COMMONWEALTH, WESTPAC LEAD GROWING LIST OF BANKS TO REJECT CRUELTY TO MICE

After Hearing From PETA, Large Financial Institutions Help the ‘Little Guy’ by Banning Vile Glue Traps

For Immediate Release:
3 January 2013

Sydney – Following correspondence with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Australia, several of the biggest financial institutions in the country, including ANZ, Westpac Corporation, Commonwealth Bank, Virgin Money Australia and Suncorp, have introduced policies against the cruel use of glue traps in any of their offices or branches. Glue traps are devices coated with strong adhesives that can trap small animals, including mice, rats, birds and even kittens. Once caught in these devices, the animals struggle to escape, becoming more ensnared in the glue. Death – which can take more than 24 hours – results from exhaustion, shock, dehydration, asphyxiation or blood loss. Many animals will chew off their own limbs in an attempt to escape.

Other financial institutions that will not use glue traps include Bank of Queensland, Newcastle Permanent, Citibank, Goldman Sachs and HSBC. Glue traps are already prohibited for public use in Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania because of their cruel nature.

“When it comes to giving mice, birds and other small animals a break, you can bank on the financial industry”, says PETA Australia Director of Campaigns Jason Baker. “These institutions have shown that glue traps have no place in their businesses.”

Glue traps are also ineffective because unless animals are prevented from entering a building in the first place, more will move in to fill the void left by those who are killed. PETA hopes other Australian financial institutions – including NAB – will follow suit and assure their customers that they, too, refuse to use glue traps.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.au.

#