Illegal Gin Trap Injures Domestic Cat

The owners of a cat in the College Road area are lucky their cat survived. Found wandering with the device attached to its leg, they were horrified to discover that an illegal gin trap was the cause of serious damage.

Used by farmers, gamekeepers and gardeners, they caused massive damage to small animals before being made illegal in 1958.

The cat was found on the south side of Alexandra Road, so the trap was presumably set somewhere in the vicinity of Alexandra Road, Copse Edge Avenue. Albert Road or on the Alexandra allotment site. The cat owners want local residents to know the damage and worry this has caused, in the hope that whoever is responsible realises using such a device is unacceptable. They said "Fortunately, he was found by a caring and selfless woman who lives on the south side of Alexandra Road. He was cowering in her back garden. This is 200-300 yards from ours, in a diagonal line. She stayed with Dennis, who is less than a year old, for an hour until her vet arrived. Her actions prevented serious damage to his leg, kept him warm and saved his life. The vet was very clear about this. Sadly, the toe has been amputated. There is soft tissue damage to two others. "

If you know who is responsible, rest assured that the cat owners do not want prosecution. Please contact Cllr Julie Morris with any information.