Trap-Hurt Cat Needs A Home

Trap-hurt cat needs a home

Caring people in the Whitmore Lake area saved Molly from becoming a fatal statistic in the file of victims of leghold traps at the Humane Society of Huron Valley. Now she needs a home.

The young female tabby cat was brought three weeks ago to the Humane Society shelter at 3100 Cherry Hill Road, where her crushed paw was treated by shelter veterinarian Dr. Bette Brockman.

Shelter director Diane Fowler said the shelter gets two to three animals a week who have been maimed by leghold traps. “I have a gruesome file on animals who have been brought in with leghold traps on their bodies."

She said people set traps behind their house or across a creek not realizing that “this isn’t the great up north.” “When these animals are brought in, most are totally emaciated and almost dead. Many times the leg has begun to rot off.

Leghold traps set in southeast Michigan are set by weekend trappers and kids, the director said. “That’s why we have so many abominable injuries to animals. They don’t know what they are doing. Not only is leghold trapping cruel but they are amateurs.”

There is currently no state legislation prohibiting or limiting the use of leghold traps, although the city of Ann Arbor bans their use.

Molly’s bandages have been taken off and the paw is healing, although it is crushed. Anyone interested in adopting her should contact the shelter at 662-5585.