Cat Angel needs 100 stitches after she is caught in snare.

Byline: OWEN HUGHES 

A CAT needed 100 stitches after it was trapped in a brutal illegal snare.

Two-year-old Angel was left with an horrific injury after the wire snare ripped into her fur and skin.

The metal was embedded in the Blue Persian's skin for nearly a week until it was noticed by owner Sarah Jones as scabs started appearing.

She was rushed to the vet where an emergency two-hour operation saw the wire removed and around 100 stitches used on the massive wound.

The RSPCA said it would now investigate the incident and spoke out about the dangers of snares.

Sarah, 35, of Four Mile Bridge, near Holyhead, said: "The wound it has left is terrible. She has been stitched right around her body, this thing could have cut her in half.

"It is a miracle she escaped, the vet said she must have been a fighter to escape the trap and survive. I now just want to warn other pet owners and urge people not to use these terrible snares."

Angel came home a week ago in distress. Sarah, who runs a cleaning business, said: "We knew something was wrong and took her to the vet but because the snare wire was so deeply embedded you could not see anything.

"She received injections and we were told to monitor her at home.

"She must have been in pain but was very brave and continued eating and drinking as normal. It was only on Wednesday that my friend saw scabs starting to appear, we pulled the fur apart and could see the wire.

"We went straight to the Anglesey Pet Clinic and as soon as we arrived they rushed Angel in for an operation.

It was two hours before she came out.

"She had been stitched up around her whole body, they did an amazing job.

"I asked the vet if she would survive, he said she must be a fighter to have survived this long and should be okay.

"There must have an angel smiling down on her for her to survive.

"I have reported the snare to the police and this has now gone to animal welfare at the council and the RSPCA.

"I don't know where she was caught by it but it is somewhere near the village. We must get rid of these snares."

A snare is a thin wire noose used to trap wild animals.

The snare is positioned in such a way that one end is attached to the ground or a heavy object while the other end forms a loop, which traps the animal and tightens as it struggles.

Free-running snares that work in such a way that if the animal stops struggling the wire will slacken off are legal, while locking snares are illegal.

The RSPCA is opposed to the manufacture, sale and use of all snares and any trap which causes suffering. A spokeswoman said: "There is no body-grip trap or drowning trap which does not cause unacceptable suffering. Snares are indiscriminate, as can be seen in this case where a pet cat has suffered as a result of a snare being set."

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Picture: ROBERT PARRY JONES