No to trapping: let's protect our animals and our homes

At the beginning of December, as winter sets in and the cold makes every danger more tangible, I was deeply shocked to learn what is happening in Rimouski. In residential areas located very close to homes, pets have died after being caught in traps set by trappers, sometimes just a few meters from houses. Cats and dogs, loved and identified, have been found dead in unbearable conditions for their families.

One of them, the cat Ferrero, died in a trap set in a wooded area near the Sainte-Odile neighbourhood. Other animals have met the same fate. These tragedies are not isolated accidents: they are the direct consequence of a serious regulatory gap. Outside urbanization perimeters, no minimum distance is imposed between traps and residences. In other words, potentially deadly devices can be installed literally at the citizens' doorsteps, without adequate signage, without possible municipal control, and without real protection for animals… or for humans.

The municipal elected officials of Rimouski themselves acknowledge their powerlessness. The City has prohibited trapping within its urban perimeter since 2018, but as soon as one crosses this administrative boundary, it has no authority, even when houses, backyards, and paths frequented by families and children are just steps away. This absurd and dangerous situation has led the municipal council to officially request the Quebec government to take action.

This issue goes far beyond animal welfare. It is now a public safety issue. Citizens have expressed it clearly: if a cat or dog can be caught in these traps, what about a child exploring their environment, a walker, or a hiker? These traps are often invisible, silent, hidden in natural areas accessible to all. It is unacceptable that no rules govern their installation near living spaces.

I refuse to accept that pets die in suffering due to insufficient or non-existent rules. I refuse to be told that bereaved families can do nothing because the trap was "just outside" an administrative boundary. I refuse to let the law protect practices without protecting the living beings who suffer the consequences.

Through this petition, I ask the Quebec government, and in particular the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, to take immediate and concrete measures.

I request the establishment of a mandatory minimum distance between any residence and the installation of traps, in order to create a real safety buffer around inhabited areas, whether they are officially urban or not.

I request a clear tightening of trapping regulations, to prevent domestic animals, as well as humans, from being exposed to avoidable dangers in frequented areas.

I request the obligation of visible and explicit signage indicating the presence of traps in an area, so that citizens can at least be informed of the risks.

Finally, I request that the protection of pets be fully integrated into regulatory decisions, recognizing that they are part of our families and our daily lives, and that they cannot be sacrificed in the name of legal grey areas.

This situation is neither normal nor acceptable. It can be corrected. It must be corrected. Municipal elected officials have done their part by calling on Quebec. It is now up to the provincial authorities to take responsibility.

If you sign this petition, you affirm that animal life matters. You affirm that the safety of citizens does not stop at a line on a map. You affirm that clear rules must exist to prevent such tragedies from happening again.

I invite you to sign and share this petition so that no animal, and no human, is exposed to these invisible dangers near their home.

Photo: Radio Canada