Police under scrutiny for shooting family pets amidst rising incidents

In a deeply troubling trend, police officers in South Africa are being accused of shooting an alarming number of family pets, Cape town Etc reports.

The latest incident, involving the shooting of an 11-month-old pitbull named Girly, has sparked public outrage and calls for immediate action.

Girly, a beloved family pet, was shot by a police officer described as ‘trigger happy,’ adding to a growing list of pets harmed by law enforcement in recent weeks.

This marks the third instance in just three weeks where police have shot a family pet, raising serious concerns about the training and decision-making of officers in these situations.

According to the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa (AWS SA), the shooting of Girly highlights a critical need for better guidelines, training and equipment for law enforcement to ensure that the use of force against animals is only exercised when absolutely necessary.

The tragic event occurred when Girly, an 11-month-old pitbull, was shot by a police officer during an altercation. The bullet entered her left cheek, shattering her jaw before lodging in her left front leg, which required surgical intervention. Although Girly miraculously survived, she now faces life-changing injuries and may ultimately lose her leg as a result.

‘This tragic incident once again raises questions about whether there were any justifiable grounds for the officer to discharge his weapon,’ said Allan Perrins, spokesman for AWS SA.

‘It’s a matter for the officer’s superiors to decide whether this was the only course of action available to diffuse a potentially dangerous situation, but the frequency of these incidents is deeply worrying.’

Perrins further stressed the urgent need for law enforcement to be better equipped and trained to handle situations involving pets.

‘There are many occupations that require split-second decisions, and we implore the Minister of Police to provide his officers with the necessary expertise and tools to prevent a reoccurrence of these all too frequent tragic situations,’ he said.

While this specific case remains under investigation, it has brought renewed attention to the treatment of pets in confrontational situations and the broader issue of police use of force.

Animal rights groups and members of the public are now demanding that the police take proactive steps to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Call for action

As the investigation into Girly’s shooting continues, the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa is calling on authorities to review and implement stricter protocols for officers when interacting with animals. ‘We need clearer guidance on what constitutes a justified use of force against a pet,’ Perrins added.

This case serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of pets in all circumstances and urges officials to consider alternatives to the use of deadly force.

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Picture: AWS / Facebook