End the sale of cruel glue traps
End the sale of cruel glue traps
The Issue
The retail outlet ‘Home Essentials’ in Churchgate, Hitchin currently has glue traps on sale.
These traps, although not (yet) illegal in England[1], are (a) inhumane and (b) indiscriminate. Any animal or bird that comes into contact with the trap will be stuck to it and unable to extricate itself. Glue traps, besides catching rats and mice, have caught many non-target animals and have the potential to catch many more. Some such cases are documented (with images) below:
Fox cub: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-56862589
Kitten: https://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/835659/Kitten-stuck-caught-glue-trap-cat-rescue-RSPCA
Hedgehog: https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/hedgehog-glue-traps/
As a method of catching ‘undesirable’ species such as rats or mice glue traps are unacceptably cruel. Animals caught on them suffer unimaginable distress, pain and injury as they struggle in vain to free themselves. They may rip their own skin off or chew off their own limbs. They will suffer dehydration and starvation. They may suffocate. What is certain is that they will suffer a long, painful and highly distressing death. Even accepting that, to some, it is necessary to catch and/or kill rats or mice glue traps are by far the cruellest method; no animal deserves to be put through such a horrific ordeal.
Wildlife Welfare in Stevenage have, in recent years, treated a mouse and a robin that have been caught on glue traps, both of which were lucky to survive but needed months of care.
The British Veterinary Association has stated that glue traps are inhumane and that they should not be sold to the public[2].
I have spoken twice to a member of staff in the Hitchin shop, most recently earlier in December 2021 when I told him that although I had items on my shopping list that I could have obtained in his shop I had no intention of buying anything there whilst the shop continues to sells glue traps. His defence was that “B&Q sell them”. They don’t. Nor do a growing number of other UK outlets.
The RSPCA, who oppose the use of glue traps, have written to the shop manager asking that glue traps be removed from sale.
Despite this on 16 December 2021 glue traps were still on display in ‘Home Essentials’ so I have started this petition to the Directors of the company that own the shop to ask them to take the humane course and remove them permanently from sale in this shop and in any other outlets that they own or manage.
If you feel, as I do, that these traps are unacceptably cruel and do not wish to see them on sale in Hitchin or anywhere else please sign and share this petition. Thank you.
The header picture on this petition is taken from https://www.facebook.com/RSPCA/photos/a.76251508046/10160412032923047/ , reproduced with permission.
1] There have been a number of unsuccessful attempts in the past to ban them. The government’s response in April 2021 can be found here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/560288 A new Bill has been introduced but this has not yet been debated or voted on. It allegedly has government support but there is no guarantee that it will pass: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-backs-bill-banning-the-use-of-glue-traps-for-pest-control
[2] https://www.bva.co.uk/media/1159/rodent-glue-traps.pdf
Further information:
https://www.politicshome.com/ugc-1/1/36/0/wildlife_hsi_uk_glue-trap-report1.pdf
https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/deterrents
2,549
The Issue
The retail outlet ‘Home Essentials’ in Churchgate, Hitchin currently has glue traps on sale.
These traps, although not (yet) illegal in England[1], are (a) inhumane and (b) indiscriminate. Any animal or bird that comes into contact with the trap will be stuck to it and unable to extricate itself. Glue traps, besides catching rats and mice, have caught many non-target animals and have the potential to catch many more. Some such cases are documented (with images) below:
Fox cub: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-56862589
Kitten: https://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/835659/Kitten-stuck-caught-glue-trap-cat-rescue-RSPCA
Hedgehog: https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/hedgehog-glue-traps/
As a method of catching ‘undesirable’ species such as rats or mice glue traps are unacceptably cruel. Animals caught on them suffer unimaginable distress, pain and injury as they struggle in vain to free themselves. They may rip their own skin off or chew off their own limbs. They will suffer dehydration and starvation. They may suffocate. What is certain is that they will suffer a long, painful and highly distressing death. Even accepting that, to some, it is necessary to catch and/or kill rats or mice glue traps are by far the cruellest method; no animal deserves to be put through such a horrific ordeal.
Wildlife Welfare in Stevenage have, in recent years, treated a mouse and a robin that have been caught on glue traps, both of which were lucky to survive but needed months of care.
The British Veterinary Association has stated that glue traps are inhumane and that they should not be sold to the public[2].
I have spoken twice to a member of staff in the Hitchin shop, most recently earlier in December 2021 when I told him that although I had items on my shopping list that I could have obtained in his shop I had no intention of buying anything there whilst the shop continues to sells glue traps. His defence was that “B&Q sell them”. They don’t. Nor do a growing number of other UK outlets.
The RSPCA, who oppose the use of glue traps, have written to the shop manager asking that glue traps be removed from sale.
Despite this on 16 December 2021 glue traps were still on display in ‘Home Essentials’ so I have started this petition to the Directors of the company that own the shop to ask them to take the humane course and remove them permanently from sale in this shop and in any other outlets that they own or manage.
If you feel, as I do, that these traps are unacceptably cruel and do not wish to see them on sale in Hitchin or anywhere else please sign and share this petition. Thank you.
The header picture on this petition is taken from https://www.facebook.com/RSPCA/photos/a.76251508046/10160412032923047/ , reproduced with permission.
1] There have been a number of unsuccessful attempts in the past to ban them. The government’s response in April 2021 can be found here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/560288 A new Bill has been introduced but this has not yet been debated or voted on. It allegedly has government support but there is no guarantee that it will pass: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-backs-bill-banning-the-use-of-glue-traps-for-pest-control
[2] https://www.bva.co.uk/media/1159/rodent-glue-traps.pdf
Further information:
https://www.politicshome.com/ugc-1/1/36/0/wildlife_hsi_uk_glue-trap-report1.pdf
https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/deterrents
2,549
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Petition created on 19 December 2021