'Horrific act': Manhunt after pet cat caught in illegal backyard trap
WARNING - GRAPHIC IMAGE: A manhunt is on the find the person who set an illegal trap which left a pet cat needing to have its leg amputated.
The male domestic short haired cat was found in a fishpond with his front paw caught in an illegal steel jaw trap in Mooroolbark, Victoria. A local resident found the cat on their property on September 27 and called the RSPCA to help the injured animal.
The cat was subsequently taken to RSPCA’s Burwood East clinic where it received pain relief and urgent veterinary treatment.
The feline was wearing a blue collar with a bell, however it had no identification tags and had not been microchipped. The cat was seen to be dragging the affected leg and it’s unclear how the trap came to be there.
X-rays confirmed several fractures and nerve damage had occurred in the leg as a result of the trap.
Due to the severe nature of the cat’s injuries, his entire limb was amputated to prevent any further infections or complications.
It is unknown how many days the cat had spent trying to free itself from the trap, or how far the cat has travelled.
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“This cat would have been in significant physical pain and experienced severe mental distress,” RSPCA Victoria Inspector Kate Davies said.
Serrated steel jaw traps are illegal and cause extreme pain and suffering to animals caught in them. It is also illegal to set any leghold trap for the purpose of trapping domestic animals.
The cat has since been reunited with his concerned owners.
RSPCA Victoria and investigations want to locate the person or persons responsible for this act of cruelty.
“We are currently encouraging anyone who has seen something that may contribute to this investigation to come forward with information.
“This was a horrific act of animal cruelty and our thanks go to the person who found the animal and reacted quickly to prevent the cat from further suffering,” Inspector Davies said.
Once identified, the person or persons responsible for this crime face prosecution and serious liability, including a term of imprisonment for up to two years and fines of up to $82,610.00.
Anyone with information they believe may be relevant to either of these cases is encouraged to make a report via www.rspcavic.org or by calling 9224 2222.
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