Fedster + 1,307 Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 Officers say they were left with no choice but to kill the German Shepherd after it became "increasingly aggressive". The dog had been left tied to a telegraph pole in cold and wet conditions A force has backed the decision to shoot an abandoned dog believed to be dangerous. At 10am on Sunday, Cleveland Police received a call from Hartlepool Borough Council alerting them to an aggressive German Shepherd which had been left tied to a telegraph pole. Despite hours of working together with partner agencies including the RSPCA, a re-homing charity and consultation with numerous veterinary professionals in order to calm the dog, the decision was made to destroy it. The dog became increasingly aggressive as time went on. Attempts were made to find the owner, however, they were unsuccessful. A Cleveland Police spokesman said: "The decision to destroy the dog has not been taken lightly and this was the very last course of action that we wanted to take. "All attempts to calm the dog failed. Vets advised they were unable to sedate the dog due to not being able to approach it and not having equipment to sedate from a distance. “Unfortunately, veterinary professionals advised that the dog could not be re-homed due to its aggressive behaviour. "The decision taken, in conjunction with the RSPCA and veterinary professionals, was that the kindest thing to do for the dog would be to destroy it. This has been a difficult decision and one that we had hoped we wouldn't have to make." Scores of upset animal lovers took to social media to criticise the way in which the canine was dealt with. One wrote: “This was an unbelievable act of gross stupidity and cruelty by Cleveland Police. Along with the RSPCA (who are questionable regarding many decisions in recent years) they will have this on their consciences for the rest of their lives.” An online petition, which has attacted more than 36,000 signatures, is now calling for the Independent Office for Police Conduct to investigate whether proper procedure was followed. It also demands for procedures to be altered to allow a suitable time of rehabilitation for abandoned dogs before assessment for adoption. View On Police Oracle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerseyLLB 8,426 Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 Followed this as it happened. I'm fuming - as a dog lover - that so many people are misdirecting their anger. The police are NOT vets or animal welfare experts. If they had made the decision to shoot a chained up dog straight away I'd have been joining the outrage brigade as a dog lover. However, the police contacted all the agencies whose JOB this scenario entailed and they werent able to deal. The failings were as I can see it that: -Dog wardens had no capability for recovering large distressed dogs - RSPCA had no contingency for where local authority are unable to provide the required function - The vets on call had neither the equipment nor network to provide the equipment that might reasonably be required - Wrongly or rightly the local Wildlife parks were not asked/did not assist. There were failings here for sure - but not the police's. I don't think it was the right call to shoot the Dog, but it was a call made by professionals rather than the police. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pathca + 612 Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 The police were damned if they did and damned if they didn't 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pavillion 43 Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 The Police were advised and the Police took the decision to shoot the dog. As far as I can know, it was the Police who took the decision to shoot the dog. It was a Police decision to shoot the dog. The Police have to take the flak, its not hard to understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fedster + 1,307 Posted January 24, 2018 Author Share Posted January 24, 2018 7 minutes ago, Pavillion said: The Police were advised and the Police took the decision to shoot the dog. As far as I can know, it was the Police who took the decision to shoot the dog. It was a Police decision to shoot the dog. The Police have to take the flak, its not hard to understand. Who is saying it was not the decision of the police to shoot the dog? The police had to make a decision 1 way or the other based on advise from other organisations , seeing as all these organisations have appeared to have failed in this incident, its easy to blame the police, however its obvious to me if anyone should take the flack it is organisations like the RSPCA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pavillion 43 Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 2 minutes ago, Fedster said: Who is saying it was not the decision of the police to shoot the dog? Not me, why do you ask? 3 minutes ago, Fedster said: The police have to make a decision 1 way or the other based on advise from third parties, seeing as all the third parties have appeared to have failed in this incident, its easy to blame the police, however its obvious to me if anyone should take the flack it is third parties like the RSPCA. The Police are responsible for the decision of shooting the dog. The organisations who gave the advice are responsible for the advice given to Police. This still places the Police in the position of responsibility for taking the decision to shoot the dog. Would it have made you feel happier if I had also included in my original post that the organisations who gave advice to Police were responsible for the advice they gave? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fedster + 1,307 Posted January 24, 2018 Author Share Posted January 24, 2018 3 minutes ago, Pavillion said: Not me, why do you ask? The Police are responsible for the decision of shooting the dog. The organisations who gave the advice are responsible for the advice given to Police. This still places the Police in the position of responsibility for taking the decision to shoot the dog. Would it have made you feel happier if I had also included in my original post that the organisations who gave advice to Police were responsible for the advice they gave? So the police should take all the flak? What about the other agencies involved should they get any flak over this incident? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonT + 1,194 Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 Why are we worrying about the complaining. We did the right thing, we put out a statement explaining. That's what we do. I find it so tedious when a story is fabricated from a random assortment of people on twitter who are outraged. If you put animals onto the mix you can get a petition signed by anyone, the outrage train will ride and everyone gets to shout without actually having to think. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reasonable Man + 1,258 Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 To be fair to Pavillion it is always the decision of the person pulling the trigger. Of course a decision not to leaves the question - what then? Police walk away leaving distressed and aggressive dog chained to the tree? Spend many more hours stood around looking at dangerous dog chained to a tree?Easy to criticise, harder to provide a solution. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac7 808 Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 These incidents are very rare, but sometimes AFO’s are called upon to destroy animals. As the article suggests these decisions are not taken lightly and made after careful consideration of all available information and intelligence. Just like most police decision making. I know someone who had to destroy an animal and it has affected him/her more than any other incident in a long police career. The destruction would have been humane and absolutely necessary. To say the responsibility lies solely on the person who pulls the trigger is inaccurate. Like many other topics on this forum certain members would rather pick apart sentences within posts to suit their agendas and create an argument rather than discuss a topic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pavillion 43 Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 (edited) 4 hours ago, Fedster said: So the police should take all the flak? What about the other agencies involved should they get any flak over this incident? The Police should take the flak for deciding to shoot the dog, the agencies who advised the Police to shoot the dog should take the flak for giving that advice. How simple can it be? I am not and have not drew any conclusion as to whether the shooting of the dog was wrong or right. I am expressing my opinion on where the flak should be directed by those who are outraged by either the advice given to the Police or the Police deciding to shoot the dog. Unfortunately their are those on here who just want to shout from the roof tops about how hard done by the Police are and how difficult it is to carry out the role. I suggest not crying wolf to often, it wears thin. Edited January 24, 2018 by Pavillion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zulu 22 + 4,638 Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 There is only one person responsible, the person who left the dog there. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remmy + 1,401 Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 26 minutes ago, Pavillion said: The Police should take the flak for deciding to shoot the dog, the agencies who advised the Police to shoot the dog should take the flak for giving that advice. How simple can it be? Why should the police take any flak? Is there any evidence of wrong doing? None that I can see. Even if there is I disagree with your statement. We the police, are responsible for taking the shot but as long as it is legal to do so, we have sought expert advice and they not we decided the safest way of resolving the incident is too humanely destroy the animal, we are merely a conduit for that action. Once that decision has been agreed the officers must then decide the safest and most humane way of destroying the animal, which to be honest will nearly always be by a lethal shot. Not sure why you think the police should get flak for carrying out their lawful responsibilties? Perhaps I'm missing something if so please explain what thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pavillion 43 Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 4 minutes ago, Remmy said: Perhaps I'm missing something if so please explain what thanks. No problem, you are confusing the difference between the flak being justified and who should receive the flak, hope that helps you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remmy + 1,401 Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 Just now, Pavillion said: No problem, you are confusing the difference between the flak being justified and who should receive the flak, hope that helps you. No not really sorry. I know there is a distinct difference between the two. However what I am taking issue with is your statement 7 minutes ago, Remmy said: The Police should take the flak for deciding to shoot the dog, Why? If you can explain why you think this is correct that may help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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