In New Jersey a pest control company owner is charged with animal cruelty for the death of a squirrel. The company Critter Ridder owned by Kathleen Buck, was hired for the express purpose of eradicating this rodent because it was becoming a nuisance.
Apparently they used a ‘Hav-a-hart’ trap which catches the target pest alive and no one checked the trap for some time. The squirrel was caught in the trap and died on the roof from heat. The trap was set on Wednesday and the squirrel was found dead on Thursday according to Buddy Amato, Chief Humane Law Enforcement Officer.
Ms. Buck faces four counts of animal cruelty, including one that cites her for not providing the squirrel with adequate food, water and shelter.
Kathleen Buck says it was a misunderstanding, she says that usually when an animal is trapped, the customer calls them back. Oh well, unluckily for this squirrel, nobody called or checked. I guess they had more important things to worry about than to check and see if a squirrel had been caught in a trap on the roof.
Is this a misunderstanding? Should Ms. Buck be charged and punished for this alleged crime? Or are the people who are bringing the charges over reacting to a person with a license to perform pest eradication and who were hired for this specific Squirrel problem?
If you were on the jury and this was all the information you had what would you decide? Vote below and then enter your reason in the comments section below.
