Letter: What kind of person traps rabbits in a residential area?

In the early morning hours of Jan. 6, I was walking with my canine companion in the bush off of Hunter Street in my Lo-Ellen Park neighbourhood.

Less than five minutes into our walk, my dog went slightly off the path. With his nose in the snow, he began to whimper. I then heard a crying sound from where he was, and there, lying in the snow was a rabbit attempting to lift its head.

I went to the animal and lay my hand on its warm fur and attempted to lift it; it was then that I realized it was in a wire noose attached to a branch. I was in shock and disbelief. I refused to let this poor animal die alone. Frantically, and stubbornly, I worked at ‘untying’ the wire that was knotted in a hundred different ways around the branch. I realized that whomever did this, knew what they were doing.

Finallly, I realized I would need help to cut the wire. I ran for assistance. Neighbours that I approached kindly dropped everything they were doing on a busy school morning, and brought cutting tools to assist me in my distress. The wire was cut, the rabbit was still warm, but not moving. Margie, my neighbour, carried the rabbit to her home, and with heavy hearts, we witnessed the horrible death of an animal.

Hunting and trapping are a way of life in Northern Ontario. I respect the dignity that many hunters display in the killing of an animal for food. However, this snare, this trap, whatever you want to call it, was a disgraceful way to end a life. It was not humane. For this to happen, in a neighbourhood filled with children and family pets who frequent the solitude of the wilderness so close to our homes, this could have been far worse. This is just not humane behaviour. This is just not responsible behaviour.

To whomever did this, words cannot describe both the anger and sadness felt by those of us who witnessed this most violent form of animal cruelty. Just not responsible behaviour.

Gayle Adams-Carpino
and Margaret Hoar
Sudbury