One wrong step, and there is no escape! In the district of Günzburg in Bavaria, Germany, highly discreet traps have been set up. They are so difficult to spot that most people would walk right past without noticing a thing. Yet, for a cat, they can be fatal.
Several animals have already been found seriously injured in the area. One cat even had to be put to sleep due to the severity of its injuries. A deeply worrying question remains unanswered: how many of these traps are still hidden out there?
The trap tightens relentlessly...
Homemade wire snares have been set up in the Kötz and Ochsenbronn areas. Several cats and at least one wild animal have already been caught in them. When a trapped animal panics and tries to escape, the wire tightens more and more around its neck or body. The consequences are horrific.
Several injured animals were found between mid-July and August. Volunteers from a local cat charity estimate that up to five animals may have been affected. On top of that, other cats are currently missing. Sadly, for one of them, it was too late. Its neck injuries were so severe that it had to be euthanised.
How many traps are still out there?
The most worrying thing is that we still do not know where these snares have been placed. It is also unclear who is responsible. No suspects have been publicly identified yet, and the police have launched an investigation.
Making and setting snares is illegal in Germany. Yet, because they are virtually invisible, passers-by can walk right past them without ever realising the danger.
The animal shelter sounds the alarm
The Günzburg animal shelter has also warned the public. In an Instagram post, the rescue team mentioned several seriously injured cats, calling it an act of "sheer animal cruelty".
Their fears are not just for the animals already found. As long as the location of the other traps remains unknown, the danger remains for any cat going outside. Pet owners in the area are therefore urged to keep a very close eye on their companions.
Translated from the DE Wamiz website using artificial intelligence
