To want to shame the people responsible for the death of a well-known swan

[LoveMyPiano]

A local canal just over a couple of hills from where I live, has resident swans who everyone knows.

The canal itself is a countryside and picturesque stretch that becomes non-navigable due to a cloed tunnel, and is not even navigable where it should be due to restrictions at the minute from the Canal and River Trust.

There are two swans ( couple, most of the time....) who live on this part - close to a small hamlet with cottages facing the canal there - are loved by everyone and friendly. Despite that is, the male and his previous partner having been shot a couple of years ago. She died and he was injured and hospitalised for a while.
When he came back, a new female came with him, and they actually had some offsping, which was lovely to see.

This weekend, "someone" called out the RSPCA to him. He has a wonky neck, which worsens when he is tired, but it is an old injury and he is prefectly fine.
The RSPCA and a local vet "diagnosed" bird flu, and he has been destroyed!!!

There was a big struhgle to get him out, and he will have been very frightened. Only to be killed after all that! I cannot get that out of my mind.

They have a ring which if checked, will detail their history - and the "local" (it is quite big) Swan Rescue has full knowledge of him and his issues - and can handle swans nicely and carefully, as it their area of expertise.

I have never posted (in part) hoping that the press would get wind of the content. But I hope that one of their staff who are employed to seek out items to broadcast, might see this and follow up.

The swans were actually on Countryfile not long ago - and people would I am sure, be so sad and horrified to hear what has happened.

Im assuming that you were there when it happened - could you not have got in touch with them?

So you are definitively saying that the swan did not have bird flu - the vet is wrong and you diagnosis is based on ... what exactly?

fairly sure a vet is better than diagnosing bird flu than you

The swans were actually on Countryfile not long ago
BBC producers trump professional HCP for animals.

If you want a news outlet to write and article about the swans you should contact them.

I know where this is, very close to us. Absolutely awful. The RSPCA are honestly pretty untrustworthy imho. He did not deserve to lose his life for simply existing. All they had to do was check his ring number. His mate will be heartbroken.

I did not say Name and Shame (cringey hun speak, whatever that means). I said Shame them. I actually changed the title, which originally said "vengeance" (make of that what you will, but I thought I might be flagged for an inflammatory word).

And anyway, definitely Shame on them for taking rash action, not investigating properly and mishandling the swan to get their hands on him.

People with covid didn't get put down. People with TB dint get put down. People with disabilities don't get put down. Stop thinking people are anything other than just an animal.

OP I think way humans decide on matters like this is barbaric. He might have had bird flu, and obviously right now we dont want that spreading even more widely esp as it can jump to himans, so let's find a cure and treat animals like we do humans.

He was a fixture, that's for sure.
He lost his trust of humans after the shooting - so I always found it such an honour when he would come to be hand fed. The people much closer will be devastated.

@LoveMyPiano absolutely. It's been on my mind too. I hope he's resting well up there 😞

I very much doubt this would have been the only detail which arrived at the diagnosis. There are tests done to confirm infection. Unless you are suggesting no Avian Influenza test was carried out?

This. I thought you meant someone had deliberately harmed the swans. If they had Avian flu it was important not to let it spread.

Bird flu is absolutely rife. The seabird colonies on Coquet have been decimated, wild birds are riddled. But you think that a vet lied about this swan having it and killed it for no reason? Doesn't seem especially likely now does it

Yes, it's quite one thing (and equally terrible) when, as happened two (or 3?) years ago, "strangers" attack these innocent creatures - quite another when Aminal Welfare/Vets needlessly take al life ithout finding out the full picture.

I am training as an Aimal Welfare Officer - specifically for horses - and key knowledge to have is who ELSE needs to or can be contacted, or liaised with in a welfare or emergency situation. It is basic diligence that should be carried out.

My typing 🙄 - nails too long and too annoyed.

Don't swans all belong to the crown, or is that a myth?

I don't think anyone is saying that the vet lied or killed the swan for no reason. The vet saw the crooked neck on the swan and instantly related it to bird flu, when actually, that swan had had that crooked neck for years as a lasting result of previous injury. I just wish they'd checked more thoroughly, even just checked the ID tag on the leg and brought up the swans medical history and it would be explained why his neck was like that.

@LoveMyPiano funnily enough I volunteer at a local rescue and have been involved in various animal rescues over the years and same here. It's all about who we can contact for extra information. What's the history of the animal? Do locals know anything? Any vet/medical history? Any meds? Any info from the council/social services/other agencies? Is there anyone else better placed to deal with this specific situation (e.g. a breed specific rescue). Obviously not all these apply to the swan situation, but the way it seems is that it was a clear cut case of catch the swan, assume bird flu and put it to sleep. I can honestly say that sometimes "professionals" make the wrong choices and don't follow protocol. Also, many practices around animals are outdated. Just the other day my neighbour contacted a dog trainer who they were intending to work with and it until they informed them that a shock collar would be the best "treatment" for their dog. It's not far fetched at all that the RSPCA and a vet misread this whole situation. If you look at various different sources you'll find that the RSPCA aren't actually all that squeaky clean and their standards of welfare are pretty dire.

@Springblossom2022

100% to everything you have said. It makes perfect sense, and so why on Earh would the RSPCA not do all of that (which they didn't)?
Too too hasty - and possibly breaching som guideline or oher.

I attended a horse(s) vs car accident some years ago. One of the horses had come off very badly - and it was late on a May Bank Holiday evening.
The Police had no clue how to handle things and deferred to me with their questions. The horse was in bad shape but who knows??? He might have been saved....
When the vet came, they were in a car - no lorry or box to transport him. I still am inclined to believe that he was put down through sheer incompetence and/or laziness.

Are you just talking to yourself OP?

And I cannot even believe shock collars even exist.
The humans who suggest them, should wear them.

Oh, so only super important threads should exist ? You do read MN right ?

Poor swan, he survived getting shot then was destroyed by the RSPCA. Ironic.

I think this is an interesting and saddening thread. Some of the comments by other posters are so rude to the Op.

STOP THE PRESSES

How do you know they didn’t?