Oswestry cows shot dead in public view after escaping from field
Tuesday 15th March 2011, 11:08AM GMT.
A herd of cows was shot dead in front of shocked residents after they escaped from a field near Oswestry.
The animals were killed in a field on a housing estate in Chirk and their bodies left out overnight.
Council officers ordered the shooting to “prevent further suffering and distress” to the animals. They said they carried out the action in the interests of public safety.
Chirk town councillor Hilary Spragg, whose home backs onto the field where the cows were kept, said the animals had been escaping and getting into gardens and on to roads.
She said: “It really was becoming a dangerous situation with the possibility of a tragic accident taking place.
“Measures had to be taken to stop the problem. However, it was the way it was done that has upset people.”
She said the shooting had taken place on Friday afternoon when residents, including children, were about.
Wrexham County Borough Council said there had been the destruction of cattle at Ley Farm in Chirk.
Andy Lewis, the council’s chief housing and public protection officer, said the public were excluded from the area. He added: “The incident may result in court action being taken against the owner of the animals.”
The farmer involved is thought to be out of the country today.
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Disgusting behaviour by the council. They are cows, not bulls and could have easily been gotten under control. How much has this cost the farmer? and how much distress has it caused to all who had to witness the event?
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cruelty to animals i say .
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I’m just glad they were shot before they killed or injured someone.
Why are we, as human beings, such ‘fragile’ animals and can’t ‘bear to see’ such ‘atrocities’. Why do we have to be kept away from such awful things. It’s ridiculous. I bet half the people complaining are meat eaters anyway. What does it matter if you see a dead cow. Has no-one ever seen a dead animal. If it was me I’d be asking if I could ‘dispose of it’ myself.
Yummy.
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You must be a tory?
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I wonder if it was police marksmen that did the shooting – a little bit of free target practice.
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Couldn’t they just sedate them and get them back to the farm or a different farm? I don’t understand why that was considered the only option and why someone without the basic skill of rational problem solving is in charge of this sort of thing giving out death orders?!
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So when were they supposed to destroy these animals, 3am in the morning when the children were in their slumber, then expect 100+ 999 calls to the police stating that they could hear shooting?
Surely if an animal is in distress and suffering and requires to be destroyed any further time would exacerbate the suffering.
As per normal lots of insinuations but no real guidance on how this could have been dealt with differently.
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Peter you say
“Surely if an animal is in distress and suffering and requires to be destroyed any further time would exacerbate the suffering”.
Peter the animals escaped from a field they would not have been suffering or in distress they were just wondering around and as such would not need to have been destroyed.If a farmer shot his sheep or cows every time they got in to a field next to there’s or on a country lane we would have the rspca around.
You also say
“As per normal lots of insinuations but no real guidance on how this could have been dealt with differently”.
Well peter these were cows wondering around not lions so anyone with a brain would have gathered a few people up and herded the cows back to the nearest field and closed the gate.
As per usual it seems some type of dopey townie has made this decision and treated the animal as if they had escaped from the local zoo.Training I think needs to be given .
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well said peter!
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sorry, got the names mistaken meant to say WELL SAID ANDREW!! if they were fenced in properly then this wouldnt of happened! case of animal cruelty & should be reported to RSPCA.
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I may be mistaken, but I thought I heard on one news bulletin the RSPCA were aware.
Another thing to consider if this herd had TB who in their right minds is going to put them into one of their fields and risk letting their own herd ( and livelyhood) be put at risk?
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The cows had been rounded in a field to be shot could they not have been fenced in.
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Andrew – I should point out that the Peter who made the initial comment is not the one (me) who regularly debates with you in these forums…
My personal view is that since neither of us were there, and could not have been aware of any distress to the animals, real or imagined, nor any danger to the public (again real or perceived), we are probably best to leave any post-mortem disucssion to those that were in the know on the day in question.
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That’s why I changed from Jake to The Original Jake. Another Jake popped up whose grasp of grammar and spelling was pretty much non-existent.
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Over the top reaction by the powers that be. These animals could have easily been rounded up and take to a secure area , who ever ordered this must be a complete idiot.
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Totally agree with Andrew on this. A complete over reaction. If the herd had been continually escaping, had no one thought to contact the owner or the RSPCA? So they might have taken appropiate measures before this atrocity happened.
Experienced people, such as involving the RSPCA, could have easily managed the situation, without the need to destroy valuable animals.
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AN IDIOT THAT HATES ANIMALS!!! what next giver permission to shoot kids when there bein naughty? joker. think that person should be sacked for making sure a awful decision.
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Well the Farmers out the Country? and maybe the Cows wanted to go off on a Jolly too?,
Every Animal deserves to Live even if its suffering!!!!
I bet there’s Steak on the Menu tonight somewhere?
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I’d have moooved them to the udder field.
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Its cold tonight, you must be fresian!!
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How disgusting.
The Council should of just secured the field and made the farmer pay for those works when he returned from holiday, not just shoot the poor things!!
