CAUTION: Graphic image
An Aberdeenshire cat owner thought her family pet had actually been “cut in two” after he was discovered with dreadful injuries after being caught in a snare for 5 days.
Marion Brownlie’s family pet, Harry, was discovered collapsed in a field near his home in St Cyrus after he had actually been missing out on for 5 days.
He had actually had the ability to drag himself to safety, however it is believed that the ginger-and-white cat might have been caught in the snare throughout the time he had actually been missing out on.
Having validated his injuries were brought on by a snare, veterinarians performed surgical treatment to fix a deep injury ranging from hip to hip throughout Harry’s abdominal areas.
He was later on able to return home however required to be restricted to a cage for rest throughout his healing.
Marion said: “Harry had actually been missing out on for 5 days when my child identified him – she might see he remained in a bad method and I hurried over.
“We found him collapsed in a field and it was like something from a nightmare – I was afraid to pick him up as it looked as though he’d been cut in two.”
While Harry was still alive when he was required to the veterinarian, Marion was informed that his possibilities of survival were 50/50.
Cats ProtectionMarion included: “The veterinarian might inform that Harry need to have been caught for a long time, and he needs to have remained in pain.
“There is no other way he might have left the snare on his own, so we can just presume that whoever laid the snare had actually launched him, however we’ll never ever understand. It’s too dreadful to consider him caught like that – he’s a family animal, loved by all of us including my young grandchildren.
“I can’t quite believe he managed to survive the injuries – it was the most horrific thing I’ve ever seen. But so far he is doing well, and we’re just keeping everything crossed that he continues to recover.”
She has actually now signed up with a campaign, led by animal charity Cats Protection, which is requiring snares to be prohibited in Scotland.
Snares are quickly to be prohibited in Wales under the Agriculture (Wales) Bill which is awaiting its last.
“I was absolutely staggered to find out that these snares are legal. Anyone who saw the state Harry was in would agree that snares are completely inhumane – no animal should be left to suffer such agony for so long. I can’t see how snares can be justified at all – it’s plain cruelty and must be banned,” she included.
After finding Harry hurt, Marion had actually very first called Dr Elspeth Stirling, a volunteer from Cats Protection’s Arbroath and District Branch, for guidance.
Dr Stirling said: “I’ve been a volunteer for Cats Protection for over 25 years and this is the worst case of needless suffering I’ve come across. What makes this even more distressing is that snares are still legal but Harry’s case clearly shows how incredibly cruel and inhumane they are.”
Cats Protection’s advocacy and federal government relations officer for Scotland, Alice Palombo said: “Cats Protection is campaigning for a straight-out restriction on snares like the one which Harry was captured in. As Harry’s story programs, snares are vicious, inhumane and trigger substantial discomfort and suffering to any animal they catch.
“It’s tough to explain Harry as lucky, as he needs to have suffered inconceivable discomfort, however the good news is he did endure and get home. Many animals captured in snares – whether they’re wildlife or family pet cats – will rather suffer a long, lonesome and agonizing death.
“Snares and similar devices have no place in a modern society and we will continue to campaign for them to be banned.”
