Illegal gin trap leaves St Austell cat badly hurt

Angel is recovering in a cage

A cat owner is warning others to look out for their pets after her cat was caught in an illegal gin trap.

Hayley Dowrick said her cat Angel suffered nasty lacerations, torn ligaments and some broken bones when the heavy steel trap snapped shut on his back leg.

Angel is now recovering at home in St Austell after urgent veterinary care but there's still a chance he could lose his leg.

The police are investigating.

Care worker Mrs Dowrick, 58, said she was left feeling "utter horror" when Angel dragged himself through the cat flap on Friday morning, pulling the trap, chain and metal stake behind him.

It took two people to free the cat from the gin trap

"How he did it I honestly don't know because the weight of it is awful," she said. "It made a terrible noise."

She had to recruit the help of a neighbour to prise open the jaws of the trap to free Angel's leg before she could get him to the vets.

"I want people to know about this so that no-one else has to go through what I've been through," said Mrs Dowrick.

"I'm keeping my fingers crossed he can keep the leg," she added. "There's been lots of tears and lots of anger."

Angel has to be kept in a dog cage while he recuperates. "He's an absolute trooper, he's amazing," said Mrs Dowrick.

Devon and Cornwall Police is investigating and have confirmed it is illegal to use a gin trap or to possess it for an unlawful purpose.

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