Editor:
Re: Leg-hold trap fears on Marine, March 5; Outrage over leg-hold-trap injuries, March 10.
Resident Frank Groff opened a file with the BCSPCA due to small critters becoming snared in traps set near Marine Drive. He was told that unless the BCSPCA were given an address of where the traps originated from they were unable to proceed.
Isn’t their mandate to investigate cruelty and protect animals? Now they want the public to hand them the perpetrators on a silver platter.
I hope the sick individuals who are doing this stop before someone who is “really important” gets hurt. The BCSPCA appears to be of no help.
Sandy VanDeKinder, Surrey
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What makes a person abuse animals? Psychologist say it stems from childhood trauma, and if this is the case of the Marine Drive trapper, then my heart goes out to him.
But if you are just getting your jollies from inflicting pain on others, as far as this writer is concerned, you are nothing but trash.
Why, one asks, would you set traps that can not only injure birds, raccoons, rabbits, coyotes and any other wildlife living in our neighbourhood but also our family pets? What will you gain from trapping one of these animals?
How will you know if you managed to trap an animal or that your traps were discovered and confiscated? Where is the satisfaction in not knowing?
Is this retribution for wildlife causing damage to your property? If so, have you ever considered the fact that human development destroyed and keeps removing the animal’s habitat? Where are they supposed to go? Wildlife habitat in this area is quickly being replaced by shopping malls, monster houses et al. One-hundred-year-old trees, home to nesting birds, squirrels and raccoons are razed to the ground and replaced with saplings that won’t mature for another 25 years.
You can protect your property with a few prevention tools. Check out animal-control sites like AAAWildlife.
The Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals are offering a $1,000 reward for information on finding you. You may never be caught, punished or charged, but remember, what goes around, comes around. It’s called karma, and your day will come.
Dee Walmsley, Surrey
