NWP officers who killed dog on A55 referred to watchdog

"Officers who deliberately ran down and killed a dog while it was running loose on the A55 in Conwy have been referred to the police watchdog. North Wales Police said the foxhound could not be brought under control and the "only safe option" was to destroy it in the early hours of Monday."

Full Article HERE

Disgusted at what i read no doubt the police were anti hunt !!!!
Foxhounds are lovely natured and highly trained to bring in marksman to sshot it and missed
i hope owner sues the police and offercers sacked !!!!
B.... Disgusting poor dog really feel for owner and hunt the hound belonged to

If it had been a swan or duck the police would have closed the road in both directions!
Why was the local hunt not called out first ?

Why was the local hunt not called out first ?

If there is a local hunt how local is it? and what would they do?

Personally I think that unless some non-explained anywhere catastrophic event happened to the handler at the time then the owner should have had it under control and not running around on any road(s) - 'from what i heard' of this event the owner was negligent in some way, the dog was totally out of control and could have caused a pile up with fatalities, and as a result their dog was killed in the interests of human safety.
.

Yes thats what i thought they should of called hunt master or whipper in or someone hound new
was speaking to friend who hunts with well known english hunt she was horrifed i have hunted too
foxhounds are trained to horn and whip surley the idoit of police should of had sense to call hunt
Hunts hunt sat mond or tues or hound might of ran off during excurise
can not belive hound bit police hmmmmm

The problem is that in the time it takes for the owner to arrive (assuming they know who it is) an accident could have been caused, even at 3am there is traffic about and an articulated lorry could take out other vehicles if it swerved to avoid the dog. If fatalities had occurred the police would have got it in the neck because they'd allowed the dog to continue to roam the roads. Sometimes they can't win, I doubt the decision was taken lightly.

The Police are often in a no-win-situation! If they had left dog to wander and then it had caused a crash with possible fatalities then the public would have been outraged. If they had had the local hunt in to catch it they would have been criticised by anti-hunt,public and government. They took the decision to destroy the dog and caused uproar...a no win situation.

My only feelings how it could of gen dealt with more positively would have been to use a professional vet to dart dog then pts or use a professional marksman.
Our Police have a really tough job and whatever action they take its the wrong decision to some.
Let the owner be named and shamed for being negligent.

Call me a cynic but I suspect once the dog allegedly bit one of them, the 'only option' was all too tempting.

If the owners of the dog understand the sad decision made and are not up in arms then it was the right choice IMO. No-one wants cars swerving, hitting each other and killing innocent people for a lose dog. Seems that the police weighed up the options and took the quickest route to getting the dog off the road and out of harms way............. on roads where cars are driving fast you can't wait and hope nothing happens.

Only recently I saw a car swerve and hit a tree avoiding a dog on a country road, dog happily toddled off whilst myself and others had to look after the poor man and call an ambulance, wrecked car, missed days at work and injury over someone's dog. (Worse thing that dog was never traced to prosecute the owner)

It's very sad and heartbreaking, but human life can't be risked for a lose dog, so I sadly agree with the choice made.

I read that the officers involved were dog owners themselves and didn't enter into this lightly. I understand they did it with sufficient speed that the dog didn't suffer. As much as it hurts to think of this I agree that if my children were driving and likely to be involved in an accident because of a loose dog on the road then my kids would have to come first and the danger would need to be eliminated. Sad but true...

I see the M5 was closed today to catch a loose dog

http://m.stroudlife.co.uk/Police-shut-M5-rescue-dog-running-traffic/story-28809298-detail/story.html#comments%23

One big difference was the hound was 3am and the M25 collie was in the afternoon in clear daylight.

Yes, tongue in cheek. Probably wouldn't have made the news on any other day.

I was totally sickened at this news but a lot of it doesn't add up - eg. the photos used show nose to bumper traffic -  at 3 AM?   Also was the foxhound pictured the one who was run over.   And if there was nose to bumper traffic, how were the police able to 'take a run at the hound' to kill him?   And why wasn't the traffic stopped - not that by the time they did, the hound would probably have been off across the fields in any case.   And if they could get close enough to be bitten, why, if this was a Pack hound, wasn't the local Hunt called so they could get hold of him - he was probably scared stiff poor boy/girl.

The whole story again, sickens me.   I hope an enquiry is made, much as they always close ranks.

As i said its very anti hunt !!!!!
Nothing adds up
hounds stay as pack its very rare that one strays from pack if it does it very quickly goes back
i hope police get sued and lose their jobs but no doubt they will get away with it and lie !!!

If they are so well trained, why did this one run off?  And (off on a tangent a little) why are there so many reports of hunt hounds going off-trail and killing other animals, including peoples' pets in their own gardens?  And why was it off straying at 3am, why hadn't it been searched for already and, if so well trained, and likely to return to the pack quickly, was it not soon back to the pack and safety?