Some-one would of been looking over/feeding them – what a lovely site to turn up to the next morning. You’ve probably also lost them their job, well done.
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Modern Britain at its worst. With their Health & Safety checklist and risk assessment forms in hand, an utterly bizarre, cruel and probably more dangerous decision is reached, totally devoid of any common sense.
These cows could have easily been rounded up, regardless of their horns. I’ve helped round up temperamental Highland cattle, there was a few of us on hand, but at no point could anyone have thought “this could be a bit dangerous, lets just shoot them all instead”!
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I am a resident of this estate and these cows were not suffering. They were hungry, this is why they were escaping. At the time of shooting they were in a field, a lot of these cows were pregnant and there was a calf. This was done infront of children from as youn as 6 years old. They looked at these cows as part of their neighbourhood. These cows could have been saved, just because the farmer did not have silage, that caused their condition (malnutrition) that is a very poor excuse. Yes I am a meat eater but this is a very differnt thing all together.
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Well, I never heard the like, sounds to me like a bunch of townies that made a decision that these animals were dangerous and had them shot, ” What ignorant people” Why didn’t they just hire a lorry, load them and take them away, it’s as simple and easy as that, whoever ordered the slaughter should be prosecuted!
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Catherine here again, I’m very angry about this slaughter, I was raised on a farm, I learned to milk my 1st cow when i was three, I’ve herded hundreds of cattle and I’ve never felt threathened, I cannot beleive there are such idiotic morons in positions of authority, why do they have the power to make such decisions, no wonder the World is in the state it is if people like this make decisions for us.
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What an absolute mess,
From the strength of the report it seems that a few fresians had been pushing through hedges to get to some better grass.
The police and animal welfare people done a risk assessment!!!, I would love to read that risk assessment, your average british person in a public position as totally LOST!! the ability to use practicality, why didnt a community officer gather up a few of the children and undertake a rounding up of these creatures and then further get a contractor to make good the fences (chargeble to farmer)the animal welfare people could then organise some food..SIMPLES!!, I know many of you will think i am compromising safety issues here, but we need to get back to reality in this country..what as happened here is a disgrace to the authorities.
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lets hope the risk assessment is available to the Shropshire Star under the freedom of information act and that they track it down and report on it.
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the cows had been escaping for nearly two weeks previous to this incident. One of the residents who has had experience with farm animals was rounding the cows up and putting them back in the field on a regular basis, and the children on the estate often helped. He even got out of bed himself at two in the morning and helped the police put them back in the field.
My daughter ran in on one particular occaision to tell me ” she had actually been able to hand feed and stroke the cow”. I understand that something needed to be done concerning the escaping and fully understand that if this was the only way the yes but to do it front of my children SORRY BUT NO AND I WILL CONTINUE TO GET THE ANSWERS I WANT.
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I have to say, this is the first time I’ve ever agreed with Andrew Finch on anything.
Shooting them was an overreaction, it’s not like they were a herd of stampeding bulls.
Surely the appropriate measure would have been to round the cows up and put in the cow shed (I am assuming the farmer has one of these) and ensure that the farmer had appropriate measures put into place to prevent the cows escaping from the field again?
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Anyone for road kill?
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what has this country degenerated into? some stray COWS (not bulls) wander around and are shot!!?? have the police / council and any other ‘distressed’ townies completely lost touch with the countryside? and the distraught kids – where do they think their food comes from, or are they now all vegies.
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I love commenting on an event that I have very little info about .
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I love all these townie comments, so hilarious.
I know of a farmer who had his neck broken not all that long ago in Shropshire when being unexpctedly tossed by a cow. I also remember many years ago a rep on the way to visiting my parents shop in Ledbury hitting a stray cow in his car, broke both his front legs.
Mind you in those days 1970s the local butchers, had their abbattoir at the back of the shop and those who considered themselves country people would have not been very shocked knowing the dangers that can occur of a group of such large animals being out of control.
When we start equating cows with our children does this mean they are going to be sent to sch moo l or that we are perhaps going to put children on the menu?
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Eva, I’ve disagreed with you a couple of times, but I’m totally with you on those comments.
Cows are aren’t big eyelashed gentle animals ALL the time
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Eve I am afraid yours is the view of a townie “I know a farmer who had his neck broken” “one was it?”.
I was brought up on a farm, my relatives still run a few farms and no eve, cows are not rampaging dangerous animals may be a little tetchy when they have a calf at foot , majority of bulls are safe, many of the townie public come out with a field of bulls , you do not get a field of bulls to those people.
What lacked here was common sense, a group of people who were clueless got together made an ill thought out decision based on H&S rules then called in roy rogers who shot a load of cattle for no reason other than they got out of a field and every one was to stupid to put them back in.
This has nothing to do with the destroying of animals for food or putting cows before children that is the view of an idiot, it is about using common sense. what next shooting a member of the public due to being drunk and disorderly in public ? lets face it he/she could be a risk to himself or another.
