In The Herald’s Oct. 15 article “The flap over traps,” the point was made that urbanites need convincing in order to care about trapping. This is preposterous. Heidi Johnston’s dog, Dimples, who was injured in a trap at a public park, Twin Lakes, in Smokey Point, gives us reason enough to question trapping practices in Washington state. And Dimples is just one of many family pets who have been caught in traps in urban areas. In January, Lisa Parsons of Enumclaw had her dog caught in a steel-jawed leghold trap while hiking in a public area. In both cases, the victims could easily have been children.
Trappers would like you to believe that traps pose no risks to urbanites, but in reality traps pose serious risks to people and animals everywhere in Washington state. Whether you live in Whatcom or King County, traps can be legally littered like land mines in areas frequented by humans and pets. Animals who are caught in traps suffer broken bones, torn tendons and even severed jaws. A case in point: Dimples’ jaw was dislocated and her paw was injured.
Initiative 713 addresses these very issues in a straightforward, careful manner. Traps are cruel and indiscriminate, causing suffering to wildlife and family pets. I-713 would ban traps for commerce in recreation and fur, while still allowing exceptions for certain traps to protect human safety, property, livestock, endangered or threatened species, and for legitimate wildlife research. I-713 does not prohibit the trapping of household “pests” either – animals like moles, mice or rats.
It’s common sense. Vote yes on I-713.
Everett
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