Police Shoot Cows

Quebec police shot two cows to death in a rather inhumane manner. You can watch the video below and see their behavior for yourself. Why they chose to shoot with pistols which wouldn’t kill a cow quickly, yet would result in unnecessary suffering, is open to debate–but it clearly was not a good choice. In fact, an animal rights group has become involved via a letter-writing campaign, and tens of thousands of people have now seen the YouTube video. (If watching police shoot a cow at close-up range in such a brutal way upsets you, then please don’t watch.)

Any citizen concerned about police brutality might want to view at least part of it, because the issue of how police interact with animals is a very important one. Especially considering what happened in Ohio recently where so many animals were killed.

The Gatineau police involved say there were defending the public, but police who shoot animals always say that, even when it is clear the chance of harm coming to the public is practically nothing. It was also reported the Gatineau police have no intention of training to use tranquilizer guns. They were given permission to shoot the cows by the owners, but that only makes it acceptable in a legal sense.

“In some sense it’s shocking footage — it’s horrible, you hear the person who was recording it and the shock of her voice as well,” said a representative of an animal rights organization. (Source: CTV.ca) If you want to send a message to the Gatineau Police, here is a web form for doing so.

If you believe the officers had no choice but to shoot the cows with pistols, consider the fact a cow in Montana that escaped from a slaughterhouse was also chased by police, but allowed to live.

In Oakland, police actually shot and killed a pre-adult deer, saying they had to do it because it was a threat to the public. The scared animal was hiding behind a bush in someone’s back yard, and clearly was no danger to anyone. Like the cows, it was also shot multiple times. Oakland officers also shot a family’s arthritic dog, during a visit to someone’s home when it wouldn’t stop barking. At least the Oakland PD said they would train more officers in dealing with animals non-violently due to these incidents, the ensuing media coverage and public outrage. How many others though have no training, and continue on as if nothing is wrong.

How many scenarios just like this cow-shooting have been played out over and over when police were called as first responders to animal situations? How many more animals will police shoot, because they don’t know how to do anything else?

The attitude of some police in animal situations seems to be that a resolution is simply to kill them.

Image Credit: Route11

Read more: Animal Rights, Nature & Wildlife, Pets, Wildlife

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Brenda T.

7:22AM PDT on Apr 2, 2012

Just gun crazy!!

send a green star

Muriel S.

2:19PM PST on Feb 11, 2012

So much brutality is inconceivable. Shooting at a cow that is not even dangerous is beyond my understanding.

Sandy E.

4:02PM PST on Jan 30, 2012

Was the owner notified before hand?

Laurita W.

7:06PM PST on Jan 20, 2012

Stupid pigs.

Belle W.

7:06PM PST on Dec 31, 2011

Just too ridiculous. In general I still have a respect for the officers in my area, but clearly there is something so wrong about the way these officers handled these cases.

Linda P.

6:27PM PST on Dec 31, 2011

So wrong and it happens to often.

Danuta W.

1:42AM PST on Dec 17, 2011

sad

Michele W.

1:14PM PST on Nov 22, 2011

Very sad.
Surely there was no need to kill the animals.

Sylvie B.

5:50AM PST on Nov 16, 2011

A green star went to you for this!

5:47AM PST on Nov 16, 2011

It seems like some cops like to shoot innocuous animals such as escaped cows, scared fawns or does, and barking dogs -- what a shame! Is it not the responsibility of the farmer to prevent his/her cows from wandering around?! Even if that happens, people should always take pains to avoid killing an animal, especially if it is unnecessary to do so, by taking non-violent measures. A peaceful solution should always be placed before any other! That they do or did it for public safety is but a pretext, which is meant to hide their incompetence and inability to tackle problems like feeling and compassionate human beings. I myself would not feel very safe with police officers who are so quick to shoot being around! Poor animals that have had to die and keep on dying! Whether this stems from a lack of training (thus ignorance), error, or from intention, it should be eradicated as something totally unacceptable! People who act like this must not get away with it.