A B.C. couple is mourning the loss of a dog and raising the alarm about traplines on public land after their husky was fatally injured earlier this month.

On the morning of Jan. 9, Sean Boxall and his husky Moon headed out for a hike just outside of Radium Hot Springs — a B.C. village southwest of Banff, Alta.

It was a stretch of road they had visited previously, unaware of the danger just metres off the path.

“I thought I knew the area well, and yeah, it turns out I didn’t,” Boxall told CityNews.

Within moments of exiting his vehicle, Boxall says Moon was drawn to something on the edge of the forest.

By the time he noticed a trapping sign, partially hidden by a layer of snow, it was too late.

Moon had triggered a baited Conibear trap — a spring-loaded device intended to swiftly kill an animal for its pelt. But Boxall’s experience was hardly quick as he fought, unsuccessfully, to save Moon’s life.

“His terror and panic was evident. And I saw it for a few minutes, and my panic and terror was almost as equal, trying to free him.”

The frantic scramble left Boxall bloodied, requiring stitches. He was left questioning what could’ve been.

“I just continue to think about him and those last few moments of his life… What could’ve I done? It’s hard not to blame yourself. People say, ‘Don’t blame yourself,’ but you think about it.”

It’s a pain that he and his partner, Nicole Trigg, wouldn’t wish on anyone, but one that many others have faced.

Data obtained by the wildlife conservation group The Furbearers shows that in the past decade, more than 100 pets have been killed by commercial traps.

Boxall and Trigg are now joining the call to ban trap lines on public land.

“The rest of us should be able to recreate on our shared Crown Land that our tax dollars are going towards — with our animals, with our pets,” said Trigg.

“And our children,” added Boxall.

“People are like, “Your dog should’ve been on a leash.” But should we have a curious kid on a leash, too?”

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service has confirmed it has investigated the incident, and found the trap that killed Moon was legal, and the trapper was properly licensed, noting the trapper had also installed warning signs, which were not required.

But Trigg says an obscured sign, left covered in snow, isn’t a sufficient warning.

“If you have a stop sign, it has to be unobstructed; it has to be visible. But these trap signs: there is no standard, there’s no requirement,” she said.

A petition in support of stricter trapping regulations has already garnered over 2,500 signatures online. While it won’t bring Moon back, the couple hopes their loss can spare others from facing a similar fate.

“Some dogs are special, and Moon, Moon was special.”