An animal protection agency has asked Surrey city council to ban the use of bodygripping animal traps after a raccoon with a leghold trap clamped to its front paw was found in a shed on 155th Street in Surrey last August.

The raccoon had to be euthanized.

"They're very dangerous and they don't discriminate," Lesley Fox said of the traps.

Fox, the executive director of the Fur-Bearer Defenders, appeared before Surrey council Oct. 3 and asked that they ban body-gripping traps: Conibear, leg-hold and snare.

She said that under the Community Charter a municipality has the legal authority to ban lethal traps.

"I know there's a lot of animal lovers on council and I hope that people really tap into that sense of compassion and more so than that, just use common sense," she told the Now before her delegation.

"The main message tonight is that, of course, trapping is cruel, but these devices are a public safety concern. On that basis, we need to take action. They're not safe for our children, they're not safe for our pets and even non-target wildlife, such as birds or other animals."

Fox said that where there's one trap, there's more. "They're not isolated. No one uses just one trap."

Surrey has trapped in the past, but Fox said the city has done a lot to find non-lethal measures to deal with wildlife.

"They are one of the more progressive municipalities," she said.

Fox said there are many incidents like the one in Surrey.

In Gibsons last June, Mui Mui, a black cat, was caught in a Conibear trap on a neighbouring property. The trap was attached to the fence by a hook and the cat lay ensnared between the trap's clamps. The cat survived and the vet bill was reported to be more than $1,000.

In April of this year, a three-year-old dog named Sammie was caught in a leg-hold trap while walking along a trail in West Sechelt with her owner. The veterinary bill was $680.

A six-year-old German Shepherd mix named Sasha was killed in a Conibear trap in Kelowna in 2010. "And there are many more," Fox said.

She pointed to other municipalities that have bylaws in place banning the use of certain traps.

North Vancouver has a bylaw prohibiting the use of leg-hold, snare and Conibear traps.

A Coquitlam bylaw states that no person may use a leg-hold trap in the area.

In July, Gibsons banned all body-holding traps, which is what Fox is asking Surrey to do. "This is an ongoing problem," Fox said of the traps.

"As habitat decreases for wildlife, as population expands, these traps become more and more of a concern."

At press time, Fox had not heard from council if they would be adopting her recommendations into a bylaw.

"While I appreciate the city is not currently using traps, I am confused as to why council hasn't passed a bylaw to officially outlaw the leg-hold, Conibear and snare traps."

Since 2008, Surrey has had a policy of not using animal traps, but there are no bylaw provisions banning the use by the city or anyone else.

In the fall of 2008 the city commissioned a report to investigate options for beaver management and the recommendations include the installation of beaver deceivers at select culverts and beaver exclusion fencing.

Coun. Bob Bose said he doesn't support the use of any inhumane animal traps.

He said he could see council passing a formal bylaw banning inhumane traps, and suspects administration will recommend the introduction of a simple bylaw.

"I think it's more cosmetic than anything else. But it's good to formally establish a policy through bylaws. It's easier for people to find and reference, and if there are problems you can take the appropriate action with a little more force."

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