URGENT: MARYLAND RESIDENTS HELP NEEDED!

[Guest guest]

Forwarded Message:

 

URGENT: MARYLAND RESIDENTS HELP NEEDED

 

I am happy to announce that state Senator Perry Sfikas has introduced a bill

to stop the use of leghold traps in Maryland.

 

These traps are well known for causing serious injury and pain to the animals

unfortunate enough to be caught in them.

 

The bill to ban these cruel traps is SB 543. The bill is set for a hearing

in the Senate Economic and Environmental Affairs committee on March 6th at

1pm.

 

We need all Maryland residents to contact their state senator and ask him/her

to SUPPORT SB 543.

 

To find out who your state senator is, and how to contact him/her, go to

http://mlis.state.md.us/.

 

Once there, click on " find a legislator " and it will tell you how to find out

who your state senator is. Then click on " contact a legislator " and you will

be provided with all the contact information you need.

 

A fact sheet on why leghold traps should be banned is pasted below.

 

Also, the trappers are busing in scores of their people for the committee

hearing on March 6th. They hope they can intimidate the committee hearing

this bill with their large numbers.

 

If you live in Maryland, and come to Annapolis for the hearing on March 6,

please let me know.

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THE FACTS: Leghold Traps

 

 

 

 

Steel jawed leghold traps are used to capture animals for the fur trade.

These traps close upon their victims paw with force. As the animal struggles

to escape the trap she is likely to injure herself severely. Lacerations,

torn tendons, and even broken bones are common.

 

These traps are non-selective and capture whatever comes along. These

non-target animals include dogs, cats, squirrels, opossums, and even

endangered species and birds of prey that are attracted to baited sets.

 

 

 

Ninety countries and 8 states have banned the leghold trap because of its

inherent cruelty and because it is non-selective and traps whatever animal

steps into it.

 

 

 

A majority of Americans believe leghold traps should be banned. This is

verified by the fact that when given a chance, voters in Arizona, California,

Colorado, Massachusetts, and Washington voted to ban trapping.

 

In Maryland, animals are left in these traps for up to 36 hours. Many times

these animals will die from starvation, hypothermia, dehydration, or

predation by another animal. Otherwise the trapper will shoot them, stomp

them, or club them.

 

 

 

Many animals will chew off their own limbs in a desperate attempt at escape.

This is especially common in raccoons.

 

 

 

Some companies manufacture padded leghold traps for cosmetic purposes. These

padded traps still have to slam shut with enough force to restrain a fighting

mad wild animal. Animals caught in padded traps are still exposed to the

elements and predators until the trapper returns to kill them. Studies show

that padded traps cause injury to 97% of the coyotes that they ensnare.

 

 

 

Many animals knock out their teeth as they bite at the jaws of the traps. In

one study, 645 foxes were caught in leghold traps. A total of 514 of the

foxes were considered seriously injured, and 200 of them had knocked out

teeth as they bit at the trap.

 

SB 543 would stop this cruelty! Encourage your state senator to vote YES on

SB 543.

 

-end-

 

 

 

How Much Cruelty Can You Stomach.

http://www.MurderKing.com

 

Help Save A Stray

http://www.saveastray.com

 

 

 

 

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