FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, August 15, 1997
CONTACT:
Laura Simon, (203) 393-1050
HARTFORD, Ct. -- Governor John Rowland held a ceremonial signing today at 11:00 AM in the Governor's Office on a new law which prevents nuisance wildlife control trappers from killing wildlife in cruel ways.
The bill was triggered by public outrage in September, when nuisance trapper Michael Lipsett was arrested for animal cruelty after drowning two raccoons at a West Haven public marina. Lipsett's defense was that this practice is common. Nuisance wildlife trappers are licensed by the Department of Environmental Protection and can charge a fee -- usually hundreds of dollars -- for removing wild animals from people's homes. Many nuisance trappers drown animals in 55-gallon steel drums or inject them with acetone.
The Act to be signed by the Governor will require that nuisance trappers follow humane euthanasia guidelines of the American Veterinary Medical Association and that they receive mandatory training in non-lethal, humane methods of alleviating nuisance problems. There is also a "truth in advertising" clause stating that nuisance trappers cannot advertise their services as "humane" unless their techniques truly are.
The Fund for Animals' wildlife hotline in Connecticut received numerous complaints from citizens who were upset about methods used by nuisance trappers. Says Laura Simon, The Fund's Urban Wildlife Director who staffs the hotline, "People want to see animals treated humanely, even in situations when the animal may be perceived as a nuisance. There's no excuse for nuisance trappers to use barbaric methods when humane alternatives exist."
Says Julie Lewin, The Fund's Connecticut Coordinator, "Nuisance control has gone out of control, and this is the first time nationwide that the industry has been regulated."
