[Ninastar]

I'm on two minds about this... couldnt they get the RSPCA or someone to sedate it? Was there any need to kill it?

And on the other hand, was it not better to give it a quick certain death rather than someone else running it over and it dying slowly/causing someone else to be killed trying to avoid it?

Awful situation either way. I feel like this could have been avoided but I also don't believe that the police were like 'LOL lets just kill it!!!!!' like many people (who i've seen on FB) believe.

[Cherie]

Tough one though I understand that it was 3am so the traffic could have been slowed down and a dog handler called maybe..

[Ammi]

..I read this, this morning..it was only a short article but the police statement is that, any other way/option would have caused a greater danger to lives in other cars.../very sad...

[rubymoo]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Tough one though I understand that it was 3am so the traffic could have been slowed down and a dog handler called maybe..

This is what i think^^^^ surely the traffic wouldn't have been that busy at 3am, i understand that the police officers are also dog owners so it must have been a tough decision for them, i also understand that they did catch the dog but it bit one of the officers and escaped, so so sad

[Ammi]

...without actually seeing it, it does look as though they felt it was the only option as they were concerned about harm to human lives...


Despite attempts by the Roads Policing Unit to catch the dog, it continued to run in and out of swerving traffic that was travelling in excess of 70mph on an unlit carriageway.


The incident – which had "potential for a serious collision" happened during the early hours of Monday.


An officer who had tried to take hold of the dog was bitten.

He said: "The only safe option was to run the dog over at sufficient speed to ensure that it was destroyed and would not suffer. Other methods of destruction were considered, but were ruled out on the grounds of public safety."

Mr Wareing said that several attempts were made to catch the dog.