Anti-snare campaigner's fears for missing town cats
Bryan Copland • Published 27 Oct 2011 09:21
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THE owner of a Haddington cat which was killed by a snare in March says she fears other pets may have come to harm in the traps - with reports of up to seven moggies missing from just one area of the town.
Julie Renton's four-year-old pet Tom died after being caught in a wire slipknot on Monkrigg Farm, to the south of the town.
It happened just days after MSPs had voted against a total ban on using snares in Scotland.
Julie has since become involved in the National Anti-Snaring Campaign, which fights against the sale and use of animal snares in the UK. Last month, she took part in a documentary for the campaign at her Monkmains Road home and keeps the organisation up to date with any incidents in her area.
However, she has recently been told of cats which have been missing from the town for 10 weeks.
Snares are often used on farmland by poachers or farmers as a pest control measure.
"Some people have come forward to say that their pet is missing. I know of two in Abbot's View for definite and a woman told me that there's seven missing in the Abbot's View area," Julie told the Courier.
"It happened to Tom, I'm not wanting it to happen to any other cat. I know there are reports of other cats [going missing] too.
"I am helping the National Anti-Snaring Campaign, but I would like to know how big a scale this is. Maybe a lot more pets are missing. It seems there's too much of a coincidence.
"I'm scared in case our new cat goes up to that [Monkrigg Farm] area. It's not far - it's only half a mile from the house.
"I know cats roam but they don't deserve to be caught like that, it's a horrible death. I don't think I'll ever get over what happened to Tom."
A spokeswoman for the town's Links Veterinary Group said reported cases of missing cats were no higher than usual.
Pet owners with concerns can contact Julie by emailing msdragonfly69@hotmail.co.uk or telephoning 07956 600710.
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I heard that
Unregistered User
Nov 5, 20:48
Report commentSensationalist , no??
All snares used legally in Scotland must have a devise fitted called a deerstop which prevents tightning and avoids catching non target species. It is NOT just poachers and farmers that use them, they are a valuble tool in pest control, and just as the illegal use of firearms should bear no influence on their legal use,, the same applies to snares,, used legally, they should pose no problem.
This one off incident is just that, a rare occurance. Go to any town and see cats dissapearing,, its what they do. I doubt they have all been snared !
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julie renton
Unregistered User
Nov 10, 17:03
Report commentI am not saying they have all been snared, people were asking me in the street about missing cats. Unfortunately, some have been poisoned in 2 areas of the town with 2 cats coming from the same person. 7 are missing from one area of the town. I know its a cats nature to roam, but also a puppy was taken from Haddington and was about to be sold in Musselburgh. I suggest you look at the National Anti-snaring Campaign's website and you will see just how 'rare' you think this is. There are illegal snares set all over the country, and thats the ones that need to be stopped. Its the proper snares they dont want to use as they cant bear to kill the animal themselves, so they get their ready made snare to do the job for them!!!!
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I heard that
Unregistered User
Nov 11, 01:55
Report commentSo you want to ban all legal snares ?? why, The anti snaring lot, you promote want to
and I`ve seen the "facts" that animal rights activists put on their website,, it bears little resemblence to the fact in real life!.
I would be gutted if one of my snares caught a non target species, but then I get upset when I hit certain animals with my car,, maybe I should give up driving.
I`m sorry about your cat. The people placing illegal snares should be dealt with,, using the laws already in place,, I don`t think we need any extra law.
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julie renton
Unregistered User
Nov 12, 13:29
Report commentLegal snares when used properly are an active tool in pest control, when they just hold the animal. But why is it they are set so close to housing estates where the risk is high of catching domestic pets? There is no need! Its the illegal ones i'm trying to highlight the use of! I'd have been pleased if Tom was caught in a proper one, then he would still be alive.
Maybe you should drive more carefully, I have been driving for 20 odd years and never hit any animal!
Its easy seeing its not been a pet of yours thats been caught in one. At least I have the decency to leave my name, not just an anonymous!!!!
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I heard that
Unregistered User
Nov 13, 00:58
Report commentDecency ??
No, I just won`t leave myself open to abuse from animal rights villains.
I have lost pets in the past, to traffic and other accidents, so I suspect it`s not "easy seeing"
Anyway,, I really do sympathise with you, losing a pet,, And we agree that legally set, legal type snares are not the issue,, so we won`t keep things going until an argument develops,. I sincerely hope the person who set illegal snares, and caught the poor cat , get caught and punished for it,, they put others in a bad light, and I in no way support them
ATB
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julie renton
Unregistered User
Nov 13, 16:16
Report commentThank you, i have just been trying to highlight what i found out about missing pets, and to find out how big a scale this is.
No-one deserves to lose a much loved pet, but when its out of your control in an accident, its even more devastating!
Its the illegally set snares i am campaigning about, and them being set so close to homes, its an accident waiting to happen. I dont want what happened Tom, and the devasting results it had on my family, happen to any other family! It was so unecessary.
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