The Police and Environment Department are asking for public assistance in preventing the use of illegal rabbit snares. Rabbit snares were recently recovered by the Police from common land at Chouet, following a report from a member of the public who had seen a man setting them. The four snares were of thin coiled wire attached to a short wooden stake.
A spokesperson for the Police said, “It was fortunate that a member of the public was able to give the Police information to enable the snares to be retrieved quickly and our investigations continue. It is illegal to set, or to be in possession of any snares in Guernsey and we would ask the public to contact us if they witness anyone setting snares or rabbit traps anywhere on the island.”
A spokesperson for the Environment Department said, “The Department was very disturbed to learn that snares had been set on the common land at Chouet. The island’s coastal grass lands are heavily used by people walking dogs and rabbit snares can cause significant distress and injury to both domestic animals and wildlife. Setting snares is highly irresponsible in areas used by the public and is to be deplored.”
Below is an incident and story that the GSPCA dealt with in November 2011 -
A very traumatised owner had to remove a snare from her pet cat this week.
The ‘rabbit’ snare had pulled itself tightly round the cats tummy and she had only avoided severe injury or possibly death, because it had become detached from the tree or stake where it had been set. This type of snare can inflict agonising pain and often result in the death of any animal unlucky enough to find itself trapped in the wire.
The snares do not discriminate between species and any animal that moves through the noose is a potential victim. The snared animal can be caught by the neck or trapped by a leg or round the body. Once caught, the animal panics and struggles to free itself but the more it struggles, the tighter the noose becomes; the tighter the noose, the greater the animal's struggle and suffering. Victims of snares may die of strangulation or they may weaken, stop struggling and starve to death or be killed by predators. Sometimes an animal succeeds in pulling the snare away from the anchor, it escapes with the wire still firmly attached to it and then dies from its injuries or because it cannot fend for itself.
It is an offence to use such snares in Guernsey and we want to warn members of the public that if they see any snares they should remove them and inform the GSPCA.
We have informed the police with regards this incident but if anyone has any information to please come forward.
Seafront Sunday Mascot Race Details
Roary the GFC Lion, Daniel the Donkey from Island FM and Bernard the GSPCA Mascot Dog recently warmed up with 12 friends for the Animal Welfare Seafront Sunday Mascot Race on the 9th September.
We are asking businesses, pubs, groups or anyone that would like to get involved with the race to help the animals of Guernsey for a minimum donation of £100. We will supply a costume for a staff member or budding volunteer to take part and they will get a chance to enter a wheelie bin race and normal race along the Seafront from 1pm on the day.
Corporate sponsors and businesses get to choose their suit or if they wish to provide their own it must be an animal and we still require the application form completed with the minimum sponsorship.
There are lots of events happening during the Animal Welfare Seafront Sunday from a fun dog show, arts and crafts stalls, live music, bouncy castles, kids games, food stalls, picture competitions, doggy dancing and much more.
We are still looking for those interested in having a stall to get in touch with [email protected] call 01481 257261 or visit http://www.gspca.org.gg/page/animal-welfare-sea-front-sunday for more details
Forms can be downloaded below to apply for the Mascot Race. When you have sent the £100 in and the form is complete a member of the Shelter staff will contact you to discuss options of the suits available. So far Bernard, Daniel and Roary have 6 competitors and we are looking for more.
Photos of the many suits to appear very soon.
For an application form please
For a sponsor form please
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