Dogs shot for killing pony

Sad all round

*****

From the BBC website ...

Police marksmen have shot dead two rottweiler dogs after they attacked and killed a pony in Lancashire.

The dogs savaged the pony in a field at Clough End Road in Haslingden in the early hours of the morning.

A member of the public called the police after witnessing the attack at about 0140 BST.

When officers arrived at the scene the pony was already dead. The owners of both the pony and dogs have been traced by police and an inquiry is under way.

Inspector Dave Hodson from Rossendale Valley Police said: "This is an unfortunate and unusual incident but as always our primary concern is public safety.

'Out of control'

"We gave every consideration to dealing with the dogs as humanly as possible but sadly it was necessary for us to take immediate action.

"I must stress this is not our preferred option but the dogs were considered to be dangerously out of control and we were left no choice.

"We will now be looking into how the dogs managed to escape from what appears to be a secure compound less than a mile away.

"The pony was already dead upon the arrival of officers but the exact cause of death is still unknown."

Police are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to contact them.

Another sad outcome. What can you say except poor pony and poor dogs.........wonder how they got out. SO SAD

I was shocked when I saw this story on the text, I feel very sorry for the poor pony that must have gone though an horrific experience, and the poor owner.

I don't se what else the police could have done but I was sad for the dogs too, and also for the breed to have yet another headline which undoes all the good work that has been done to restore their good name. Its a case of deed and not breed.

Aww how awfull for both the pony and the dogs!!!

I hate incidents like this!!! they always make me cry!!!

I have two horses and I would absoluetly mortified if this happened to one of mine but why shoot the dogs?

It states that the pony was already dead on arrival so why have two more deaths!?? Why can they not use tranquillisers? This would stop the dogs attacking just as much without them having to die!!!

It really sickens me that they have to shoot them - at the end of the day you don't know what provoked them to attack, you never know they of been scared??? My rottie is petrified of my horses!

Just my opinion x

QUOTE ""We gave every consideration to dealing with the dogs as humanly as possible but sadly it was necessary for us to take immediate action.

"I must stress this is not our preferred option but the dogs were considered to be dangerously out of control and we were left no choice. UNQUOTE

It appears that they had no choice in that one! Personally, I would have preferred to have shot the owners of said dogs! Dogs of this breeding should not be allowed to "escape" or "get out" of a secure compound/house/back garden/wherever. Mine don't, and my dogs have always been around horses and ponies and would never have attacked them! Nuff said! Owners fault

my friends rottie lived at our house for a year and he liked horses I dont think this is a case of what breed the dogs are,I think they were probably abused or not socialised or even hungry,most dogs will chase horses but to kill one something must have been very wrong

what a shame, hope the owner of the dogs are brought into question, human error is always the cause for such sad circumstances, hope the pony didn't suffer too much .

How sad, until the background of the dogs is disclosed (which I don't think it will be now) then I don't think we can really comment. Sad for the breed yet again.

Sorry but if I found a dog or dogs had attacked my horse and killed it, if I had a gun available I would have shot the dogs without hesitation. I would have then re-loaded and gone off looking for the owner....

As all news articles, it does not say a lot of things. However, I hope the dogs were shot because they were displaying aggression towards people or a threat to other stock, and not because they had killed the pony. The article doesn't say.