FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, June 6, 1997
CONTACT:
Laura Simon, (203) 393-3669
Julie Lewin, (860) 521-7290
Hartford, Ct. -- The Connecticut Legislature set a national precedent this week by passing House Bill 6577, which will prevent nuisance wildlife control trappers from drowning wildlife and using other cruel methods of killing. The bill, which was supported by the Connecticut Humane Legislation Coalition, was approved by the House of Representatives 126 to 13, and was approved by the Senate this week 31 to 4. It now awaits Governor John Rowland's signature.
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 and not prohibited by law. 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 commonly drown animals in 55-gallon steel drums in their offices or vans.
House Bill 6577 will require that nuisance trappers follow the humane euthanasia guidelines of the American Veterinary Medical Association and that they receive mandatory training in nonlethal methods of resolving wildlife nuisance problems. A "truth in advertising" clause states that nuisance trappers cannot falsely advertise their services as "humane" unless they really are.
Says Julie Lewin, Connecticut Coordinator for The Fund for Animals, "Nuisance control has gone out of control, and this is the first time nationwide a state legislature has halted these cruel killing methods. The trapping and hunting lobbyists fought the bill, but public involvement forced this legislative victory. This shows that the voice of the people can make a difference."
The Fund for Animals' wildlife hotline in Connecticut received complaints from citizens who were upset about the cruel and unnecessary killing 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 those 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." The hotline teaches people how to block entry holes and use repellents to evict animal families.
The Connecticut Humane Legislative Coalition includes The Fund for Animals, the Connecticut Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, the Connecticut Humane Society, the Humane Society of the U.S., Teaching Animal Awareness in Legislation, AWARE, Protectors of Animals, and MEOW.