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you tell um andrew!! 100% agree with you & what you are saying
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get in there andy!!
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oh right, so cows we out, probably running as scared as the onlookers….. and they get shot!!!!!!!!!
So roiters and demonstraters running the streets burning cars, smashing windows, and scaring onlookers, residents etc,,, do we shoot them… after all they are human and know what they are doing and are accountable.. no we don’t shoot them.. SHAME. We just let them be, and then clear up and pay for the damage!!!!!
THESE COWS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SHOT!!!!!
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1) If there was a danger to the public then the public could have been herded away from the area, as would be arranged do if there were a marauding dangerous human in the area – and probably more quickly and easily than herding the cows, giving time to then deal with herding the cows.
2) If the herd of cows was indeed suffering from malnutrition I do hope the RSPCA will be called in to investigate and bring about the proper charges against the farmer. (and if the animals were starving surely a trail of feed would have worked wonders to getting them somewhere controllable!)
3) The RSPCA should also investigate the ‘kill order’ with great care – it seems a gross overreaction that whomever ordered it should be held accountable for.
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I also agree with everything Andrew Finch has said.I remember when cattle were driven up Town Walls past our school on the way to the cattle market on Smithfield road. But there was none of this health and safety rubbish in the 1950s. Common sense,is not practiced any more.
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If anyone should be prosecuted here it should be the council, who the hell do they think they are making decisions like that! I have worked with cows they are placid and docile animals and would not have been suffering stress like they say, they are not bloody deer for christs sake! They could have easily been herded in a field, been fenced in or even sedated to make it easier. Perhaps some of the parents of these children should concider taking action against the council for causing such trauma and stress to their children, I know I would if it had have been my children. Dispicable!!!
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THIS SAD SICK WORLD IS GETTING WORSE EVERYDAY! COULDN’T BELIEVE THIS WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT IT, WHY COULDNT COMMON SENSE PREVAIL HERE! surely cows should have been herded into field and repairs made while they were enclosed, also the Farmer should have had somebody taking care of his/her livestock even if he/she was away from the farm, and will he/she be compensated for his/her loss? I understand that no one was injured thankfully, but it seems utterly disgusting to shoot cows just because they got out!
Will there be an investigation into those responsible for this incident?
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[Febrary 1 2011 Philip Whiting, from Bury St Edmunds, was rounding up a flock of 40 friesian cows for milking at Leechmere Farm when one of the animals fell on top of him, inflicting severe injuries from which he failed to recover]
[June 2009 Tributes have been paid to a Cheshire vet who was trampled to death by a herd of cows as she walked her dogs.]
[october 1 2010 Richard Cope, 48, of Tilstock Farm, Tilstock, is believed to have landed on his head during the incident, which happened while he was introducing a bull to a herd of cows.]
[June 2010 A 78 year old man has died after being trampled to death by a herd of cows at Hopping Farm in Middleton-by-Youlgreave.]
[This is just one of a number of similar accidents involving people being injured or killed by cows and earlier this year a fire fighter from Somerset was charged with manslaughter after an incident in 2009 when a 75 year old farmer was trampled by 100 cows and later died after suffering serious chest and head injuries. It is alleged that the cows trampled the farmer after they were spooked by the fire engine siren.]
Been trampled and crushed by anyone drunk and disorderly lately Andrew?
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Dear Eva
We regret to inform you that your recent application for the post of Statistician was unsuccessful.
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cows should not have been shot.
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Eve GET A GRIP WOMAN, the incidents you state are in fact very rare, as with all animals care should be taken. Infact more are killed by horses but do we shoot them if we cant catch them ??after they have thrown the rider.
This incident was an over the top reaction very ill thought out , attention to the H&S BIBLE and no use what so ever of common sense.
The many incidents of people being trampled has been due to the fact, again that they failed to use common sense they walk in to a field of cow and calves with a dog the cow makes a run for the dog, because they get to close, instead of letting the dog go and standing still the owner runs falls over and gets trampled, more fool them.
Fire engine spooked animals farmer to slow to get out of the way, people do the same thing you may not be aware of the number of incidents around football grounds and at a religious festival last year people were trampled to death by people because the people got spooked we didn’t shoot them did we.
Common sense and a bit of self responsibility goes a long way to making an easy life .
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Unbelievable – the Council should be prosecuted and the people responsible replaced. I wouldn’t trust a single risk assessment they came up with given the distress caused to people and cows by this one. Cows would have suffered severe distress being shot in front of each other. I can’t believe the Council and Welsh Assembly thought that this was sensible. A bit of fence mending (charged to the owner) would have cost a lot less than this sorry episode.
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this is perfetic its not hard to put up a fence around a field. im 16 and i have more sence then that. that farmer has lost so much from a group of people that are afraid of a herd of harmless cows what is wrong with the world today i disagree with every thing that has taken place. its funny because if there dog jumped into my garden does that give me the right to shoot it??
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Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting.
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