Two dogs shot in London by police

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I’m usually very empathetic and recently even posted on an animal testing post but I just can’t find any compassion in my heart for out of control and dangerous animals at the moment, it’s just getting ridiculous. I obviously feel for the owner who I hope gets some kind of mental support/ counselling.

It’s so confusing as I’m usually so compassionate, I guess having a small child and the number of dog attacks does something to your brain? I hate walking past Bullies with my baby in the pram. Even normal dogs I’m starting to get very hesitant about. For context I usually cry if I step on a silver worm in the bathroom so this is a very strange reaction for me.

Interested to hear what other dog owning/ non dog owning people think. Also the government are going to have to step in at some point right?

So in that situation if you wouldn't calm your dog down and control him, it would be your fault if it got shot.
The only person to blame for the dogs deaths is their owner. He could have easily given the dogs to be checked over but instead he caused a massive scene. He got his dogs killed and now wants to complain about it. I think the police were justified completely.

Here is a link to the video of the first dog lunging at the police and being shot. I suggest you play the twitter video at 0.25x speed because it happens very quickly.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4801601-two-dogs-shot-in-london-by-police?reply=126113609&utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

Here are some screenshots of the first dog being shot.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4801601-two-dogs-shot-in-london-by-police?reply=126114616&utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

The dog is clearly dangerously out-of-control. The owner isn't holding/restraining the dog or holding the lead.

The second dog was killed when it headed away from the armed police and towards the owner and the policeman that was apprehending him.

The police shooter did a fine job under very difficult circumstances. The first shot was a split second decision that protected his colleague from attack. The dog is no more than 50cm away from the police when killed.

Could they have made more effort to deescalate the situation? Maybe - but the shooting of the first dog was 100% justified once it lunged aggressively, off lead, towards the police.

The guy has just been charged at court for having an out of control dog(s). People on this thread presumably do not know the law better than the courts, but there is clearly enough evidence to prosecute.

Footage of those dogs on the tube make me even more glad they were shot - and I fervently hope this man is properly prevented from having dogs ever again. Someone letting any dog, let alone xl bullies on seats on public transport is not a responsible dog owner; he's a selfish, stupid man who is entirely responsible for their deaths. The police get plenty of things wrong but in this they were spot on.

@ThinkTheresBeenAGlitch why? I’ve seen dozens of commuters travelling with their dogs on the tube! Does this mean they should all be executed?

The dog cowering about to be shot didn’t look out of control! He was tethered to his dead companion!

Dogs should never ever be on seats on public transport. It's so unfair on people with allergies and also everyone who wouldn't want to sit on dog grease. I don't really see why any dogs that are not assistance dogs are allowed at all and certainly not for free. My kids get on trains, I don't want dirty dog skank on the seats thank you!!

@ThisOldThang I appreciate you sharing the links but I can’t bring myself to watch the video, the photos were harrowing enough.

I will wait to learn further details of the first dog, maybe police cam footage etc? but this still doesn’t take away the image of the second dog, tethered to his dead companion, cowering and with his back to the marksman! It’s not good is it? It’s absolutely heartbreaking.

@Boomboom22 dog grease? That’s a new one!

I’ve seen far cleaner animals than some humans on public transport!

I watched the video of the first dog. It was not pleasant, but was less harrowing than I'd expected. The police marksman felled it with a single shot. It didn't even seem to twitch.

(I understand that the second wasn't such a clean shot and I have no wish to see that one. I only watched the first to see if the dog could reasonably believed to have presented a threat - and I'm afraid it did).

@Emotionalsupportviper thank you. It’s still extremely hard to get the images of those sleeping, passive dogs on the tube out of my head. The dog who was apparently aggressive in the video, would most probably be protecting his owner, was probably scared too.

I’ve seen countless videos of rescue dogs, dogs who have been distressed by humans trying to help, but it’s all a big act. Once the human gains their trust, they’re totally different.

I just don’t understand why the second dog was killed, why?

Were the weapons pointing to the owner and dogs when giving chase?

I see this sort of comment a lot. Is there a difference between a bite and a mauling?

