Activists upset over proposal for traps

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Aug 2, 2008 | by Brian Hughes

El Paso County commissioners are considering allowing a federal agency to catch stray dogs with snare and steel-jaw traps in plains communities east of Colorado Springs, prompting a backlash from animal activists who call them unnecessary and inhumane.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals posted a call for action on its Web site Thursday urging people to demand the commission consider alternative methods, such as box traps, for capturing strays.

Commissioners were then deluged with e-mails from concerned animal lovers, Commissioner Amy Lathen acknowledged Friday. The e- mail senders apparently believed commissioners had already approved an $8,000 deal with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to set up the controversial traps in Ellicott.

In fact, the earliest the trapping could be approved is later this month, and discussions are ongoing between Commissioner Lathen and the USDA to find the best solution. Because of the low amount of the contract, Lathen said she can approve the deal by herself without the approval of the other four commissioners.

The plan was drafted by the USDA last fall in response to complaints from Ellicott residents, who have reported vicious dogs killing livestock and following small children.

Lathen said she revived it after Ellicott residents met last month and demanded action. The commissioner said she is open to trying out the box traps, but said they might have to resort to the steel-jaw version if the box traps don't work.

Box traps lure an animal inside a cage with a tasty treat as a trap door closes from behind. Food and water is in the cage so the animal can remain nourished if someone takes hours to get to the trap.

"The USDA is telling us they are ineffective," she said, adding that the cages often catch more raccoons than dogs.

Echoing the position of PETA, Humane Society Executive Director Wes Metzler said the steel-jaw traps don't have enough padding and don't always catch the animals by the legs, as they are intended to do.

"I can't see why they would choose to use that option," he said.

Instead, he touted box traps, which might remind some of the age- old method of luring a rat with cheese.

The Humane Society already has a deal with the county to catch strays, but they are limited to areas with animal ordinances, which Metzler said Ellicott does not have.

He said the organization is offering box traps to interested ranchers for free. The group now has eight box traps that are available upon request.

PETA Animal Care and Control Specialist Teresa Lynn Chagrin said the group is committed to halting the potential deal.

She said dogs captured in the controversial devices suffer broken bones and even resort to chewing off their own limbs to escape.

"It's 2008," she said. "These are archaic things that belong in a museum."