Raccoon left in box trap over 12 hours in 100 degree heat
Richardson, TX (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Jun 23, 2011
County: Dallas

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Lon Menefee

A raccoon rescue near Dallas has led to a court fight over cages.

Bonnie Bradshaw, who's with a wildlife rescue group, pleaded not guilty Thursday to attempted theft of property. She wants a jury trial, set for Aug. 17.

Bradshaw received a call around 6:30 p.m. on June 23 from a resident of a Richardson apartment complex, reporting a weak, exhausted, near-death raccoon caught in a humane trap at the complex. The resident noticed the raccoon in the trap at 7 a.m. that morning when she left for work and had reported it to the complex maintenance man, who told her he would call the trapper and have him come get it. But the trapper never came, leaving the raccoon suffering in the summer sun in a hot metal trap for nearly 12 hours.

The Dallas Morning News reports Bradshaw identified herself to leasing personnel before taking the caged animal and an empty cage. She later released the unharmed raccoon. Bradshaw two days later gave the traps to an animal control officer.

Lon Menefee, who had a contract to set the traps, says Bradshaw had no business taking his property.

Bradshaw reported Menefee and he's charged with animal cruelty. He denies wrongdoing.

References

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