All that said, I don't agree with what happened here, not by a long way.  That road could have been shut, it would probably have been safer to do so at 3am than during the day (less traffic, police lights stand out better etc).  I hope the inquiry finds fault and those responsible for that fault are brought to task.

I have never heard of hounds killing pets etc
hound puppys spend time in people homes its known as puppy walkin
i am really confused to why etc this poor hound was left  so long lot of things in this story just do not add up
the press are good at making lies up i should no as i had someone sell story to paper about my horse in back garden
the story was full of lies and slander

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8956283/Couple-devastated-after-pet-cat-killed-by-27-hunting-dogs.html
http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/14296402.Pet_cat_killed_by_hunt_s_hounds/
http://www.thejournal.ie/dog-attacked-hunt-1200991-Dec2013/
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/armagh-pigeon-fancier-wins-60k-damages-after-hunt-hounds-kill-birds-34458047.html

And yes, it's an anti-hunt page (not a surprise, a pro-hunt page is unlikely to advertise this issue), but here's a whole ton:
http://www.realca.co.uk/hunting/pet_killers

> If they are so well trained, why did this one run off?  And (off on a tangent a little) why are there so many reports of hunt hounds going off-trail and killing other animals, including peoples' pets in their own gardens?  And why was it off straying at 3am, why hadn't it been searched for already and, if so well trained, and likely to return to the pack quickly, was it not soon back to the pack and safety?

Sometimes, quite often actually, a hound will become detached from the Pack.   Normally the huntsman would keep looking for it, blowing the horn etc., but that doesn't always mean the hound comes in.  It's not unknown for one or two hounds to become separated from the Pack, and maybe stray onto trainlines to be killed there.    I have to suggest the rather emotive suggestion about a hound killing a pet in their back-garden is the exception rather than the rule, and certainly I doubt a single hound would do this - it's just if unfortunately the Pack gets to run through property that as a Pack, this can happen.  Especially when in the past, their quarry runs through gardens in the first place.

Who knows whether anybody was still out looking for the hound by 3 am?   And is it known whether this was a hound from a Pack ..... could be it wasn't a Pack hound?

I'm still really upset about what happened here - although it might be that shooting only winged the hound, running him over with a car could so easily have resulted in an injury, internal maybe, from which the hound would stagger off to die a horrible death.   And wouldn't the police have had to stop the traffic to pick up the body?

> As I said it is very anti hunt !!!!!

So you think the Police Officers killed the dog because they were anti hunt?!!

>i am really confused to why etc this poor hound was left  so long

If you knew the area (Llanfairfechan) then you would know that it is rural and on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park, with Conwy bay the other side. The A55 is a major route and heads into a tunnel at one point. The area is also very steep in places (on the non-sea side) and if it happened near the tunnel, then there would not have been any way to shepherd the dog off of the road to safety or containment until it could be caught. It is a steep 'rock face' on one side (hence the need for a tunnel) and high fenced, bay on the other.

If the dog had bitten an officer, then they obviously tried their best to catch it. Anyone whom has tried to catch a 'loose' dog will know that it is not that easy! Especially if it has been on the run any length of time and with many hands making a grab at it. They becomes increasingly scared and unpredictable.

Even at 3am there would be lorries etc about and I would imagine that traffic would not be moving slowly even at that time of the day. Darkness will have been one of the deciding factors and no doubt the 'tunnel' was also significant. The Police Officers made a judgement call. Although we may not agree with the method they chose and would not condone their actions in anyway - they did what they thought was right for the situation that presented itself at that time and in that location. Others faced with the same situation in the same location may have done things differently or, may have done exactly the same. However, every road and situation is different and you can not compare like for like. It's a horrible situation and I would not have wanted to be the one to make that decision in those circumstances. If as reported, they were dog owners - then I would imagine it will haunt them for a very long time to come.

I saw one report on Facebook (not exactly the fount of accurate reporting I know!) that it wasn't actually a Pack foxhound at all, it was a trailhound or coonhound owned by a person. No idea how true that is!

No i do not now area
only been to wales once up on hill at steam rally event with horses

i am up set with this story it is thoughy of how this poor poor hound was killed

I do know the area and that road IS occasionally closed due to livestock on the road.

I can't help but think that if it was 'safe' to intentionally aim a vehicle at with sufficient speed to kill, then it was safe to shut the flipping road. Can you imagine the carnage that would have ensued if other road users got involved, got in the way, NOT knowing that the police car was intentionally trying to kill the dog (and WHO would see that situaiton whilst driving, and immediately jump to the conclusion that they were intentionally trying to kill the dog!)...

I don't think this was safe to do, I don't in fact think it was a thought out 'plan', I think someone got p*ssed off and saw an opportunity to end the situation and took it, after everyone involved had dived in and gone about things wrongly from teh start...

Just one example, the dog bit someone trying to catch it - why weren't they using a catch pole, wearing gloves....

It sounds like they chased the dog around willynilly instead of closing the road straight away and made the situation worse.

