A snare is a snare

Students at Borders College are developing a new snare "to alleviate animal suffering" (your report, 19 November).

The thought of a simple device like a snare being able to lessen the pain or suffering of an ill or injured animal that inadvertently wanders into it is most intriguing.

Of course, what this quote means is that these students are attempting to produce snares that are less cruel than the current ones. However, despite what the Scottish Countryside Alliance would have us believe, there is no humane way to immobolise a wild animal by allowing a snare to tighten around its neck. To suggest otherwise is disingenuous.

NEIL McGILLIVRAY

Netherbank

Edinburgh