a sign makes it an essay Cecil. Also a number of the comments on the actual website that the First Lady posted made mention of the fact that 311 operators had no idea about this.

I agree with First Lady, some information released prior to the study taking place would be have been beneficial.

[shermanator]

As long as the traps take out all the little yappy dogs, I'm okay with this...

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller

Hahaha, we're all jumping on the mob mentality fear bandwagon.... jesus give me a break.

I didn't realize a few key details on a sign makes it an essay Cecil. Also a number of the comments on the actual website that the First Lady posted made mention of the fact that 311 operators had no idea about this.

I agree with First Lady, some information released prior to the study taking place would be have been beneficial.

Who says information wasn't released prior to the study? How many other studies happen each year in various parts of the city?

I realize you really, really want to be outraged by this and it is an easy case to just scream "won't somebody think of the poor cute dogs!!!" but really it sounds like a bunch of people are getting way out of control about something that isn't a big deal at all.

Did anyone actually call the number on the sign and just ask them before jumping to conclusions?

Anyone who has ever dealt with the U of C ethics committee knows that this isn't some random study without any planning or foresight. This thing had to be absolutely air tight for the U to even consider signing off on it.

[Old Yeller]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I realize you really, really want to be outraged by this and it is an easy case to just scream "won't somebody think of the poor cute dogs!!!" but really it sounds like a bunch of people are getting way out of control about something that isn't a big deal at all.

I realize you really, really want to jump to conclusions about what I'm possibly thinking, but all people are asking for is some advanced notice and more detail.... but keep painting with that broad brush of yours.

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Anyone who has ever dealt with the U of C ethics committee knows that this isn't some random study without any planning or foresight.

Judging by the sign taped to a tree, apparently not.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller

I realize you really, really want to jump to conclusions about what I'm possibly thinking, but all people are asking for is some advanced notice and more detail.... but keep painting with that broad brush of yours.



Judging by the sign taped to a tree, apparently not.

What kind of advanced notice is appropriate for something like this? An ad in a newspaper? A tweet? A commercial on TV? Frankly, I think a sign taped to a tree is sufficient for the immediate vicinity, and maybe some signs at parking lots and by path entryways.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by 4X4

What kind of advanced notice is appropriate for something like this? An ad in a newspaper? A tweet? A commercial on TV? Frankly, I think a sign taped to a tree is sufficient for the immediate vicinity, and maybe some signs at parking lots and by path entryways.

This is a part of a study where they were asking dog owners to send in poo. It was hugely publicized.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...oop-study.html

http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/utoday/j...2/dogdonations

It was all over Twitter and Facebook for a couple of days.

I got a notice via mail, likely because I have licensed dogs. They named the specific parks that your dog must frequent in order to be part of the study.


No where was there any mention of the traps in the park.

[First Lady]

Oh look.....

https://twitter.com/TaraNWeber/statu...48577597841408

They are (were) in Bowmont and Fish Creek Parks too.

[Bigtime]

So the lady whose dog got caught in a trap, had her dog off leash in an on leash section?

If that is the case, score one for the anti-dog crowd.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

So the lady whose dog got caught in a trap, had her dog off leash in an on leash section?

If that is the case, score one for the anti-dog crowd.

Yes, that's what I understand as well.

Like many, she probably lets them off leash as soon as she is on pathway, which is off-leash; however the designated area in that particular section is very narrow.

Here is map (pdf)

http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Doc...leash-area.pdf

[WhiteTiger]

I'd wonder if a couple guys out there with the radio collars and a tranq gun might have been more beneficial to the survey. Now folks are all up in arms about it.

[zamler]

Any dog caught will immediately be conveyed to an emergency 24-hour veterinary clinic.

I can assure you that this study was subject to rigorous academic ethic approvals prior to being undertaken and is entirely humane.

Completely humane, if your dog gets caught in one of the traps off to the clinic ASAP. Got it.

[Nage Waza]

Had anyone in my class (even way back in the early 90's) tried a study like this, the faculty would have shut it down immediately. This is a pretty good example of an intrusive study done in a public space with major physical risk factors. This never would have been allowed.
I also do not buy their so called benefits to the study.

[Nage Waza]

Originally Posted by 4X4

What kind of advanced notice is appropriate for something like this? An ad in a newspaper? A tweet? A commercial on TV? Frankly, I think a sign taped to a tree is sufficient for the immediate vicinity, and maybe some signs at parking lots and by path entryways.

There should be no notice because public parks should not have leg traps planted in them. Simply a dumb idea.

[Nehkara]

I would point out that if the whole point is to trap, tag, release, and monitor the coyotes they would not want them to be injured.

I suspect the traps are not very harmful. I also suspect the reason for the immediate emergency vet visit for any dog caught is for the peace of mind of the owner rather than any kind of damage the dog would sustain.

Just my opinion, seems like this is being blown WAY out of proportion... and yes I am a dog owner.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

Just my opinion, seems like this is being blown WAY out of proportion... and yes I am a dog owner.

Stick your dogs leg in one of the traps and let me know how it works out. Riddle me this, how can a leg trap not be harmful but hold the animal enough so it can't get away?

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by zamler

Stick your dogs leg in one of the traps and let me know how it works out. Riddle me this, how can a leg trap not be harmful but hold the animal enough so it can't get away?

I'm not an expert on trapping coyotes, I'm not really sure.

However, if the goal of your study is to study the movement of coyotes through the city then injuring them is a bad way to start.

[getbak]

http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/statemen...2/coyote-study

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by getbak

http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/statemen...2/coyote-study

Toothless traps , electronic indication of when a trap is set off so someone is sent immediately to check it, the transportation of any dogs caught to 24-hour emergency vet is a precautionary measure.

Plus the only way your dog gets caught is in a signed, heavily wooded, on-leash area after dark.

Seriously. Overreaction.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

Seriously. Overreaction.

From the same release:

As of 4:30 pm on August 24, 2012 – at the City of Calgary’s request – all catch-and-release equipment has been removed from Calgary parks so that current public concerns can be addressed prior to the study being resumed. Researchers will take all feedback into serious consideration and make appropriate modifications.

Guess the city is overreacting too?

As I just said to my City councilor; I don't have an issue with the study, or even the traps 'if' they are indeed humane, residents however deserved to be made aware of this.

If they had come out weeks ago and laid out this plan in full (just like they did with the poop collection portion of the study) they would have been way ahead of where they are now.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

Toothless traps , electronic indication of when a trap is set off so someone is sent immediately to check it, the transportation of any dogs caught to 24-hour emergency vet is a precautionary measure.

Plus the only way your dog gets caught is in a signed, heavily wooded, on-leash area after dark.

Seriously. Overreaction.

Seriously. Dumb idea. Guaranteed fail once it hit the public domain.

Cowperson