Cat owner horrified as beloved pet gets caught in deadly snare metres from home
“I’m not just mad, I’m upset. It has blown my mind that someone could be so deliberately cruel.”
A cat owner from Bolton has been left horrified after his beloved pet got caught in a snare.
Russell Walton’s two-year-old Bengal cross Simba was out exploring near his home in Cox Green Road, Egerton, on Tuesday night (July 20).
Mr Walton heard screams and called Simba in, but when the cat returned, he had a wire snare wrapped tight around his body.
“Fuming doesn’t even come close,” he said.
“He’s a big soft lump who wouldn’t do any harm to anyone or anything so why someone would want to harm him, I have no idea. I’m just hoping he wasn’t the target.
“What’s really worrying is that this happened very close to home as he doesn’t go far.
“I’m not just mad, I’m upset. It has blown my mind that someone could be so deliberately cruel.”
Mr Walton told the Manchester Evening News that the incident left Simba distressed.
He added: “He has shock and he has a couple of small bald spots from the where the wire went tight around his middle. I only thank God it wasn’t round his neck.
“He was in shock for a good hour, panting heavily and panicking every time I went near him.”
Snares are legal to catch certain wild animals but there are strict conditions, which are in place to prevent non-target animals getting harmed.
An RSPCA spokesman said: “This sounds like a very distressing incident and we are pleased to hear the poor cat was not seriously hurt despite his ordeal.
“There are strict legal conditions on setting certain types of traps and if they are not set in the right way non-target animals, like this cat, can get injured or even killed. If this happens the person setting the trap could potentially be committing an offence.
“The RSPCA is opposed to the manufacture, sale and use of all snares – which are sadly legal to catch certain wild animals – and any trap which causes suffering.
“Snares can’t distinguish between animals and it is thought that many snared animals are not the intended species.
“Anyone with information about who set the snare should call the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018.”
