PETS IN Scotland are in danger from snares, warned animal protection organisation Advocates for Animals at the start of National Pet Month (Saturday 5 April).
Since Advocates for Animals and the League Against Cruel Sports launched their campaign to ban snares, Hanging is still legal in Scotland, earlier this year, the groups have received a significant number of messages from people devastated by the death, mutilation or loss of a beloved pet due to a snare. These incidents confirm the entirely unselective and cruel nature of snares.
Among the tragic tales was the story of Tigger the cat, who went missing near Scone for nearly a week. Despite desperate attempts to find her she did not return. On the 7th day a neighbour phoned to say that she thought that Tigger was caught in her fence. They found her hanging upside down, caught by her hindquarters. Despite immediate veterinary attention, she died soon after being released. Tigger’s owner said: ‘Tigger had been caught up in the snare for days and as it was at the bottom of the garden inside a hedge, nobody had heard her cries for help. A most distressing and heartbreaking time.’
After being missing for four days a cat called Greeny was found in great pain and distress. His owner recalled: ‘I noticed his right paw had been injured and was covered in blood, on closer inspection I realised his paw was no longer there. I thought Greeny must have lost his paw in a collision with a car… until the vet explained to me he had actually been caught in a snare, meant for a fox. Greeny had chewed off his own paw in order to escape the snare and had managed to return home to me. I was absolutely appalled and could not believe these types of traps were still legal.’
Another supporter wrote: ‘Within the last 2 days, I had a personal experience (not the first time) of my Labrador dog being caught by the nose in such a device not 20 yards from a public path. Her state when I reached her, within a few minutes, was pitiful…The practice is clearly still widespread in our rural area in the name of ‘pest control’ for the benefit of pheasant shooting.’
In December 2007, a Scottish SPCA report showed that companion animals accounted for a shocking 17 per cent of a total of 269 animals reported as having been caught in snares. More than half of all the animals reported were either found dead in the snare or had to be put down.
Advocates for Animals’ Campaigns Director, Ross Minett, said: ‘We already knew that people’s pets were falling victim to these dreadful traps. But we have been shocked by the number of heart-rending stories that have recently come to our attention. To us, the suffering of wild animals in snares is enough reason to ban them - foxes and rabbits can suffer just as much as cats and dogs. But if anyone is in any doubt, they should listen to the voices of people who have seen the suffering of a beloved family pet.
‘We advise pet owners to take care, particularly when walking dogs in the countryside or on the fringes of the town.
‘There are more of these stories on our website at www.bansnares. com. Anyone who has an experience to share, and by doing so, to help to prevent other people and their pets suffering in the same way, should contact us at info@bansnares.com or call 0131-225 6039.’
The campaign to ban snares in Scotland has received the support of the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, the Dogs Trust and the Kennel Club, as well as many wildlife organisations.
Despite strong public support for a ban on snares, the Scottish Minister for Environment Michael Russell MSP announced in February that he intended to allow snaring to continue. However, Advocates for Animals and other animal welfare, rescue and conservation organisations have vowed to continue to campaign until these cruel and indiscriminate traps are banned.
