THE STORY OF NOELLE
A Hard Look at the Horrific Effects of Leg-Hold Traps
In early November, a Manchester couple encountered a cat in their neighborhood who they assumed was a stray. They left the cat very briefly to visit a nearby convenience store to purchase cat food. By the time they had returned a few minutes later, the cat was gone.
After looking around the immediate area, they found the cat resting in a window well and were horrified to see that attached to her front right leg was a leg-hold trap. The cat had dragged herself and the trap for some time and was in very bad shape.
These steel-jawed traps, also known as foot-hold traps, are designed to ensnare animals by their leg or foot. They are primarily used to capture foxes, coyotes, raccoons, wolves, lynx, and bobcats, and are baited with food and strategically placed in areas frequented by these animals.
The devices operate by using a powerful spring-loaded mechanism to instantly clamp down on the animal's limb. Once triggered, the animal is immobilized, preventing them from eating, drinking, caring for their young, defending against predators, or seeking shelter from the elements. Leg-hold traps are specifically designed to restrain wild animals that instinctively resist capture. In their distress and panic, many animals resort to desperate measures, such as chewing or twisting off their own trapped limbs, often breaking teeth and
bones in the process. As if this weren’t distressing enough, these traps are completely indiscriminate, capturing any animal who encounters the trap, rather than the animal who is the “target.”
Connecticut’s law includes requirements for trappers, including that the traps be labeled with the trapper’s contact information, that the trap be secured so that an injured animal cannot walk away, and that the trapper check back frequently to ensure a trapped and injured animal is not left to suffer indefinitely. According to Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) regulations, traps must be checked every 24 hours, although, unfortunately, this is not enforced.
The American Veterinary Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, the World Veterinary Association, the National Animal Control Association, Sierra Club, and animal welfare organizations such as CT Votes For Animals and Our Companions Animal Rescue strongly oppose leg-hold traps.
Noelle
The couple from Manchester who found the injured cat were able to pry off the trap and immediately called Manchester Animal Control. When no one answered right away, they called the police because they knew the cat was gravely injured and needed immediate medical attention. Manchester Police then were able to contact someone from Animal Control.
Elease McConnell is an Animal Control Officer (ACO) for the City of Manchester and, although she was not the officer who was called to the scene that day, she has been involved with the case.
“After the cat was safe, I went to that neighborhood to try and determine where the cat could have come from. One neighbor confirmed that it was a stray she had been feeding and was horrified to learn what happed to her. Another longtime resident permitted me to look through her yard and told me she could not believe that
anyone would set a leg-hold trap. I was unable to determine where the trap came from or where the cat may have come from,” she said.
“The street was not a long street – only about fifteen or twenty houses. I didn’t see anything that offered any clues. Homes with cameras did not capture where the cat came from. I couldn’t believe this happened in the middle of town. How that poor cat dragged that trap for any length of time is just baffling to me. This case was just so unnecessary and incredibly sad. We could tell this animal had been suffering for a long time since, by the time she was found, the trap had caused considerable damage and there were maggots in the wound.
“Our experience in Animal Control is mostly with Have-a-Heart traps. Regardless, there is a responsibility that goes along with using any trap. For instance, the user must check the trap frequently. You don’t want an instance where an animal is trapped on a Friday and the trap doesn’t get checked until Monday. Also, had the leg-hold trap been used in its proper (however unfortunate) manner, it should have been labeled – but this trap did not have a label, and it obviously was not secured properly so was not stationary.”
It’s Time to Rethink Trapping
“I think it’s fair to say that many people in our state don’t even realize that trapping is still legal,” says Susan Linker, Chair of the Connecticut for Animals Education Fund and CEO of Our Companions Animal Rescue. “Not only is trapping barbaric for wildlife but it also has devastating consequences for our companion animals. If trapping is allowed to continue in Connecticut, there are humane alternatives, including box and cage traps.”
A New Start for Noelle
Indeed, following her extensive surgery, the cat – now named Noelle – was taken in by Our Companions’ Ashford Sanctuary. Karen Aseltine leads the team that is providing care and rehabilitation to Noelle.
“When I first got the request for a Sanctuary spot for this cat and heard the circumstances involved, my stomach just sank, and I felt incredibly sad thinking about what she had been through,” says Karen. “The veterinary office wouldn’t perform the surgery until they knew this kitty had a place to land, so I didn’t have a lot of time to consider. I knew she was an ‘outdoor’ cat and was probably not well socialized to humans. However, when I heard they estimated her to be about ten months of age and, given the fact that she chose to keep fighting to survive despite being so vulnerable -- instead of crawling to a hiding spot to die -- I knew the only answer was to give this cat an opportunity to live.”
Karen says that when Noelle arrived at the Sanctuary, as expected the cat was terrified to find herself in the company of humans with nowhere to escape. She would ‘freeze’ in fear when staff entered the room. As she slowly healed, a few dedicated staff members began to work with her to gain her trust and build her confidence.
“Using clicker training, treats and play, she has slowly been coming out of her shell and is learning to adapt to her new body. While she still has a long road ahead, she has made tremendous progress so far. Her latest achievement has been learning to play with interactive toys. The staff discovered that she loves bird toys and now have been on a mission to fill her room with them. She’s been a fighter from the start; and in the right environment -- where she is given choices and respect -- she will continue to thrive.”
Safe At Last
“However scary this whole situation was, I’m grateful we had resources to help get the necessary surgery for the cat, as well as resources for rehabilitation and placement,” says Elease. “Because if you don’t have anywhere to turn for help, that is equally scary. Our Companions has provided fantastic support. It’s a relief knowing that the cat is getting the right socialization and rehabilitation and is being cared for by compassionate people.”
Take Action
A bill has been introduced in the CT State Legislature to ban the use of leg-hold traps, H.B. No. 5974 - An Act Prohibiting the Use of Leghold and Body-Gripping Traps. Please call your state senator and representative to express your support for banning cruel leg-hold and body-gripping traps when there are humane alternatives available. Let them know that our neighboring states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island have banned the use of both kinds of traps.
To learn more about the use of Leghold Traps, read our Fact Sheet here