Recently, I took my dog for a walk on a logging road that crosses a neighbor’s land. I have taken that walk often and have been doing so for 25 years. The landowners are aware of my presence and others occasionally use those trails as well.

On the afternoon I’m writing about, my dog, who was on a leash, got caught in a coyote leg hold trap. He was screaming and writhing on the ground. By the time I got him loose. I was bitten badly on the hand.

Since the incident, I have been looking pretty closely at Maine’s trapping laws. And yes, the landowner was completely within the law. Maybe so, but that kind of downright dangerous and totally inconsiderate behavior will likely doom the practice in the long run. Had I received a simple phone call, all of that could have been avoided.

If the practice of trapping ever comes up on a referendum, I know now how I will vote. And dog lovers need to watch where they walk.

Paul Robert, Hartford

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