Cat survives rabbit snare scare

A CAT OWNER has spoken of her relief after her pet survived a six day ordeal outdoors trapped in a rabbit snare.

Nina Belton’s pet cat Holly went missing from their home at Bryce’s Corner near Drummore on March 25.

As Nina’s fears grew she, along with her husband Gavin and friend Susan Harrington, put up notices in the villages appealing for any sightings.

Susan said: “We’ve all caught colds and flu from looking for her but we honestly thought she was alive.”

Just when hope seemed to be fading Nina received a call from a neighbour who heard a cat crying in a hedge near her house.

Eighteen-month-old Holly was found thin and bedraggled with a wire snare from a rabbit trap embedded around her stomach.

She was taken to Academy Vets in Stranraer where she was treated before being allowed to return home.

Susan said: “She is really skinny, but she had a check at the vets and she is ok, thank God.”

Holly is now back home and eating well.

Nina has reported the snaring incident to Dumfries and Galloway Police’s Wildlife Liaison Officer Simon Kennedy.

And Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said they were regularly being made aware of animals like cats, dogs and deer being caught in snares.

He said: “These incidents highlight how completely indiscriminate snares are and why we would like to see an outright ban on the use of snares in Scotland.”

Regulations have been tightened and forthcoming legislation states it would be a requirement for all snares to bear an identity tag making it easier to trace those who misuse snares.

The officer said: “We hope that this will go some way towards preventing incidents involving domestic pets in the future.”

He added: “While snares are still being used we are in no doubt that non-target species will continue to fall victim.”