In the Year of the Rat, an animal rights group appealed to the public yesterday to spare rats from cruelty by not using glue traps in killing them.
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said that while rats are pests, they should not be terminated by glue traps because these devices do not work and simply “maim and terrify small animals.”
“Glue traps cause an immense amount of suffering for rats and other animals who struggle desperately after their limbs and faces get stuck in the glue,” says PETA campaign coordinator Jennilyn Tagasa.
“We’re asking people all over the world to honor the Year of the Rat by leaving these cruel devices on the shelves,” she said.
The PETA will hold a rally at noontime today in Binondo, Chinatown area to protest the sale of glue traps there. The world will commemorate the Chinese New Year on Feb. 7 and under its calendar, 2008 is the year of the rat.
PETA members will wear rat costumes and wave placards with messages like “Make It a Year for Rats—Don’t Buy Glue Traps.” They will stage their protest action near the Carriedo Fountain.
Glue traps consist of pieces of board coated with a sticky adhesive that’s designed to ensnare any small animal that touches the surface.
“Trapped animals, including rats, mice and birds suffer immeasurably during the days that it takes for them to die of starvation or dehydration. Glue traps rip patches of skin, fur and feather from animals’ bodies as they struggle to escape and many animals even chew off their own legs to free themselves,” PETA said.
The only long-term way to control the small animal population, PETA suggests is to modify their habitat so that the area becomes unattractive or inaccessible to them.
To keep your home rat-free, be sure to keep your house clean.
Rats are described as “intelligent and sensitive animals who learn quickly, have excellent memories and enjoy playing. They become very attached to each other and readily bond with humans to the point that if they are given away or ignored, they can become so depressed that they die.”
According to recent studies, when rats play or are tickled, they make chirping sounds similar to humans.