It never ceases to amaze how people treat animals. There is: dog/cock fighting, factory farming (awful living conditions), unnecessary lab experiments (e.g. cosmetics), rodeos, bear traps, seal clubbing (for fur), hunting for sport, closet-like living conditions for calves and pigs awaiting slaughter, and the list goes on and on.
One particularly cruel example are glue traps. The trapped rodent (and sometimes other creatures like birds, snakes and lizards) suffers from dehydration, exhaustion, exposure, suffocation and starvation prior to death. Attacking insects (including fleas) make the torment even worse. During the struggle to escape, they may pull out their own hair thus exposing bare, raw areas of skin and the glue can injure their eyes. Sometimes glue lodges in their nasal passages and they suffocate to death. They may even resort to biting off their own leg(s) to free themselves. They may also die of exhaustion resulting from prolonged struggling to escape. The rodents also defecate and urinate, because of severe stress and fear, and become covered with their own excrement (exposure to humans being a health concern). The rodent suffers for about three to five days before it dies. And finally, if still alive, they have been known to cry loudly when the boards are collected.
It should be noted that all mammals have similar nervous systems. They are capable of experiencing the same type of fear, pain and suffering. Thus, rodents suffer as much as any other mammal and are capable of being traumatized and abused.
In some countries glue trap sales and use are regulated. The state of Victoria in Australia restricts their use to commercial pest control operators. Other jurisdictions have banned glue trap use entirely. In Ireland it is illegal to import, possess, sell or offer for sale unauthorized traps, including glue traps. If other countries can see and act upon the cruelty of glue traps, why can’t we? Is it that we place convenience (glue trapsare reportedly easy to set up) over more humane methods of extermination? Or is it simply that some people condone cruelty upon animals that are viewed as food or pests?
There are humane traps: The old fashion spring loaded traps, “Jaws” or “Jawz” Traps and electric shock traps. They are effective killers with the death being immediate. The carcass can easily be removed and the trap re-used. There are also capture devices allowing transportation and release to another location. An article from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) reads: "Glue boards (also known as glue traps) might seem like a safe solution to ridding your home of uninvited guests of the crawling, flying or scurrying sort but they are the cruelest."
Here are some ways you can help prevent the spread and use of glue traps: 1) If your local hardware, home improvement, or grocery store sells glue traps inform the store manager or owner, via mail, phone or in person, that these devices are inhumane and explain why. 2) If you find glue traps advertised on a website, email the website manager and address humane concerns. 3) If your property manager/condo association has contracted for rodent control, ask what methods the contractor will use and discourage glue trap use. 4) Send letters-to-the-editor and articles to newspapers and web sites discouraging the use of these traps. 5) Distribute/ post flyers at public locations. 6) Contact or join an animal rights organization(s) and support/start an effort to ban glue traps. 7) Complain to distributors and manufacturers of glue traps. 8) Spread the word by any means possible (feel free to use this article).
It is sad that an overpowering desire for convenience in our society could create such a thing as a glue trap. And it is doubly sad that someone, knowledgeable of the suffering this device causes, would still manufacture, sell or use such a thing.
Please see other articles at www.stevesanimalwelfare.info
