Thursday, December 10, 2015 | NHS Staff
On Wednesday, December 9, a Nebraska Humane Society Animal Control officer was called to an Omaha alley to rescue a cat in a trap. When the officer arrived, he found a female cat writhing in pain. She was caught in the viselike grip of a heavy, steel leg hold trap that was chained to a utility pipe. The officer immediately scooped up the injured cat and rushed her back to the NHS medical team for an examination.
Once the trap was removed, NHS Veterinarians checked the leg. They felt no break on the first exam, but the leg was so swollen and abraded it was difficult to assess. “Ivy” is now resting comfortably in a kennel with cushy blankets. She is on pain medications and her leg has been stabilized with a cast. Veterinarians will again assess her leg when the swelling goes down to determine the extent of her injury.
Sadly, this is the THIRD such incident animal control has seen in the last 30 days. We remind metro residents that setting leg hold traps in the city limits of Omaha is illegal. And this incident is a vivid example of why that law exists.
While leg hold traps are legal to use in some county areas, trappers must have a fur trapping permit to use them legally.
Again the force of these traps can snap a pet’s leg, or a child’s fingers, and cause excruciating pain, hence they are illegal to set in Omaha. For Ivy’s sake—please obey the law.
KETV: Humane Society rescues cat from trap in Omaha alley »
KMTV: PHOTOS: Nebraska Humane Society rescues cat from leg trap »
WOWT: Humane Society Rescues Cat Caught in Trap »