A Hertfordshire family are grieving after their 15-month-old puppy was shot dead by a farmer. Now the Harrisons of Clay End in Walkern, Hertfordshire, are appealing to farmers to consider other ways of scaring dogs away before firing, and cautioning owners to take care when walking their dogs.
Gill Harrison's Bedlington Terrier, Archie, ran through a hedge to a farm whilst out for a walk along a rural bridleway on Valentine's Day. As Mrs Harrison and her husband searched for Archie, calling his name, Mr Harrison received a phone call, informing him that the puppy had been shot - legally - because he was worrying chickens.
“The man asked me if I had a dog called Archie and I said 'yes',” said Mr Harrison. “He then said 'I just shot him dead'.”
Jack Twomey, the tenant of Bridges Farm, admitted killing Archie. Defending his action, he said: “It was attacking my hen so I shot it, that was all there was to it. Initially I thought it was a fox so I got my shotgun and then saw it was a dog. I'm sorry that I shot it but it was attacking my hen.”
The Harrisons said they are devastated at losing Archie and have put up posters about the shooting, warning people to keep their dogs on a lead.
“We're responsible dog owners,” said Mrs Harrison. “If he'd come and said we'd have put him on a lead. So many people use this path and I feel everyone should know. I can't believe someone could do that, he was just a harmless dog.” Mrs Harrison pointed out that gaps in the hedge and the absence of a fence meant that anyone could wander into the farm. No livestock were killed in the incident.
Local people have left messages of support on a newspaper's website, one saying: “Little Archie wasn't capable of hurting a fly.”
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