Animal Cruelty Investigation in Cleveland Park

Dangerous trap wounds raccoon

The Washington Humane Society is trying to figure out who set a dangerous animal trap in the Cleveland Park area.

Earlier this month a woman spotted a raccoon walking on her fence with a snap trap attached to its front paw. Humane officials said the animal wandered around the area for three more days before they were able to track it down.

"Somebody set the trap, we don't know if they set it intentionally for that raccoon or another animal, but he was the one who was caught," Jennifer Gardner, an officer with the Washington Humane Society, told News4's Pat Collins.

It's unclear where the trap had been initially set, but Gardner warned the situation could have been much worse.

"Any animal, any child, anybody could have gotten caught in this trap," she said.

The raccoon had to be euthanized after the trap did extensive damage to its front leg. Humane investigators said the raccoon had tried to chew off its leg to free itself. It suffered for at least a week, they said.

The raccoon was first spotted in the 3700 block of Appleton Street NW April 4. It was captured April 7 in the 3800 block of Yuma Street NW.

Humane officials are asking anyone with information about where the trap had been set or who may have placed it to give them a call at (202) 723-5730. There is a $1,000 reward in the case.

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