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FILLMORE, Utah (AP) -- A Fillmore couple has filed a tort claim with the U.S. Department of Agriculture after their dog was killed by a cyanide bomb used as part of the agency's predator control program in western states.
Sharyn and Tony Aguiar's 2-year-old German shepherd, Max, was with Sharyn at the Millard County rock quarry in April, when he disappeared for just minutes and was found dead, a pink foamy substance emanating from his mouth.
Sharyn Aguiar now wants the USDA to discontinues use of the meat-scented cyanide bombs, also known as M-44s.
"At first I just wanted to go out and post a sign that says 'Watch your dog on public land,' " she said. "Now, I want more than a sign. I want this stuff banned."
The intended target of the USDA's bombs are coyotes that have harassed or killed sheep grazing on public lands.
But Max isn't the first family pet to fall victim to the device, and that's sparked a backlash among environmentalists and dog owners.
"They're like land mines waiting to go off," says Brooks Fahy, executive director of the Oregon-based environmental group Predator Defense. "And this isn't just happening in Oregon and Utah. It's happening all over the place. And every time, I hear the same thing. The owners have never heard of these devices. I believe hundreds, if not thousands of dogs have been and continue to be killed by these things."
USDA officials acknowledge it was likely their trap that killed Max and said the devices were set some weeks earlier at the request of a rancher.
But they call such events are rare, and said warning signs were posted in the area. Federal law requires signs be posted both at road intersections near trap areas and within 25 feet of the traps.
"I'm genuinely sorry this happened. I really am. This is the thing we work very hard to avoid," says Michael Bodenchuk, the department's wildlife services director for Utah.
The Aguiars said they've never seen warning signs -- not on the day Max was killed, nor in the 20 years they've been combing the desert for their rock wholesale business in Fillmore.
They couple said they went back to the quarry after Max's death to photograph the area and found a small red paper pinned to some sagebrush that sported a cyanide warning. Nearby was a dead coyote.
Bodenchuk said the sign was likely one left behind after quarry area traps and warnings were removed following notification of Max's death.
In their UDSA claim, the Aguiars are seeking $1,500 in damages. It's unclear how or when the matter will be resolved.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
