The Mary T. and
Frank L. Hoffman
Family Foundation
and All-Creatures.Org

Letters and Responses

Letter from Leonore Kenyon about Lowe's Selling Glue Traps - 14 Apr 2008

Here is my letter back to Lowes, who wrote about the product Eugenol to 'reassure' me. Here's hoping they discard this evil product once and for all!

Thank you for everything you do,

Leo :)

Letter to Lowe's

To whom it may concern,

Thank you for your reply. I understand you have a responsibility to provide your customers with what they need, however you also have a responsibility to treat your fellow citizens (and that includes animals and yes, rodents) humanely.

If you have over 20 different products for rat control, then simply remove the ones that cause intense agony and a prolonged death for these living, breathing creatures that feel pain just like you and I. Just because your customers prefer glue traps does not mean you have to endorse animal cruelty.

I also find your statement that your glue traps now provide an anesthetic somewhat odd, considering this means that any rat caught in one of your traps will still remain susceptible to starvation, dehydration and thus, a prolonged and yes, painful death. What if their faces get stuck in the glue and they end up suffocating?

According to PETA, there is no scientific protocol for using a eugenol derivative as an oral or topical agent for euthanasia or anesthesia of rodents anyway and therefore your argument for this product remains somewhat unfounded.

Furthermore, how can you assume that only rats will get caught in these traps? There are numerous cases available online which detail horrific deaths of birds and other small animals (including companion animals) which have also gotten stuck in these traps. I don't understand how an 'anaestehtic' can make the situation any better.

Although your promise to cut back on half of the glue traps is positive, it would be far better if you discontinued their use altogether. Rats have been known to eat through their own legs when caught in one of your traps in efforts to get away. This is simply too cruel for words.

Please consider discontinuing ALL of your glue traps in favour of other, more humane products. An effective rat control method would require an instantaneous death or at least loss of consciousness prior to death - NOT being stuck for how long and having no choice but to wait to die.

Thank you again for your reply, I hope to hear your views in response.

Sincerely,

Leonore Kenyon

Letter from Lowe's

Thank you for your comments regarding glue traps.

As you know, rodent control is an important concern for homeowners and business owners, and we have a responsibility to provide the products our customers need. We have listened to our customers and conducted extensive customer research over the past several months regarding glue traps.

We found that for many customers, glue traps are the preferred rodent control product. We have also listened to PETA�s concerns, and as a result have changed our merchandise offering to cut in half the number of glue traps we offer, and only carry the products that contain Eugenol, which is an anesthetic.

Because not every product is right for every situation, Lowe�s carries more than 20 different rodent control products so customers may choose the ones that best suit their needs.

Lowe�s Customer Care
Leo Kenyon
Community Development Officer

Reply from Frank and Mary Hoffman

Dear Leo:

Thank you very much for sending us your letter and Lowe's reply. Keep up the good work.

In the Love of the Lord,

Frank and Mary

Return to Letters

We welcome your comments


| Home Page | Animal Issues | Archive | Art and Photos | Articles | Bible | Books | Church and Religion | Discussions | Health | Humor | Letters | Links | Nature Studies | Poetry and Stories | Quotations | Recipes What's New? |

Thank you for visiting all-creatures.org.
Since date.gif (1367 bytes)