Change.org Petition: These animal traps are hurting raccoons - Ban the use of foot-hold "dog proof" Raccoon traps in Indiana

Ban the use of foot-hold "dog proof" Raccoon traps in Indiana 321 have signed Kristen Williams’s petition. Let’s get to 500!

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The use of foot-hold raccoon traps is cruel and inhumane, yet they remain legal to use in the state of Indiana. We must demand legislation to ban these awful traps in order to protect the innocent animals they hurt. Please sign and share the petition now. Labeled as a leghold "dog proof" trap, these cylinders use a coil spring and a sensitive trigger system when the raccoons reach in the trap to take the bait the metal loop triggers and pins the racoons hand in place. The trap is connected to a metal steak or rebar in the ground to keep them in about a two foot radius. In most situations the animal thrashes about trying to break free causing the trap to get tighter around its paw and breaking bones, cutting off circulation and exhausting itself in the process. When the trap is triggered it immobilizes the animal and some resort to essentially cutting off their own paw with the metal loop from thrashing about or chewing off their own paws breaking teeth and bones in the process. These animals endure a panic filled process and either die from exhaustion laying there in defeat, blood loss, dehydration, or shock waiting for the trapper to come and eventually "humanely euthanize" them by ultimately shooting them. These traps are designed and sold stating that they only catch raccoons but there have been multiple reports of opossums, skunk, and cats being caught, any animal with a small paw and extendable arm can be essentially caught.  The law in Indiana currently makes these horrendous and inhumane traps legal in this state, with the law stating traps must be checked every 24 hours. 24 hours of exhaustion, defeat, pain and waiting for their death. Foot-hold and leg-hold traps are banned in over 80 countries and only 10 states in the United States. The time to act is now to ban leghold traps in Indiana and make us seen by legislation.  Animals like humans can feel emotions, pain, and anxiety. Please help give a voice to the voiceless. I appreciate your help in making trapping more humane.

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