Humane Society warns of crushing trap dangers - And trappers offer their retort!

Check out this Letter to the Editor sent to the Albany Times Union from the Humane Society of the United States:

On behalf of nearly 800,000 members and supporters in New York, The Humane Society of the United States heartily applauds the state Department of Environmental Conservation and Commissioner Grannis for creating a public safety buffer zone free of body-crushing traps within 100 feet of public trails.

Residents should be able to observe and enjoy the great outdoors without fear of these traps, which have killed family pets and pose a mortal danger to children. Body-crushing traps are designed to slam shut with enough force to break the victim’s spinal cord, but often strangle or crush to death the animal. These powerful metal devices are nearly impossible to remove and are land mines for animals, closing rapidly on any creature who haplessly trigger them.

Legally, dogs under voice command can be off-leash. However, leashes are not a preventative tool in these cases. Dogs who move their noses and heads within the vicinity of a trap, whether on or off leash, will be caught and killed.

It is absolutely astonishing to read that J. Cea (letter, Jan. 14) claims the general public takes financial “advantage” of trappers. In fact, residents and taxpayers fund the DEC through the state budget; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Report notes that wildlife observers outspend consumptive users. Thanks to the adoption of regulations by Commissioner Grannis and the DEC, we can all breathe a little easier next time we go for a walk in the woods.

DORA SCHOMBERG

The Humane Society of the United States

NYS Program Coordinator

Albany Letter was found here.

Note: The image above is of a leg-hold trap, not a body-crushing trap. All the body-crushing trap pictures I could find either didn’t have an animal in it or were disturbingly bloody. This picture is mild, when compared to most others I found.

Now, a word from the nation’s trappers:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF8oIKLlBsI&rel=1]

Tagged as: Albany, Dogs, Fur, Humane Society, New York, Pets, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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