I don't want kids puke and blackberry drinks on seats either.

Dogs should never be on seats. I'm particularly sensitive to that because of having a child with severe allergies. He was showing off his big, frightening-looking dogs and letting them take over half the carriage. Dogs that size and strength could cause absolute havoc on a tube platform, they can knock people over just from excitement if not aggression. He was clearly an utterly unfit owner in every way and was a disaster waiting to happen. I'm relieved it was the dogs rather than some innocent bystander who paid the inevitable price.

@Emotionalsupportviper both dogs didn't die instantly. After each shot you can see them moving 💔

I honestly don't understand the controversy over this. Dogs are animals. If there is any risk whatsoever, kill them. This man looks like an absolute piece of work, he should be in jail too. What is wrong with people in this country? Why do we prioritise animals and criminals over the rights of law-abiders?

Dogs are animals
yes @Florenz I agree with you!
But the owners often become very emotionally attached to them to the extent that they worship them and are consequently unable to think rationally about matters concerning them🙁

Many humans act worse than animals! Pity we can’t shoot them too, eh?

Well at least it seems that the Investigation of police conduct will be carrying out an investigation into the killing of the dogs and tasering of their owner.

@shadowchancesassy the first dog was shot in the head with a shotgun. It was a very clean kill and that dog wasn't moving afterwards.

One of the police had a dog catch pole.
If the idiot owner had let the dogs be examined, they might not have got shot.

On the bus today was a lanky kid with a huge mastiff cane corso that was being very aggressive to an assistance dog
The idiot with the mastiff wanted the disabled woman to get off the bus with her dog so he could get his aggressive one past.

The passengers said he was out of control the last time they saw it on the bus...It's always the same demographic..lanky, weak males who have these huge dogs they haven't a hope of controlling.

A friend has a rescue Staffie that belonged to a heroin addict..the dog is extremely gentle with other dogs and people, a miracle considering his background, but generally Staffies are 'OK'.

A dog has been bitten by these dogs that were shot. A rescue dog.
The owner has previously been banned for having three dogs that killed someone's beloved pet dog.

This man is not a fit or suitable owner at all to own any animal, he doesn't train them, or keep them safe, or respect other's safety.
He's typical of the type drawn to these dogs , sadly.

Sounds a great owner and a good dog.
Not the standard ''Waster'' who is drawn to Staffies {or now XL Bullies}.

Staffies are lovely dogs when they have dedicated owners who give the dog good walks, training and crucially, good socialisation.

@ThisOldThang mate if you watch the video you can clearly see both dogs moving their heads. The first ones tail is moving so no the didn't die instantly

I think it was a worrying and excessive and in appropriate use of force and weapon. Dogs attacking someone is one thing I agree but here they hadn’t attached anyone. She said they had attacked her dogs got tangled in her own leads according to local shop owners. My brother lives there said the dogs were well known. They had no previous problems though the owner was banned from keeping dogs. My immediate worry is always where people breed dogs to fight but I’m told that’s not why it was, and he’s homeless . Even dogs who have attacked are euthanised so why shoot them at traumatise everyone watching? I hope they sue. They police had them on a pole let them go and shot them. No one was bitten so did they even do correct due dilligence? I have labradoodles and I think if they weren’t a ‘bully breed’ they wouldn’t have got shot. I think any dogs can attack as we’ve seen with the recent spate with dog walkers etc but it’s often the family dog. I do the ink there were issues to respond to but I am sad to see the UK using guns in this way. I can’t see it would have happened if it hadn’t been during coronation period - why not send a dog unit - they could deal with it properly and humanely. When you watch the videos the dogs are barking but they’re wagging their tails. It seemed like they got irritated with the owner and shot them, maybe ramped up on their nerves or shoot to kill orders because of the coronation. My conclusion is excessive and disproportionate use of force in this instance.

Another day another dog attack, this time in Glasgow where an Akita type thing bit the eye right out of a tiny Llasa Apso's head. The owner ran off with the dig after the attack.
Might make these idiotic owners think twice if the police shoot a few more of them.