Montreal, July 11, 2012 – Yesterday morning, a cat, who we have named named Botté , was rushed to the SPCA facility with its paw caught in a steel jaw leg hold trap. The cat caught one of his front paw in a steel jaw leg hold trap that was set under a balcony in Montreal North. This type of trap is used predominantly by hunters and trappers to catch beavers, muskrats and lynx.
Botté was found badly injured, his paw was massively swollen and in great pain. He had to undergo emergency treatment from the SPCA’s veterinary team. “What makes matters worse,” said Alanna Devine, Director of Animal Welfare, SPCA, “is that these steel jaw leg hold trap are considered legal and “humane” by the Minister of Natural Resources and Fauna for the purposes of hunting. Each year thousands of animals are caught in these types of traps and suffer greatly before they eventually succumb to death from their injuries or are picked up by the trapper/hunter who set the trap”
The SPCA will be pursuing an investigation to find out who set this trap and to determine whether criminal charges can be laid. If you have any information that may help please contact our Inspection department at inspection@spca.com
“It is outrageous,” said Nicholas Gilman, Executive Director of the SPCA, “that the law allows these kinds of traps to be used on helpless animals. The SPCA stands in opposition to these traps which are inhumane to all animals. ‘’
– 30 –
Media Contact: Alanna Devine 514.735.2711, ext 2245, or adevine@spca.com
