Dog hooked, injured from home-made trap near Grouse Grind

WARNING: Photos in this post may be disturbing to some viewers

North Vancouver RCMP have issued a warning after a dog was hooked by a brutal home-made animal trap near the Grouse Grind.

At around 10:30 a.m. Thursday, dog walker Hallie Mitchell was walking a group of dogs on the Baden Powell trail when a Labradoodle, Kelly, bit into a piece of meat that had hooks in it.

“I heard him shrieking and it did not sound like a regular shriek. It was a real traumatic cry for help,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said the Labradoodle’s  mouth was punctured by a large, barbed hook that was attached to a large stick with a rope. There were five hooks in the home-made trap in total.

Mitchell ran to Kelly and found him with a hook sticking out of his mouth and one in his paw.

“As I approached closer I saw hooks from his face and a meaty mass,” she said. “He was thrashing and as soon as I restrained him he relaxed.”

With the help of some nearby hikers, she was able to restrain him, pull him close to the hooks and free him.

Kelly was rushed to an animal hospital and was treated for cuts and a paw injury. He was released after a couple hours and is expected to make a full recovery.

Police said the meat in the trap was beef kidneys and did not contain any poison. The kidneys were connected with wire and threaded through a series of five barbed hooks.

The baiting device was wrapped with rope and duct tape and suspended off the ground from a stick next to the tree.

Gallery: Cruel home-made trap injures dog 

“We’re trying to determine whether the trap was for domestic animals or wildlife,” De Jong said. “Either way it’s against the criminal code.”

Police are investigating the “very disturbing incident” and warning pet owners to be extra vigilant.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the North Vancouver RCMP at 604-985-1311.