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A sad reminder about leghold traps You can speak up for animals
One of our own staff members found her beloved cat Roscoe, dragging his front leg along, still inside the jaws of a steel trap (shown in the photo). He had managed to break the ground restraint chain but in the process fractured his front leg and broke two of his toes. Roscoe will require surgery and time to mend and as horrible as this is, he is probably lucky that he was not found by the person who set the trap. In the U.S., there are three to five million animals caught, injured and killed in these types of traps. This number does not include the non-target animals, like cats and dogs and endangered animals that are referred to as incidental trappings. Currently 8 states have banned inhumane forms of trapping but many states, like Michigan, allow this cruel practice to continue. There are many types of traps but the one most commonly used is the leghold, steel trap where the weight of the animal’s leg triggers the trap to clamp down causing enormous pain and often fracturing bone. Trapped animals frantically pull trying to free themselves which causes blood loss and further harm. Animals may be left for days, starving, and in pain and terror until the hunter returns to kill him or her, often by bludgeoning as to not damage the animal’s fur pelt. The American Veterinary Medical Association is just one of many groups whooppose the use of steel-jawed leghold traps. Currently they are banned in more than 80 countries. They can be outlawed at the city, county, state or national level. Please let your elected representatives know how you feel about this incredibly inhumane and unnecessary form of hunting. Your voice is critical to protecting the most vulnerable among us. For more information you can go to bancrueltraps.com. |
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Monday we received a harsh reminder on the cruelty of steel-jawed leghold traps that we wanted to share so you too can help speak out for animals.