It never ceases to amaze how people treat animals. There’s: dog/cock fighting, factory farming (awful living conditions), unnecessary lab experiments (for cosmetics), rodeos, bear traps, seal clubbing (for fur), hunting for sport, closet-like living conditions for calves awaiting slaughter for veal, and the list goes on and on. Here is yet another one: glue traps (or glue boards).
A mouse, rat, bird, snake, etc. is trapped on an adhesive and rendered immobile. It then suffers from a slow and agonizing death. Details about the suffering these things cause and other relevant information can be found on the Humane Society of the United States web site (search "glue boards").
It should be noted that all mammals have similar nervous systems that are capable of experiencing the same type of pain and suffering. Thus, rodents suffer as much as any other mammal and are capable of being traumatized and abused.
Now let’s back up here. Someone actually manufactures and sells and buys and uses these things? Now I’m going to assume that these people have some semblance of common sense and therefore must have some idea of the suffering these traps cause. They must know that there are humane traps like spring traps, electrical traps and catch and release traps. So why do they do it?
There is at least one business in Fair Oaks that sell glue traps, . The manager or owner of these types of businesses should be informed or reminded about the inhumane nature of glue traps and be asked to remove these things from their shelves. In some countries glue trap sales and use are regulated.
In Ireland it is illegal to import, possess, sell or offer for sale glue traps. If other countries can see and act upon the cruelty of glue traps, why can’t we? I know how badly humans can treat one another. That cruelty extends to animals as well but with one big difference. Animals cannot communicate their need for help. We need to go to bat for them and a good place to start is with these monstrous glue traps.
Please read the HSUS article. The last part mentions ways in which you can help prevent the spread and use of these things.
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be measured by the way in which its animals are treated." -Mohandas Gandhi
