Published 4:24 pm Friday, October 23, 2026
By Rebecca Dyok/Williams Lake Tribune
Berta, a five-year-old Maremma livestock guardian dog, was discovered dead in a baited snare near her home west of Williams Lake. (Photo submitted)
“If I would have known the dangers in my backyard, maybe she would have been able to be saved,” is the thought that keeps coming back to Victoria Savile of Williams Lake as she calls for change after her family’s beloved dog, Berta, was killed in a baited snare not far from their home.
Savile has recently joined The Fur-Bearers, a Canadian wildlife protection charity dedicated to protecting fur-bearing animals through conservation, advocacy, research and education. She’s also working with Nicole Trigg whose dog, Moon, was killed by a baited trap off a public service road in the East Kootenays earlier this year.
Berta died after becoming entangled in the trap Savile said was set not far from their property in the Pablo Creek area west of Williams Lake, in an area she has ridden her horses, hiked and hunted for the past eight years.
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Savile had never seen a snare, bait or been told a trapping line was present until Berta’s body was discovered on Sunday, Oct. 18 by a neighbour out quadding.
In shock and overcome with emotion that morning, Savile called the RAPP (Report All Poachers and Polluters) line and in less than an hour conservation officers arrived to remove the trap from Berta, who had failed to return home earlier this month.
“I couldn’t go and find her by myself,” Savile wept.
She said officers helped load Berta’s body into her and her family’s truck, which they brought back home to bury in their backyard.
Berta was a five-year-old Maremma livestock guardian dog adopted in Alberta who Savile described as a great protector in keeping predators away and everyone safe, including their neighbour’s sheep and goats.
Her family loved calling her ‘Dirty Bert’ due to the fact her pure white coat was always stained by dirt that no one knew where from.
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“She was an absolute sweetheart and her life was taken from us,” Savile said.
In a media release, The Fur-Bearers said records obtained through freedom of information requests have documented 100 incidents involving pets caught in wildlife traps in B.C. between 2015 and 2023.
That number, the organization believes, is likely higher as not all incidents are reported.
According to a letter shared online by the BC Trappers Association, the BC Government engaged with the association in July and August 2025 on a proposal to require the use of signage in prescribed areas where people are, or are likely to be, to mitigate potential injuries to the public and pets.
The letter signed by the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship further notes through engagement concerns were expressed regarding the specifics of where signs would be required, the necessity of discretion to both comply and enforce the regulation and the requirement for sign standards and placement. Interest groups also expressed concerns around sign vandalism/theft and the implications of those incidents to regulatory compliance and enforcement.
“Given the feedback received, the Province is considering an alternate approach to reduce the likelihood of pets or persons being caught in traps,” the Sept. 4. letter read.
Three proposed regulatory changes were released, including prohibiting the use of all killing traps and foothold traps within B.C. parks front country areas, 30 metres of the right-of-way of a forest service road or highway and one-kilometre of BC Parks campground or day-use area and the developed portion of a Ministry of Forests Recreation Site or Trail. Permits according to the ministry would be available to allow for the use of killing traps and foothold traps set on land within these prohibited areas for the purpose of trapping nuisance wildlife.
The BC Government also proposed requiring trappers to install signs notifying the public of active trapping on all lands within municipal boundaries, and reporting on any domestic animals incidentally caught in traps.
On their website, the BC Trappers Association states its board has completed a full review and submitted a formal response.
“The board CANNOT and WILL NOT support the proposals as presented,” the webpage reads, noting a lack of engagement and evidence in addition to operational and practical concerns.
While The Fur-Bearers notes the proposed reforms now face uncertainty following the dissolution of the B.C. legislature on Sept. 22 ahead of the Saturday, Oct. 24 provincial election, they’re calling for the proposed safeguards to remain a priority for the next provincial government.
Savile will also be adding her voice to that call.
“There’s nothing to warn the public about kill snares being set in our area, so something needs to change in the B.C. laws around trapping,” Savile said, adding she is worried about letting their other three dogs outside.
She’s certain if it wasn’t Berta that lost her life, another dog would have.
“It’s so wrong.”
B.C. Conservation Officer Service (COS) confirmed conservation officers are investigating, adding they are unable to release further details at this time.
There are active trapping seasons throughout the fall and winter in various areas of the province, COS also noted.