A dog in the road you don't expect it to bite, it is not known how close the nearest dog unit was and whether they could get close enough to it again safely. Once its bitten it then becomes a dangerous animal, catching a dog is not like herding up livestock. I've been told that a firearms unit were on scene, don't know where that was found out but apparently they said it was unsafe to start trying to shoot at the animal.
They wouldn't have been able to risk this dog running off again as it would now be a risk to the public.
I cant imagine the decision they came to was done lightly, the pressure they were under to make a decision and sometimes quickly. Police often have to make a decision very quickly as to what they deem.appropriate at the time and they have to justify at the time their actions.

People so many people are quick to criticise the police, dammed I they do and dammed if they don't.
Lets wait for the ipcc review first before start to throw accusations about

Really?

I work with dogs daily, I expect ALL dogs to bite in the right (wrong) circumstances.

Perhaps if nothing else this highlights a very real need for ALL officers to undergo some basic animal handling skills training.  Mind you before that I think a lot of them need to undergo some basic HUMAN handling skills training if the way I see officers antagonising already difficult 'customers' on the various cops-on-camera shows is anything to go by (and I know enough police officers personally to know it IS fairly representative)...

Catching a roaming dog, it will either come to you or run off, you just done hear of incidents where dogs bite. But we don't know the circs in which it did, whether they got too close and the dog went of they got hold of it and ij order to get away it bit.

I would say that very few officers have animal handling skills but its unlikely that this will happen now even more so due to the cuts.
It really isn't representative of a difficult client and police antagonising them further, some in the minority do but most don't want to end up in the fight and just want the person to either go away or to go with them calmly. Think my previous job I would have a fair account on that. I wouldn't go by a tv show like that either because it has to be juicy to make the cut.
Anyway it was 3am, dark, limited staff and limited services and the public is their main priority and not a dog loose on a road to protect. Not condoning running down a dog but I want to know how they came to that decision and why the forearms officer if they really were there weren't willing to take a shot at the dog.

It always surprises me how quick people are to condemn the police, how about some blame on the owner who doesn't want to be identified.
Did they report the dog missing or just hope it would return home.
Yes I'm saddened that the dog had to die, but dogs running loose that don't want to be caught, in an open space isn't easy,
a large trailhound type, they move fast, I doubt even the dog unit would have managed.
It has also been reported that the owner doesn't blame the police for their actions so why are we ?
Without knowing the dog or it's history we can only assume it bit the officer out of fear, but who knows until the owner
comes forward and tells us, which I doubt they will.
Just on another point, foxhounds are not puppy walked in homes, they are given to local hunt supporters and kept outside
in stables kennels etc.

The article I read said the owner had been contacted and agreed to the solution the Police used, as other methods of retrieval had failed.

Am I not right in believing that a Hound going AWOL like this would be considered a liability and shot/PTS by the hunt once found?

This poor hound was killed on the A55(not M55), it was stated the route is used for the ferry to Dublin & there was traffic on the road for the Ferry, hm, the Ferry sails at 2.30am so there wouldn't be traffic on the dual carriage way-not motorway, lorries & vans would be legally restricted to 60 mph not 70 as quoted by the police spokesman. There is very little traffic at 3 am.
Is the police officer who made the decision a qualified animal expert, who knows what speed of collision will definitely kill a dog ? This road has been regularly closed for a whole variety of reasons, from flooding to animals on the carriageway at all times of the day & night over the years & at this time of night there would have been little traffic.
Under the 2006 Animal Welfare Act, what the police did IS illegal not might be but is & I'm sure amy member of the public caught doing this would be speedily dealt with. I very much doubt it was the officers on the ground who made the decision, but of course they will the ones taking the blame

This was a trail hound & the do go" rogue"on occasions if distracted on a trail & why should the owner not remain anonymous, imagine the media's actions if they knew who it was, adding more grief to the loss in this barbaric way.

To those who think this was a humane act you are very mistaken, there is no way of knowing.

Interestingly the very same police force has been part of a TV series in which traffic on motorways being stopped by rolling road blocks for animals on the carriageways at very busy times of day including a swan,  are the police turning into the RSPCA ? Only performing humane acts if there is a camera tolling ??

To nobody specific...

Unless you were there watching you will never know what happened. We can guess, throw accusations right left and centre but we still don't know. It is easy to blame the police, the owner, the other drivers, the Queen and anyone else living, but we still do not know....  Was it the right thing to do, was it an act of cruelty - we just don't know do we, so I think we just have to let it drop and accept rightly or wrongly a dog died and nothing we do will bring the dog back or change the circumstances.

However by running the dog down the Police broke the law, as in 2006 Animal Welfare Act, that is a fact

Of course without being there, nobody here can be sure about what was reported, but all I can say is from what I've read/heard, this was cruel and inhumane.   If anybody knocks down and kills a dog, it has to be reported ..... TO THE POLICE!!!