Policeman Is Fined For ‘Hanging’ Dog During Training
A policeman was fined £225 for ‘hanging’ a police dog by it’s lead over a 5 foot wall when the dog refused to jump over it.
The Daily Mail reports how PC Mark Edgar, 36, thought that German Shepherd Hax, needed more training and took him round an obstacle course while on duty at Weymouth Police Station, Dorset, in April.
He used two hands to pick up the dog and suspend the dog, using the lead as a hoist. The dog was ‘hanging’ for a short time before he was picked up and put over the wall. The dog landed awkward on the other side and needed 2 weeks of training to regain confidence.
Hex now has a new handler and Edgar has been banned from working with the police dogs.
In a statement PC Edgar said he never intended to hurt the dog.
He said: ‘I considered that we could benefit from extra training due to an upcoming test.
‘I accept that I did pull upwards on the lead, this was done for a very short period and I accept this caused him to suffer.
‘My actions were misguided but in no way did I want to punish the dog, it was intended to show him what to do.
‘His reluctance to jump frustrated me. I may have lifted him off the scale (fence) to show him how to jump.’
He admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the dog and he was fined £255 and ordered to pay a £15 victim’s surcharge and £85 in costs, but was not banned from keeping animals.
Superintendent Charlie Eggar, head of specialist operations at Dorset police, said: ‘The welfare of our police dogs is an absolute priority and sadly on this occasion the officer’s behaviour fell short of the standards expected.’
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