To think it’s cruel to bring police dogs into a a massive violent riot as was Southport last night? *edited by MNHQ

[Bullbreedbliss]

The tragedy at Southport has been horrific beyond description and touched us all. However I can’t help but think it was not only ineffective, but irresponsible and cruel to bring dogs into the scene that unfolded during last nights riots. The morning after and we are hearing that dogs have been injured from having bricks thrown in their direction, strangled, kicked and burnt. Bringing half a dozen dogs into a scene where hundreds of people are engaging in such extreme levels of violence and civil unrest was never going to achieve anything except traumatised and injured animals. A poor tactic employed by police at great cost to the animals that did not choose to be there.

You don't know what dogs they were or what they did, they could have been sniffing out explosives, they could have been assisting in arrests, they could have been searching for a missing vulnerable person

Those dogs could have saved lives last night, you don't know what they did

Just questioning the order of sympathy as laid out by pp.

IME most police dogs are very happy and enjoy biting people

They were police dogs, doing a job. They weren't a few shih tzu's on a jolly.......

• the public order dogs anyway.

They don't generally "bite". They are trained to hold people by their blunt back teeth, it should only be dangerous if you really struggle - I agree it doesn't always work perfectly, but they don't "attack". They are very controlled

I think caring about the welfare on animals does not detract from the awful actions that occurred. In my view the rioters should all now be behind bars, with extra charges for animal cruelty.

They actually are if this is your main concern, seriously what is wrong with some people 😑

When will this bloody dog obsession end.

Children have been stabbed and murdered, violent riots. Op says won't someone think of the dogs.

For God sake.

You should be angry with the knuckle draggers throwing the missiles, not with the police.
That they are throwing things at dogs speaks volumes about their mentalities.
Heard on Today just now that these morons not only set light to a police van but to several cars belonging to local residents, who will be in shock and grieving.
These evil bastards care not a jot about those poor little girls and their families. It’s just an excuse to wreak havoc. The police have to employ every method at their disposal, including trained dogs.

Yes, agreed OP, I thought the same.

I get completely what you are saying. I’m not sure if you’re referring to police dogs or people bringing their own. I’m not sure why they were there. I’m sure nobody could foresee such harm coming to them but I suppose it starts another issue of should we even have animals serving in such a hostile environment.

Im just absolutely disgusted at those people who decided to attack a mosque and the police officers protecting it as a way to show their hurt (supposedly). They don’t even know if that lad was a Muslim and just used this horrific crime as an excuse to be violent. They should be locked up alongside that POS lad.

Yep. This thread is a new low! "But what about the dogs!" Absolutely ludicrous!

The police dogs are sometimes the only thing that keeps a situation under control. The rioters were assaulting the emergency services who went to help those little girls yesterday.

Yes exactly. They might think they vaguely care about the bigger picture but their mind is like one of those people whose house is full of dog pictures, dog mugs, dog cushions, dog clothing, dog themed everything…

Newsflash - the world does not revolve around dogs.

Sympathy isn’t finite. But I’m not surprised as mn is full of the dog hating kind.

Anyone who tolerates animal cruelty is a cunt.

The videos I saw of police holding dogs while absolute chaos was unfolding around them with bricks thrown in their direction, fireworks going off, fires, etc.. the dogs looked very stressed, overstimulated and confused. Did not look like happy dogs imo. I understand that police dogs are working dogs but no dog should be put in that position imo. Atleast the police had some form of protection re riot gear.

The OP has already said that it's not her main concern.

I agree with the posters who say you can care about multiple things at once and to raise one issue doesn't in any way detract from the key horror in this appalling situation.

The dogs were doing what they were trained for and the harm done to them is down to the violent behaviour of the baying mob.

I completely understand why the police wanted the dogs there for protection - but I'm of an age when I remember the murder of PC Keith Blakelock during the Broadwater Farm riots.

39 police officers were hurt yesterday. Disgraceful.

This whole riot only extends the misery caused by the initial attack. Shame on those who took part.

Theyre working dogs ffs. Not a couple of family pets being raken there for a deliberate kicking.

As a therapist I'm always bemused by comments like @Chrsytalchondalier who spout "seek therapy" or similar statements. I wonder what is it they believe that would achieve? Do they feel everyone of a differing opinion must seek therapy to make them agree? Do they feel uncomfortable having it highlighted that someone might care for humans and animals at the same time, and therefore lash out in case anyone notices they themselves hadn't considered that? Impossible to discern from a MN thread but still a rather thoughtless comment.
OP I get your point and I understand your concern for the police dogs. It is incredibly sad the people of Southport had such violence to deal within what is already a nightmare. It is possible to see the big picture and also see the smaller parts which form that picture. My heart is with all those affected by this heartbreaking time.

What is wrong with having empathy for animals? Nobody is saying it is more important than bringing the killer to justice, that police dogs matter more than the stabbing victims and their families, more than the wider community or that their suffering is worse than human suffering.

I don’t understand the role of the police dog at a riot, maybe someone can explain.

You can look at World War One and feel compassion for the horses AND the men.

It's the 'othering' of people, in this case 'dog people', that causes the kind of division in society that creates friction, hatred and ultimately violence.

Please let this terrible situation stop us doing this and teach us some tolerence.

Don’t be ridiculous. Ofcourse I am devastated. I have a small child of my own and was in tears when I read about the children. I just don’t have anything to add to that.. there are no words.

There will have been positive effects to bringing in the dogs. No one will see the effects because we aren’t there.

Nothing actually seems to stop a riot anyway. The police do the best they can to contain it and have to wait until it disperses. There will never be more police than rioters. My DH was called to a riot years ago 200 miles from where we live along with lots of others. Still there weren’t enough police but he did say the dogs and horses means you have more protection.

On a side note. I wish someone was able to ask these idiots what the reason for them rioting is. It’s just an excuse isn’t it to be violent.

I’m embarrassed to say I’m English when these thugs are using it to be so violent.

OP, sorry I you are bonkers! These are working police dogs. As working police dogs they will be trained, exercised, cared for and mentally stimulated in a way that the average dog will not. They will live far more fulfilling lives than a dog who sits at home and if lucky gets an hours exercise a day. Police dogs, like their trainers occasionally have to put up with danger.

They are working police dogs. They are trained for it and it is the reason for their existence. Better dogs get hurt than people.
The far right idiots shouldn't have rioted.