Rock legends back campaign to ban snares - National Anti-Snaring Campaign

Campaign launched on Facebook in memory of Norfolk cat killed by snare

Nearly four hundred people from across Britain and around the world have joined an online campaign calling on the British government to ban the manufacture, sale and use of snares. The group is named in memory of Marmalade, a two-year-old ginger tom who was snared in a hedge near his Aylsham home in February 2009. The snare had been set to protect birds purpose bred for sport shooting.

The campaign has been bolstered by the support of Greg Lake, co-founder and the voice of rock legends King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Queen guitarist Brian May.

The act of snaring animals says far more about the perpetrator than it does the victim and what it says to me, is that anyone who takes pleasure inflicting pain and suffering upon innocent animals is simply a disgrace to humanity and should be treated accordingly.

– Greg Lake, King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer

The Facebook group was set up by Wiltshire based animal welfare campaigner Chris Gale who says the government must act to stop the misery and death caused to wild and domestic animals and the devastation endured by owners of animals killed by these appalling devices.

I wholeheartedly support your campaign to ban the use of snares in Britain. We all know what is right, here … these appalling instruments of painful death are the counterpart of landmines. Nothing justifies this. It is time for the cruelty to end. NOW.

– Brian May, Queen guitarist

Members of the online campaign have e-mailed Defra Minister Jim Fitzpatrick MP and Labour Party Vice Chair Ian Cawsey MP calling for a ban.

Mr Gale said, ‘In the 21st Century we should not be a country that allows wild and domestic animals to be brutally killed or injured in mediaeval devices that are part of an industry of killing in the name of sport. Mr Gale added,’It is wonderful to have the support of Greg Lake for this campaign and it will give a huge boost to all those who want snaring banned once and for all’.