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Queensland police shoot pet dog after running it over as distressed residents watch on
(www.theguardian.com)
this post was submitted on 01 Jun 2026
47 points (100.0% liked)
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Dogs also wag their tails when they’re excited or distressed, you’ll see them wag their tails when fighting too. A dog that’s just been hit by a car isn’t going to be lying “otherwise motionless” on its side to chill out, it very likely had traumatic spinal injuries.
Police in my former home down did this when a kangaroo that blundered into town and was struck by car outside our school. Similar thing happened and the local news saw it as a similar engagement opportunity.
It might be my childhood years in rural areas desensitised me but I think this was likely the more humane option. Good luck transporting an animal with traumatic injuries across town to a vet without causing it considerably more stress and agony.
Maybe, I’ll go with 1312 here.
Police aren’t our friends.
I didn’t know what that number refers to but after googling, yeah checks out. Strangers in general aren’t “our” friends but a news article fishing for engagement off a headline when it appears the cops did what they had to in a shitty situation, is what it is.
I get people who consume a lot of US media on and offline default into the ACAB stance but they should just say that, rather than hiding behind faux morale outrage while implying the police did this for sexual gratification. That’s not to say the police here don’t have their shitty history (or current day if you’re NT/NSW pol) but I personally find it to be a shitty, simplistic view for a largely thankless job. I envy people who’ve lived lives that they’ve never had to call on the police. Must be nice.
For you then, I’ll go with all cops are bastards, if that makes you happy. I’m not sure where you get sexual gratification from in my comment, perhaps you’ve overdone trying to be polite in criticism or something.
It might be a largely thankless job, however it seems to attract a lot of our shittiest people, who choose to do it. We see that with how they attack protestors and how they beat the shit out of indigenous and LGBT people.
That’s what I’ll base my view on. Fuck your faux moral outrage.
For me? You will? Thanks so much, that’s what I wanted to do, change opinions rather than provide my own. Such a rebel.
Nah I’m referring to the parent comment, not what you’ve said. Since my comment is remarking in general.
If seeing the world in black and white is easier for you, you do you. Not sure what the second sentence is about. Probably further misinterpreting general criticisms in my comment as comments about you personally.
You’re welcome.
Not really, just observing what’s becoming common abuse in the interest of bad actors.
Well, this is, pretty much. Yeah, I’m aware there are different situations, though it’s funny how a good deal of them end up in abuse. The second sentence is about your attempt to dress my view, which is commonly shared for good reason, as faux moral outrage when it seems to be a fact. There’s more bad in there than good, demonstrably. It isn’t faux moral outrage anywhere, it’s a simple fact.
Every time they pull you over and ask you if you’ve been ‘in trouble with the police before’, it’s an indication of their desire to intimidate and bully.
Here’s the point though; many of these people make the decision on this career for the simple reason they are narcissistic bullies who want a career that protects their actions. Quite a few who join it for the good reasons leave the service.
Perhaps, but why are the police even making that decision about someone else's pet? And in front of the owner, who is a child? This wasn't a wild kangaroo. It's fucked and indefensible.
What’s the alternative here? Just say “aight good luck with that” and bounce to leave the girl with her dying dog? They’re the ones that injured the dog and if the dog had no adult owner nearby they probably made a call that it’s more humane to euthanise it and ends its suffering. As difficult as this would have been for the kid, I can assure you being left with her mangled dog to die a slow agonising death would have been far more traumatic.
Do you think vets and AECs don't exist?
Even assuming they would do this, they would still have to wait for them to arrive, which presumably would prolong the dogs suffering. I’ve not heard of vets doing euthanasia in the street personally either.
Does someone else wanna jump in with questions for the one person in this thread having the audacity to suggest “hey maybe the cops didn’t go into this situation all ‘ay fuck it let’s just blast this dog and get back for smoko’”.
Fair enough, but leave it to trained professionals. If you want to end the suffering of an animal by shooting it, you shouldn't just miss two times.
Edit: Assuming the spinal injuries weren't caused by the first shot anyway
I can’t imagine city cops go to work expecting to shoot a dog, so probably not something they’re well versed in. At least not in this country.
I agree, ideally it shouldn’t, but can’t say I’ve had to make that shot after just having run over someone’s pet, in front of a street full of upset people who you know are recording and likely going to put it up on social media.
Shooting dogs is pastime for police. The will look for any excuse to shoot a dog
That's another reason not to do something like this; not just because of the people posting it on social media but because of the little girl, who's now got PTSD from seeing her childhood pet being shot thrice by a police officer.
I think you and others are conflating two separate things. The above is listed as reason why it’s not just as simple as “just shoot it once, in the right spot”, aka its easier said than done and likely nerves about the surroundings had an impact.
Euthanasia at the scene is likely the more humane option and still quicker than moving an animal that’s been run over across town so it can die a slower, more painful death. Whether she actually saw and her having PTSD is something you’ve just determined to suit your view. Though I guess I shouldn’t expect good faith from someone who started the conversation implying the cops shot this dog for some sort of sexual gratification.
No one said anything about moving the animal across town. Do you think that euthanasia requires some special equipment that's somehow not portable? If this happened in some rural outback town without a local vet I would understand your point.
Yeah, that's called a hypothetical situation. Do you think that police officer considered the possibility that children could be present at the time they took they first shot? Because I don't.
I'm really sorry but I just don't really give the police the benefit of the doubt anymore.
While I accept the point about portability, I’ve just never seen or heard of vets performing these sort of tasks in the street, the time spent suffering is still an issue while you track down a vet willing to do it, and wait for them to travel regardless.
Yes, this was apparent by your first comment assuming literally the worst of the police intentions and their involvement in subsequent comments. The way you phrase the impact also wasn’t as a “hypothetical”. Either way we’ve probably fleshed out this particular online conversation sufficiently. Have good one.