‘He was their best friend’: Mum calls for snare ban after beloved cat Jimmy killed in Cullybackey

Emma’s daughter Mya sharing hugs with Jimmy

A Cullybackey mum whose children have been left heartbroken after their beloved young cat was killed by a snare is calling for all snares to be banned in Northern Ireland — saying she was shocked to discover that the devices are not completely outlawed here.

Jimmy was less than a year old when he was discovered caught in a snare and hanging helplessly from a tree on Saturday, 8 August.

His family rushed him to a vet, but nothing could be done to save him.

For Emma Rodgers and her children, Jimmy was far more than a pet. He was the gentle, affectionate little cat who would snuggle up to anyone who would have him, who was sometimes the real reason visitors called at their home, and who had formed an especially close bond with the children.

Now, amid their grief, Emma is trying to turn the death of her “beautiful boy” into change.

She has launched an online petition calling for a comprehensive ban on snares in Northern Ireland and is appealing for the public and politicians to get behind it.

‘He was their best friend’

Jimmy

Speaking to Love Ballymena, Emma said the loss has been particularly devastating for her children.

“Jimmy was so much more than a pet, he was an integral part of our family and adored by everyone who met him. He would snuggle up to anyone who would have him, but he had a particularly special bond with our children, who are absolutely heartbroken by his loss. He was their best friend, and he was my beautiful boy.

“People would sometimes call our house not to visit us, but to see Jimmy the cat. He had a way of leaving a lasting impression on everyone he met, and his loving, gentle nature made him so incredibly special.

“Jimmy was less than a year old when his life was cruelly cut short. He had so much more life ahead of him, and he did not deserve to have that life taken away in such a barbaric and senseless way.

“The pain of losing him has been devastating for our whole family, but especially for our children, who have lost not just a pet, but their best friend.”

Emma said she has reported what happened to the USPCA, which she says is investigating the incident.

But alongside the shock of Jimmy’s death came another discovery.

“I was shocked to learn that not all snares are illegal in Northern Ireland,” she said.

Not all snares are banned in Northern Ireland

That distinction is now at the heart of Emma’s campaign.

Northern Ireland law restricts the use of snares and prohibits certain types, including self-locking snares, but there is no blanket ban on all snares.

There is no suggestion at this stage that the snare involved in Jimmy’s death was lawfully set, and the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.

A animal snare discovered at a riverside location where otters were found

However, Emma believes the fact that any snares can still be legally used leaves animals exposed to an unacceptable risk.

The issue has become increasingly significant as legislation elsewhere moves towards tighter restrictions.

Scotland has banned the use of snares, while Wales has also prohibited them. England has not yet implemented a ban, although the UK Government has committed to banning snare traps there.

Northern Ireland, meanwhile, currently has no planned legislation to introduce a comprehensive ban during the remainder of this Assembly mandate.

‘A day that should have been ordinary turned into a nightmare’

Emma has now launched an online petition, Ban the Use of All Snares in Northern Ireland, calling on the Northern Ireland Assembly and relevant authorities to act.

It begins with the moment her family’s ordinary Saturday changed completely.

“On a day that should have been ordinary, turned into a nightmare for our family. On Saturday, 8th August, our cherished cat, Jimmy, was discovered caught in a snare, hanging helplessly from a tree.

“Despite our swift actions, taking him to the vet, nothing could save him from the cruel fate dealt by these barbaric devices.

“Jimmy wasn’t just a pet; he was a beloved family member whose affectionate nature brought joy and love into our lives. His untimely death has left a gaping hole in our hearts that can never be filled.

“He did not deserve to meet such a tragic end.”

The petition argues that snares can catch animals other than those they are intended to target, potentially placing wildlife and domestic pets at risk, and calls for alternative wildlife management methods to be used instead.

Emma wants Jimmy’s death to become the catalyst for a change in the law — and for the grief now being experienced by her children to be spared another family.

Minister previously confirmed no ban planned

South Antrim MP Robin Swann, who recently called for all snares to be banned in Northern Ireland

The tragedy comes just months after South Antrim MP Robin Swann challenged Northern Ireland’s position on snares.

Mr Swann sought clarification from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) earlier this year over whether legislation would be introduced to ban their use.

Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir confirmed that a ban on snares was not included in the department’s Animal Welfare Pathway, published in 2025.

While animal welfare remained a departmental priority, pressures on the legislative timetable and the limited time remaining in the current Assembly mandate meant there was no scope to progress legislation on snares before the end of the term.

Mr Swann expressed his disappointment at the decision.

“It is very disappointing that the Department has no intention of moving to ban these devices during this mandate,” he said.

“Snares are inherently cruel and indiscriminate. While the Minister expresses sympathy for animal welfare concerns, this does not provide the legislative protection required to end this practice.”

The political question now takes on a very different meaning for one family in Cullybackey.

From heartbreak to a call for change

Much loved Jimmy

Until Saturday, Jimmy was a young cat with most of his life still ahead of him.

He was the pet Emma’s children regarded as their best friend; the affectionate character who would happily curl up beside visitors; the cat people sometimes came to the house specifically to see.

Now there is an empty space in the family home — and a campaign carrying his name and story.

Emma is asking people across Northern Ireland to sign the petition and is calling on elected representatives to reconsider whether the existing law offers animals sufficient protection.

Her petition concludes:

“By signing this petition, you are taking a stand against animal cruelty and supporting a future where no family has to endure the heartache we have experienced.”

For Emma, however, the reason for that campaign can be expressed much more simply.

Jimmy was not yet a year old. Her children have lost their best friend.

And she does not want another family to find out what snares can do in the way hers did.

The petition can be signed at:

Sign Emma’s Petition