Glue traps:'not inherently inhumane' says UK government

Countless hundreds of people across the country are today getting the appalling reply below from government in response to a public petition on the Downing St website calling for glue traps to be banned.

 

'The Government has no plans to ban their sale or use because it is our belief that glue traps/sticky boards are not inherently inhumane. The key elements of use are to ensure that periods between inspections are kept to an appropriate minimum and any animals found on the trap are dealt with quickly and humanely.'

 

Mice, rats, and other animals who get stuck on a glue trap suffer horrendous pain, often for days as the trap is not designed to kill them quickly. As trapped animals struggle to free themselves they may pull out their own hair, break bones and chew off their own legs. The glue causes their eyes to become badly irritated and the animals become covered in excrement, as - due to stress and fear - they defecate and urinate uncontrollably.  Animals whose faces become stuck in the glue slowly suffocate and all trapped animals are subject to starvation and dehydration. There is no justification whatsoever for these traps.

 

See pics below, also pic of a sparrow which became stuck to a glue trap and suffered a horrific, lingering death.

 

For the government to say that this is not inherently inhumane is beyond belief and will do further enormous damage to its standing with caring people.

'NOT INHERENTLY INHUMANE'
SAYS DEFRA