Dog caught in trap at St Enodoc golf course
- Published
Cairn terrier Alfie let out "blood-curdling wails", his owner said
A pet terrier was injured when he got caught in a "barbaric" metal animal trap placed near a public footpath, his owner said.
Alfie made "blood-curdling wails" when he was injured at St Enodoc Golf Course in Cornwall and "would have died" had he got his neck or head stuck, his owner Lindsay Cavell said.
A golf club spokesman said the traps are used legally to control rabbits.
He added the club will now review where the traps are set.
The trap is believed to be a Fenn spring trap
Mrs Cavell, 60, described her "absolute horror" to discover her 12-year-old cairn terrier had got stuck in shrubs "about ten yards" from a footpath which runs across the golf course.
"It didn't have teeth, it was more of a crushing thing. If an animal had got his head or neck in they they would have been gone in an instant," she said.
Her friend Marti Everett, who also witnessed it, said it took three adults to prize the trap off, leaving the dog with skin abrasions.
"He could have lost a foot... It was just the most horrendous thing I've ever seen," she said.
"You could have had a golfer going in there, looking for a ball for instance - or if a child had bounced a ball they could have gone in there and looked for that."
The trap had been set in shrubs, yards from the 10th fairway on the golf course near Rock
Clarke Willmott said on behalf of St Enodoc Golf Club: "Rabbit control is essential and is carried out as humanely as possible.
"The traps used are legal and are placed at locations on the golf courses where they will be most effective."
He added that "in view of this incident we will review the actual location of the traps which are used".
The National Anti-Snaring Campaign said the fenn trap, external is only legal to use if they are set in underground tunnels, and that setting them is due to be outlawed in 2020.
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said: "Police are carrying out enquiries and asking dog owners to be vigilant while walking in the area".