Was I interfering or right to phone the Police

[Greendubber]

OP, I think you did the right thing.

[James6112]

Greendubber said:

OP, I think you did the right thing.

Agreed

[Grumbler]

Jeez. These days you can’t even blast man’s best friend with a shotgun…….because of woke.

Edited by Grumbler on Monday 25th March 16:37

[Cats_pyjamas]

Update:

So give it credit to the Police, they have followed up with the RSPCA in attendance. Although it's likely no specific crime has been committed (only one discharge per dog). There are welfare concerns for other dogs on the farm, which are being followed up on.

[119]

Grumbler said:

Jeez. These days you can’t even blast man’s best friend with a shotgun…….because if woke.

You what?

[Grumbler]

Jeez. These days you can’t even blast man’s best friend with a shotgun…….because if woke.

[Pica-Pica]

XCP said:

Vet's have been known to euthanise injured deer at the roadside with a shotgun.

Surely most vets use a bolted pistol. At a friend’s house (in town) the RSPCA were called over a fox in a garden that had been hit by a car, but was still alive (and suffering). They dragged it behind a bush, so no children could see, and dispatched it with a bolted pistol.
I have seen crippled racehorses dispatched this way too.
The person was likely a farmer who may not have a licence for a rifle, but the act was probably legitimate (location perhaps not wise), but best to report it

[bitchstewie]

Cats_pyjamas said:

Update:

So give it credit to the Police, they have followed up with the RSPCA in attendance. Although it's likely no specific crime has been committed (only one discharge per dog). There are welfare concerns for other dogs on the farm, which are being followed up on.

Good to hear (but bad to hear too, YKWIM).

You did the right thing.

[Biker 1]

Cats_pyjamas said:

Update:

So give it credit to the Police, they have followed up with the RSPCA in attendance. Although it's likely no specific crime has been committed (only one discharge per dog). There are welfare concerns for other dogs on the farm, which are being followed up on.

Hopefully there's nothing to worry about, but you have to wonder what else might be going on.
Hundreds of deer around my place - there are many collisions with cars, sometimes resulting in smashed up animals wandering around in agony. Local farmer puts them out of their misery asap with his shotgun, regardless of who's around. To his credit, this is carried out swiftly & safely.

[Mad Maximus]

Cats_pyjamas said:

Popped up the local woods (public land) for a spin on the MTB, part of these backs onto a farm.

I had just got to the top of a track when a discovery hoons it into a field. Driver gets out with a shotgun. Drags an old dog out of the back, and into a bit of a nook on the field and boom.

I wasn't 100% sure it was a dog due to the way he man handled it out of the disco. He then bombed it off, so I jumped the fence and sure enough an old Labrador type dog.

About 5 minutes later he came back with a youngish collie, again boom. He then put the carcasses in the front of a Tele handler bucket (another guy was driving this following the disco for the second killing).

What struck me was how rushed it seemed, the lack of empathy and the use of a shot gun rather than rifle. As well as the fact it was within 30m of public land, which is regularly used by horse riders, dog walkers, kids and mountain bikers.

I did report it to the police, but should I have kept my nose out?

Edited by Cats_pyjamas on Sunday 24th March 19:37

Your right to report it. If you can see it who else can. It ain’t cricket doing this sort of thing in view of anyone. Don’t think the shotgun is an issue but doing it in view is.

[Recalcitrant]

How awful, you absolutely did the right thing. I hope the police investigate the farm as mentioned.

[Alex_225]

I'd have probably done the same.

We have family friends who run a farm and I'm aware he finished off his two old working dogs in a similar fashion. The difference is, he'd have done it on his own property well away from anywhere public and no one would have had a clue.

The way it was done in this instance OP sounds a little more questionable, as in you a member of the public were able to witness it. I appreciate working dogs aren't treated as pets but I'd expect this being being near a public space being quite unnerving.

[interstellar]

The natural thing would have been to shout "oi, what are you doing" until you remembered he had a shotgun!!!!

Edited by interstellar on Tuesday 26th March 16:23

[AndyAudi]

Cats_pyjamas said:

Update:

So give it credit to the Police, they have followed up with the RSPCA in attendance. Although it's likely no specific crime has been committed (only one discharge per dog). There are welfare concerns for other dogs on the farm, which are being followed up on.

Whilst these things happen as a way of humane dispatch on farms, the way it played out in front of you, you were in my mind correct to report to police - I would’ve too.

Credit to police for following up, however I suspect as it involved a shotgun holder they would’ve nearly been obliged too & they may even have considered removing said gun & certificate. (I do believe however police/rspca were wrong to tell you about any ongoing investigation)

[Mr Miata]

OP, what do you expect the outcome to be?

I’m guessing the police will send a car round… when one comes available in the area. The cops will ask what the farmer knows about a shooting? The farmer won’t cooperate. The overstretched overworked police will have nothing to go on.

[XCP]

Or the farmer will say ' I shot a couple of sick dogs, on my land. So what?'

[Agis]

Cats_pyjamas said:

Update:

So give it credit to the Police, they have followed up with the RSPCA in attendance. Although it's likely no specific crime has been committed (only one discharge per dog). There are welfare concerns for other dogs on the farm, which are being followed up on.

You did the right thing. Absolutely.

[SS427 Camaro]

Well done for reporting it, I certainly would have done, let’s hope the disgusting scum get their comeuppance….

[Hol]

119 said:

Grumbler said:

Jeez. These days you can’t even blast man’s best friend with a shotgun…….because if woke.

You what?

I think he just needed to look important instead of Impotent, so wrote a load of crap.

[Hol]

Agis said:

Cats_pyjamas said:

Update:

So give it credit to the Police, they have followed up with the RSPCA in attendance. Although it's likely no specific crime has been committed (only one discharge per dog). There are welfare concerns for other dogs on the farm, which are being followed up on.

You did the right thing. Absolutely.

Agreed.

If there’s nothing to see here, I’d prefer that the police confirm it.

But if there is….. then I’d prefer that the law is applied equally to all persons.