Twice injured by a leghold trap, the cat Tigrou has died. One Voice lodged a complaint.
In September 2024, in a village in the Hérault region, leghold traps claimed a new “collateral” victim: Tigrou. The little ginger cat, who had already had to have his right front leg amputated because of one of these illegal, non-selective hunting devices, did not survive this second injury. We have lodged a complaint on his behalf, alongside his family, and strongly condemn the trappers who, every year, deliberately target thousands of animals wrongly classified as pests.
Tigrou’s short life was marked by moments of joy with his family… and dramatic encounters with leghold traps. As early as February 2022, when he was still very young, ruthless jaws closed violently on his right front leg during a walk. Given the severity of his wounds and the paralysis of his limb, amputation was inevitable. For over two years, despite his handicap, the little redhead showed incredible resilience. But in 2024, another accident shattered all his efforts to start over. After being missing for three long days, Tigrou reappeared outside his home on September 3. Dirty, exhausted and… once again seriously injured by metal jaws! Immediately taken to the vet, every effort was made to save him… Without success: his family had to let him go to put an end to his torment.
The list of victims continues to grow
Before him, other cats had disappeared in the village, some after having had a leg amputated… Are we to understand that someone is deliberately capturing and mutilating the little felines out for a stroll? Have the desperately looked for animals been killed? We are writing to the town hall to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again.
All over France, many cats and dogs, including Cooper, Snooky and Red Collar, have suffered similar distress because of leghold traps. These deadly devices have been banned in their old, unapproved versions throughout the European Union since 1995! How many more will find themselves trapped in these torture devices, agonizing for hours on end, losing the use of a limb, or dying as a result, before the regulations are finally respected?
The traps must go!
Other traps, no less cruel, are still authorized. Every year, they cause the death of thousands of foxes, martens, weasels and stone martens in atrocious suffering… So many animals hunted down without mercy because they are classified as ESOD when all they want is to live in peace. And they’re not the only ones to pay the price. Apart from our companions, even individuals belonging to protected species get caught. In March 2023, a she-wolf was found strangled by a snare, more than four years after Cooky‘s death in a fox trap.
For Tigrou, we filed a complaint alongside his family. And we continue to call for a ban on traps that mutilate and kill indiscriminately.