A cat that was found with a leghold trap on its leg is recovering well after having one of its paws amputated. However, the circumstances that led to the cat’s injury remain a mystery.
Robin Kaminski, manager of the Rome Humane Society and a licensed veterinary technician, shared the story of how they received a call from a concerned man in Rome. The man reported seeing a cat running across his porch with something on its paw. After calling a few organizations for help, he eventually reached out to the Rome Humane Society.
“We went out with a Have-A-Heart trap, and on Saturday morning, the cat was caught in it,” Kaminski said. The cat, now named Romeo by the humane society, was found in two traps. One was the humane trap used to transport him, and the other was the leghold trap that had severely injured his leg.
Leghold traps are typically used for catching furbearing animals such as raccoons, weasels, opossums, and beavers. Kaminski explained that these traps are designed with heavy-duty springs and can cause significant harm. “His paw must have been stuck in that trap for a while,” she said. “The tissue was badly damaged. Romeo had been dragging it around, and the trap was attached to a long chain.”
A local veterinarian was called to assess the damage, which was so severe that amputation was deemed necessary. The surgery took place on Tuesday, with a different veterinarian performing the procedure. Romeo is now being cared for by the original vet who examined him.
Kaminski praised the veterinarians, stating, “Both have been incredibly generous and donated their services to help Romeo.”
While the cat is recovering, questions remain about how the trap ended up in the middle of Rome, particularly on Lyndale Drive. Kaminski spoke with a representative from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), who explained that leghold traps are typically staked into the ground with a tag identifying the owner. However, Romeo’s trap had no tag, making it difficult to track down who might have set it.
“These traps are meant for wildlife, and they’re very dangerous,” Kaminski said. “Without the tag, it’s nearly impossible to figure out who is responsible for it.”
Kaminski speculated that the trap may have been set by a hunter, or possibly someone attempting to control the local cat population, though she has no concrete evidence to support either theory.
As Romeo continues to recover, the mystery surrounding his injury remains unsolved.
Related Topics
