Warwick Valley Humane Society rescues cat from killer trap

Warwick — To paraphrase an old adage, curiosity almost killed an unidentified stray cat recently rescued by an animal control officer from the Warwick Valley Humane Society. According to Animal Control Officer Suzyn Barron, who also serves as president of the Warwick Valley Humane Society, a large unidentified light orange and white male cat is recovering from a harrowing experience. Staff members at the Animal Shelter are hopeful its owner will come forward or someone will adopt it. “We named him ‘Trapper,’” said Barron, “because on May 22 we responded to an emergency call that a cat had been caught in a trap and had dragged it to the porch of a home on Seward Highway in the Village of Florida.” The cat’s head had been caught in a Conibear or squeeze trap meant for capturing beaver, muskrat, fox and other fur-bearing animals. “They also catch the occasional domestic dog or cat,” said Barron. A Conibear trap closes with about 90 pounds of pressure and is designed to kill. The state Department of Environmental Conservation requires licensed trappers to place their names and addresses on each trap and to visit them every 24 hours. When Barron arrived, there were already two state troopers on the scene waiting for her assistance. She found the cat rolling on the side of the house, unable to lift its head. Barron later explained that the trap caught him on the side of his neck and not front to back, which would have killed him instantly. His large, extra-toed paws were bloody from frantically attempting to free himself and she met with little success in trying to calm the cat by covering him with a towel. His flailing kept tossing it aside. However, with a little ingenuity and help from the two troopers, the cat managed to roll himself right into the carrier. He was transported to the Orange County Animal Emergency Service in Middletown. Trapper had to be sedated to remove the trap from his neck and was given antibiotic and anti-inflammatory injections before being returned to the Warwick Animal Shelter. He suffered major swelling around his neck and extended cage rest was recommended. Barron is certain that Trapper had been someone’s outdoor pet and not a feral or wild cat. “For over a week,” she said, “he was barely able to lift his head. Staff would spend a few minutes every day, petting him, not knowing if he was tame or feral. Then, one day, he responded by leaning into the touch and we knew he was tame.” Trapper soon recovered from his ordeal and was neutered, vaccinated and made ready for adoption. The emergency medical cost to the Humane Society for this unidentified stray cat was $363. “But it saved his life,” said Barron. Donations to the Warwick Valley Humane Society’s Critical Care Fund are greatly appreciated and should be sent to: PO Box 61, Warwick, NY 10990.