From Thursday 19th August 2021 to bank holiday Monday, Lush will partner with Animal Aid – who’ve teamed up with the Hunt Investigation Team (HIT) and National Anti Snaring Campaign (NASC) – calling for a ban on snares with campaign materials in their 101 stores across the UK.
The highlight of the twelve-day event will be a powerful display by aerial dancers in the Lush Oxford Street store on Saturday 21st August, from 11am to 2pm, with performers drawing attention to the plight of animals caught in snares. Concerned shoppers can acknowledge this suffering by signing the online petition – and even add to the spectacle by stencilling animals and paw prints on the shop windows of participating Lush stores.
WHAT ARE SNARES?
Snares are thin wire nooses, designed to catch animals around the neck and hold them until they are ‘dispatched’ by a human. Snares are usually used to catch foxes or rabbits, but often catch other wild animals – and sometimes even cats and dogs. Snares can cause serious injuries and even death.
In 2016, a private members bill calling for a total ban on snares gained a majority vote. Despite this instead of a law being passed a Code of Practice was issued. This code allows snares to be laid as long as they are checked within 24 hours.
A Defra report from 2012, estimated that ‘at any one time and depending on the season, between 62,800 and 188,300 fox snares were in use in England and between 17,200 and 51,600 fox snares in Wales.’ Clearly this is not an isolated incident or a marginal activity and reveals the potential scale of, largely unseen, suffering.
“From our thousands of conversations with customers daily, we know that the vast majority of the public are not even aware that snaring is still happening in modern day UK. They are shocked and horrified and want an end put to this as soon as possible. Along with our customers and animal protection groups, Lush calls for a complete ban on this shameful practice.” HILARY JONES, ETHICS DIRECTOR, LUSH
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
In the recently published Action Plan For Animal Welfare, the Government has said they will issue a call for evidence on the use of snares. It is important that the public have their voices heard during this opportunity, not just industry. There is currently a call for the public to sign a petition on the Government website calling for a ban on snares. If 100,000 people sign this, it could trigger a parliamentary debate. We have until November to reach 100,000 signatures. Animal Aid with the help of Lush are encouraging members of the public to sign the petition, this can be reached from a QR code in your Lush shop windows or by going directly to: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/581402
Alongside Animal Aid, Lush will also be encouraging customers to complete Animal Aid’s e-action. This enables them to write to their MP and local councillors, highlighting a local story of an animal trapped in a snare, and requesting action.
“We are grateful to Lush for this opportunity to inform the public about these cruel, barbaric and indiscriminate traps and provide them a platform to take action by signing the petition and writing to decision makers. We really can make a difference for thousands of animals. These barbaric snares have escaped a total ban once – now it’s time we stopped them for good.” JADE EMERY, WILDLIFE CAMPAIGNER FOR ANIMAL AID
Find Lush Brighton at 41 East Street
Website: http://www.lush.co.uk
Phone: 01273 774700
Opening Times: Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat: 9:30am-6pm; Thur: 9:30am-7pm; Sun: 10:30am-5pm
Contact the store directly as times may have changed due to Covid-19
