A horrible crime has been committed against an animal in Fairhaven. An illegal steel trap was used to torture a coyote and led to its death.

Steel leg traps have been banned in Massachusetts for years. The barbaric ankle-breaking monsters have no place in the world of wildlife management. Unfortunately, there are some people who are still using these illegal traps to cause pain and agony to innocent animals.

According to Fairhaven Animal Control Officer Terry Cripps, a coyote was recently found with an illegal steel trap on one of its hind legs in the northern part of the town. Cripps was a guest on my radio show to discuss keeping pets safe from wild animals and birds of prey.

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The coyote reportedly suffered for days before it was finally found. Officer Cripps went looking for the animal when he received the first report of it being caught in the trap, but he was unable to find the wounded animal. He contacted Massachusetts Wildlife and ultimately they were able to find the coyote in the area. The wounds were so devastating the only option was to euthanize the animal.

The coyote suffered unimaginable pain without any hope of relief for days. Some human monster did that to this animal and that person needs to be tracked down. The illegal trap could have also sprung on a dog, a cat, or a human being. How many other wild animals have been tortured to death by other illegal steel traps placed in Fairhaven?

The deployment of this trap was exceptional cowardice. The illegal trap wasn't even tethered in a manner to keep the wounded animal in place. The trap setter didn't have the courage to go out to face the trapped animal and deal with it. Instead, they placed the trap to wound the animal and leave it up to someone else to deal with the terrified wounded wild animal driven insane by pain and desperation.

Five years in prison could be the fate of this disgusting animal abuser.

Chris McCarthy is the host of The Chris McCarthy Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact him at chris.mccarthy@townsquaremedia.com and follow him on Twitter @Chris_topher_Mc. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

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