dogs and their missoulians
Footloose Montana Featured in New York Times
By Dillon Tabish, 5-01-08
The New York Times featured a story on local non-profit organization Footloose Montana, which is cautioning dog owners and outdoor recreationists about hidden animal traps on public lands.
Footloose member Filip Panusz, unlike the two black crossbreed dogs panting beside him, kept his tongue in his mouth as he smiled for Wednesday’s edition of the newspaper.
Panusz became involved in Footloose after his border collie mix was killed in a trap near Missoula.
Footloose Montana, led by Anja Heister, began over a year ago to inform people of the danger trapping poses to people and their pets and teach classes on how to free trapped dogs if they are snagged. According to the group, 12 dogs in western Montana have been caught in traps and three of them died.
The recent killing of non-targeted animals, including a dog and a golden eagle, and the wounding of others have heightened tensions and helped fuel a movement to restrict fur trapping in Montana, the story says.
But some believe trappers have a significant role to play on public lands.
“Trapping is an important part of wildlife management,” said Dave Miller, director of national and international affairs for the National Trappers Association, which claims 10,000 members. “It is very efficient and humane method of managing wildlife when properly done.”
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