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- Dave Burrows
Telford swan dies after airgun shooting
Tuesday 28th June 2011, 2:44PM BST.
A swan has died after being shot in the neck with an airgun at a pool in Telford.
RSPCA inspectors investigating the incident said the 20-year-old swan had survived two previous shootings before being found dead after a third attack at Stirchley Pool earlier this month.
X-rays revealed an airgun pellet had broken its neck.
The male swan, which had been living at Stirchley Pool for at least 10 years, is survived by his mate of six years and their four cygnets. RSPCA inspector Nayman Dunderdale said: “I can’t believe it.
“I’ve known this swan for 10 years and he and his mate are one of our main breeding pairs in the Telford area.
“He was shot before but recovered and was put back out again.
“For this to happen while there are young cygnets at the pool is just such a callous act.”
The swan was first shot on Christmas Day 2001, along with his previous mate.
The pair and a cygnet were shot again in 2002 but survived.
Megan Morris-Jones, founder of Cuan House, said: “The swan paired up with his present mate in 2005 and they’ve been together ever since.
“She will be grieving for him and it will be much more difficult for her to take care of their cygnets as she will have to feed and protect them by herself now.”
The RSPCA is appealing for information or witnesses to call on 0300 1234 999.
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How very cruel. What kind of creature shoots a swan?!? I hope these people are caught and punished for this vile crime.
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I would love to get my hands around the throat of the parasite who is responsible for this, i would show them how painful it would be to get your neck broken….
There is no need for this no need at all, i hope that you get caught by the authorities and not the public…..
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Just can’t believe that people can do this, what harm did this animal do? Such beautiful creatures.
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Iron Flag. I agree with you, what do you expect from people in Telford,
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@ John Jones,how can you use a disgusting crime like this to have a pop at Telford. This type of terrible crime and similar is not exclusive to Telford and you know it.
Does it make you feel good about yourself when you go trawling through newspapers looking for anything you can to have a childish pop at Telford.
I bet your there now giggleing at this comment like a 10 year old child because he thinks he’s said what everyone wants to hear just so he can get a laugh..
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My last comment was slightly edited by the SS because apparently its possible to say what you want about Telford but people aren’t allowed to defend the place when offensive politically incorrect comments are made..
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What a silly immature remark, wouldn’t you love to see the people who hide behind their keyboards when you read garbage like this.
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@ John Jones
When are you and Plastic Bag going to tie the knot? I hope you are going to invite all the regulars off here to your civil partnership ceremony….
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Leave me out of this, it’s an awful crime as I said first off. Read the comments and engage your brain having a pop Robert.
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Sorry for that – I think we’re both on the same side on this one. It wasn’t fair of me to drag you into a reply to John Jones’ idiotic comment.
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John, you are obviously so much better than “us lot” in Telford. Dont tar us all with the same brush as the scumbag who did this.
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What is wrong with people in this day and age? an harmless bird doing no harm to the public, getting shot by more brainless idiot, if you know this person/s, please shop them.
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What a nasty crime. The swans bring much pleasure to children and families in Stirchley.
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The person who did this is human low life scum. I hope he gets what he deserves. A price should be placed on his head for information leading to his arrest.
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Agree with Andy. They are total cowards who can only kill defenceless animals. Put them next to someone their own size, they’d run a mile.
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Leaving aside the cretinous act of killing this beautiful and harmless creature, the low life responsible is guilty of armed trespass, which is supposed to carry a five year sentence.
In the unlikely event of them being caught what’s the betting they get nothing more than a paltry fine?
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The problem is they’ve become used to bread feeders with good intent. They’re not to know the next likely looking human isn’t a psychopath in training.
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So sad. I remember taking my kids down to see the swans with their cygnets, one of the first years this swan was there. We were lucky enough to see one of the adults carrying the cygnets on its back.
Just so sad and so senseless.
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TO ALL THE PEOPLE IN TELFORD.I APOLOGIZE FOR THE TELFORD REMARK, SORRY !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m an animal lover myself, and have been pushing my dog around in a buggy since last September, much to the amusement of others.
Rob, What are you on about???????
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Vile,cowardley,feral scum-hope they suffer in the same way this poor animal has.
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Time to restrict air guns? They are lethal. Swans today, a cat tomorrow, neighbours toddler the day after?
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this is disgusting, what have they ever done to anybody? I take my two year old up there to see the babies and the are so lovely. they need to have it done back to them and see how funny it is then. Defenceless animals that can’t defend themselves, doesn’t really make them look hard to do it to something when they know they can’t fight back
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I could not believe how cruel someone could be to kill the swan. I have been taking photographs of them since I arrived in Telford last year.
They were a lovely pair.
But sadly it looks like she is not feeding herself. She is looking after the cygnets but not eating hardly anything herself.
People are trying to feed her but she just leaves it for the cygnets.
She is half the size she was.
The Park rangers are checking them regular. I saw them yesterday checking she was ok.
I think the local schools should do a story on these swans and how to not hurt any animal.
How you can get arrested because of the swans being a protected bird.
I pray they get who is responsible. Which I doubt.
Speaking to an old gentleman on Sunday morning. He had to chase off young children stoning her and the cygnets.
I have taken photographs and but on my flickr account to bring the horrible thing to a wider audience and hope that we can start to show children how to treat animals.
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